[shindog]

Bryan,
Sorry you had to learn this the hard way...
I myself almost lost one of these clips when taking out the rear grills in my '01. The problem is that most people stick a screwdriver in that little "notched open" area to pry the grill off, not knowing a clip is DIRECTLY behind where you place the screwdriver. I think the combination of pulling, and the contact of the screwdriver on the clip tends to make that particular clip fall off very easily.

Anyhow, when it happened to me, I was able to fish my clip back, bend it back in shape, and re-fit it to the grill. If you haven't moved your car, try reaching back towards the rear corner of the vehicle. You could also try to use a magnetic tipped retriever (or magnetized screwdriver) to get at it if it fell in a little crevice.

Worst case is just get another clip, provided as Chuck stated, it is not rattling around. If it is rattling around, and you can't find it with the retriever, then you have to go all the way and remove the panel to get at it. Not likely this will be the case.

Good Luck,
SJ

p.s.- For me, the trick in not popping off the clip in subsequent attempts was not pushing the screw driver blade in very far, and prying with my fingers around the sides of the grill. Pull with even pressure, and don't force it.. The clip deforms a bit after the first time, so its easier to remove after that.

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DEP '01 EX no-navi

[This message has been edited by shinjohn (edited 10-08-2001).]

 

[shindog]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by sinbad:
I heard a pop, and when I looked at the tab on the back of the grill cover, it looked like I had broken a plastic barb off the end of the tab. I had consulted the Helm manual before, and it does not show any clip or method of removal. I'll fish for the clips, I guess.</font>

Is there a fracture and material missing from the end of the tab, or is it just gouged? If the tab was broken, you'll have to use the poster putty trick or get a new grill. Otherwise, just fish out the clip, and be sure to bend the "teeth" of the clip some to make sure it bites well to the plastic tab on the grill. That helps keep it from falling back off later.

Good luck,
SJ

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DEP '01 EX no-navi

 

[shindog]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by TurboRT:
What are the locations of those two clips ? What'd the location you suggest to pry the screw driver into ? The 2002 does not have a "notched" open for the back grilles. I tried to open them last night. Out of fear of losing those clips, I did not have much luck.</font>

I have not seen the '02, so I'm not sure exactly how that looks. In my '01, IIRC, the notch was along the bottom edge, inboard to the vehicle. That's where I pryed. The two tabs were on the inboard most sides of the grill covers, I think. Sinbad feels you can use your screwdriver to hold one of the clips in place as you pull it off. Haven't tried that, so don't know. You just gotta try it, unless sinbad can give more advice on the '02.

-SJ

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DEP '01 EX no-navi

 

[shindog]

Love my Ody, and love Hondas overall, but I gotta say this: this clip design on the Ody is probably the most bone-headed design I've seen for a speaker grill. What in the heck were those engineers thinking?
AND they didn't even change it on the '02 when they had the chance to. What's up with that?

OK, now back to your regularly scheduled program.... Oh I love my Ody, I love my Ody.....

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DEP '01 EX no-navi