The grille of a Dodge Caliber does more then just keep the car looking good. It is a part of the engine air flow system, allowing air in while protecting engine components from road debris. Grilles that have been damaged need to be replaced to keep the car in good running order. The Dodge Caliber has an upper and a lower grille. You can remove and replace both grilles in a few hours, and you will need only a few tools to do the job.
Remove the two screws holding the bottom of the bumper cover to the fender using a socket wrench and a 7-mm socket. There is one screw located in each front wheel well.
Pull the bumper cover away from the vehicle at the wheel wells to uncover the screws attaching the upper part of the bumper cover to the fender. There is a screw near each of the wheel wells.
Remove the upper screws using the socket wrench and 7-mm socket attached to a 2-inch extension piece.
Use a 10-mm socket and socket wrench to remove the three bolts underneath the car that hold the bumper cover to the chassis.
Pry the plastic panel plugs out from the bumper cover along the sides of the upper grill using a flat-head screwdriver. There are four plugs, two on each side of the upper grill.
Lift the hood to the Dodge Caliber and prop it open. Use a T-20 Torx bit and screwdriver to remove the six Torx bolts attaching the bumper cover to the front edge of the car frame.
Grab the top of the bumper cover and pull it up slightly and then forward, away from the car, to remove it completely. Lay the bumper cover face down on a soft surface to prevent it from becoming scratched.
Remove the bolts holding the grilles from the inside of the bumper cover using a 11-mm socket and socket wrench.
Push in on the lock tabs along the sides of each grille and lift the grille out of the bumper.
Lay the new grille in the grille space inside the bumper cover. Make sure that the outside of the grille is facing out from the bumper cover. The outside face is typically shinier then the inside face.
Pry up on the locking tabs on the bumper cover and slide the edges of the grille under and release the tabs. Use a socket wrench and 11-mm socket to install the locking bolts through the grille and into the bumper cover. If the grill does not have bolt holes, use plastic zip ties to affix the grille to the bumper cover. Press any additional trim included with the new grille into place to seal any gaps between the new grilles and the bumper cover.
Lift the bumper cover up and place it back on the front of the Dodge Caliber. Make sure that the tabs on the sides of the bumper cover line up with the slots in the frame of the front of the car.
Install the six Torx bolts through the top edge of the bumper cover and into the the front edge of the engine compartment, using a T-20 Torx bit and screwdriver. Hand-tighten the bolts. Close the hood of the car.
Screw the four bottom bolts in place through the bottom of the bumper cover and into the chassis of the car, using a socket wrench and 10-mm socket.
Press the plastic panel plugs back into place, two on each side of the front face of the bumper cover along the grill.
Attach the screws at the corners of the bumper cover in each front wheel well using a 7-mm socket and socket wrench. Start with the top screw, which passes from the front of the car into the wheel well, followed by the two bottom screws, which pass from within the wheel well out toward the front of the car.
