Mitsubishi Eclipse Grille

GrilleGuy.com, LLC
Mitsubishi Eclipse Grille
Installation instructions and care guide.
Table of Contents
A. 2000 & Up,
B. 2000 - 2005,
C. 2000 - 2005,
D. 2006 & Up,
Eclipse Front Center Grille Install
Eclipse Side Vent Grille Install
Eclipse Rear Accent Grille Install
Two Piece Upper Grille Install
Thanks again for purchasing your custom grille insert from the GrilleGuy. The following are
some general guidelines that will simplify the installation process and make owning your
GrilleGuy grille an enjoyable experience.
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Always place the head of the cable tie behind the grille for a cleaner more custom
look.
Occasional use of an aluminum polish will give your grille a brilliant shine
A. Hardware list (center grille, 2000 - 2007):
1 perforated aluminum grille insert
1 vinyl trim gasket
10 weather resistant nylon cable ties
Installation Procedure:
There are two different methods to install this grill, method #1 is easier and requires no
modifications to your car, however it is not as secure as method #2. The second method is
more stable and less prone to move but requires drilling several holes in the plastic on your
car and is a little more difficult to do. Which method you chose is up to you, but I should note
that this member of the GrilleGuy staff uses the first method on his own Spyder GT.
Note: A 2000 GT with fog lights was used as the example for the center grille instructions.
Method #1 can be adapted for all eclipse model years listed at the top of the page. If you
don’t feel comfortable adapting method #1 for your particular model eclipse, use method #2.
Method #2 is more secure and easily applies to all the models listed.
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Method #1
Step 1 – Route three cable ties around the brackets (or similar anchor points) in front of the
radiator as shown, do not tighten these, only engage the teeth in the cable tie by about one
inch. These ties will serve as anchor points for the ties that actually hold the grill.
Left
Center
Right
Step 2 – Test fit the grille insert by placing it inside the opening, shiny side out. The grille
should conform to the center opening on the car and fit snugly. This will actually help provide
support for the grille. Use a pencil or magic marker to mark the holes where you want to
route the cable ties, corresponding to the support ties you just installed. These should be
centered top to bottom, directly in front of the anchor ties.
Step 3 – Route a cable tie through an opening in the grille (from the back) and then
through the front of the grille via an adjacent hole.
Step 4 - Wrap the cable tie thru the loop of the anchor tie. Now, complete the loop. Go
ahead and push the cable tie “tail end” thru the back of the grille and out the front. This
way you will be able to pull tight from the front side. Loosely fasten the cable ties,
do not tighten at this point. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for all three loops.
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Step 5 – Tighten the cable ties using an alternating pattern. Pull the cable tie tail no more
than ½ inch each time then move to the next point. This is critical; if you tighten too
much at one time the grille may move out of position in such a way that it can not be
repositioned without starting over.
Important!!! DO NOT over tighten the cable ties, these cable ties have 40 lbs tensile
strength, your grille insert weighs less than 2 lbs. You just need enough tension to keep it
from moving around, it is possible to damage the grille insert by over tightening.
Method 2
Step 1 – Drill six 5/32” holes in the body color plastic front end panels as shown, three in
the top and three in the bottom. These holes should be approximately 6 to 8 inches in
from each side and one in the center (top and bottom). Drill approximately 1” in from the
back edge of the panel.
Step 2 – Test fit the grille insert by placing it inside the opening, shiny side out. The grille
should conform to the center opening on the car and fit snugly. This will actually help provide
support for the grille. Use a pencil or magic marker to mark the holes where you want to
route the cable ties, corresponding to the holes you just drilled. These should be as close as
possible to the top and bottom, directly in front of the holes.
Step 3 – Route a cable tie through an opening in the grille, next to the trim (from the back)
and then through the front of the grille via an adjacent hole. Six ties in all.
Step 4 - Wrap the cable tie thru the hole and out from under the panel. Now, complete
the loop as shown below. Go ahead and push the cable tie “tail end” thru the back of the
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grille and out the front. This way you will be able to pull tight from the front side.
Loosely fasten the cable tie, do not tighten at this point. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for all
six ties. The last couple will be a little more difficult, especially if you tightened the first
few too much.
Step 5 – Tighten the cable ties using an alternating pattern. Pull the cable tie tail no more
than ½ inch each time then move to the next point. This is critical; if you tighten too
much at one time the grille may move out of position in such a way that it can not be
repositioned without starting over.
Important!!! DO NOT over tighten the cable ties, these cable ties have 40 lbs tensile
strength, your grille insert weighs less than 2 lbs. You just need enough tension to keep it
from moving around, it is possible to damage the grille by over tightening.
Installation complete, your grill comes without all the bugs this one has collected.
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B.
Hardware list (side grilles, 2000 - 2005):
4 perforated aluminum grille inserts
4 vinyl trim gaskets
16 weather resistant nylon cable ties
Installation Procedure:
Step 1 – Remove the OEM inserts by reaching underneath the car to access the backside of
the plastic parts. Feel around for the plastic gibs that hold these pieces in place. Squeeze
the gibs to release the part and pull free from the front, very easy.
Step 2 – Feed a cable tie thru the two openings as shown below.
Step 3 - Thread the cable tie and push the head around to the back. Now, cinch the zip tie
until it is tight. Do this twice as shown below. This will create anchor points for attaching the
grille.
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Step 4 – Route a cable tie through an opening in the side grille (from the back) and then
through the front of the grille via an adjacent hole. This is important!
Step 5 - Wrap the cable tie thru the anchor point you just created. Now, complete the tie
loop. Go ahead and push the cable tie “tail end” thru the back of the grille and out the
front. This way you will be able to pull tight from the front side. Loosely fasten the
cable tie, do not tighten at this point.
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Step 5 – Complete both sides,
Go back and secure each cable tie by pulling slightly on each one ( 1/4 to ½ inch at a
time). Use an alternating pattern. This will ensure the grille is pulled in evenly and has a
secure even fit. Do not over tighten, it is possible to damage the grille insert during
this step.
Step 6 – Clip the cable tie tale, repeat for the other three side grilles and you are done!!
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C. Hardware list (rear accent grille, 2000 - 2005):
1 perforated aluminum grille insert
1 vinyl trim gasket
Step 1 - remover your rear plate and any accompanying frame.
Step 2 - position the rear accent grille over the bolt holes.
Step 3 - reinstall the rear plate over the accent grille.
D. Hardware list (two piece upper grille, 2006 - 2007):
2 perforated aluminum grille inserts
6 weather resistant nylon cable ties
2 vinyl trim gasket
Step 1 – Test fit the grille insert by placing it against the plastic OEM grille, shiny side out.
Use a pencil or magic marker to mark the holes where you want to route the cable ties.
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Step 2 - Route a cable tie through an opening in the grille (from the back) and then
through the front of the grille via an adjacent hole.
Step 3 - Wrap the cable tie thru the plastic OEM grille work. Now, complete the loop. Go
ahead and push the cable tie “tail end” thru the back of the grille and out the front. This
way you will be able to pull tight from the front side. Loosely fasten the cable ties,
do not tighten at this point. Repeat steps 1-3 for the opposite side.