My Grill Rattles....Does Yours?
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 109
Likes: 5
From: AZ
My Grill Rattles....Does Yours?
Hello All,
Actually I'm guessing it does, I just can't hear it. I noticed when I had the hood open the other day that my grill on my '98 LS 400 is not securely attached in the hood. It feels like it moves about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (forward and back versus side to side) when when I move it with my hand. I can't see how it is secured.
Does anybody know how the grill is secured? Also, the next time you walk by your LS 400, please give give it a pull or push and let me know if it moves. Maybe they all do this, but I'd be surprised given the fit and finish on a Lexus.
Thank you.
Eddie
Actually I'm guessing it does, I just can't hear it. I noticed when I had the hood open the other day that my grill on my '98 LS 400 is not securely attached in the hood. It feels like it moves about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (forward and back versus side to side) when when I move it with my hand. I can't see how it is secured.
Does anybody know how the grill is secured? Also, the next time you walk by your LS 400, please give give it a pull or push and let me know if it moves. Maybe they all do this, but I'd be surprised given the fit and finish on a Lexus.
Thank you.
Eddie
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 2
From: Sequim, WA
should be bolts underneath where the top of the grill meets the metal of the hood.
Thats where I removed it to install the billet grill on my 91. don't know if it's changed for 2nd gen.....I'd assume it's the same though.
Thats where I removed it to install the billet grill on my 91. don't know if it's changed for 2nd gen.....I'd assume it's the same though.
Driver
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 1
From: Blaine, WA
Trending Topics
Super glue? 
Nah, I'm sure you'll figure it out if you take it out and see exactly how everything is attached. Might be some portion of the grill itself that has become cracked/broken.
Hopefully not, and you'll just find the area to tighten it. Or just add an additional screw/bolt or two in some hidden areas to keep it tight.
Nah, I'm sure you'll figure it out if you take it out and see exactly how everything is attached. Might be some portion of the grill itself that has become cracked/broken.
Hopefully not, and you'll just find the area to tighten it. Or just add an additional screw/bolt or two in some hidden areas to keep it tight.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 3
From: IL
I noticed my grille was a little loose when I was washing my car last summer - turns out one of the small screws was missing entirely.
I just dug through my can of miscellaneous screws and fasteners that I've collected over the years and voila! Problem solved.
Maybe you have more than one missing?
I just dug through my can of miscellaneous screws and fasteners that I've collected over the years and voila! Problem solved.
Maybe you have more than one missing?
It shouldnt be moving like that. Open the hood and look at your bolts. They are 10MM bolts so, I would first tighten those up if you are not missing any. I would look for holes in the back of the grille as well. Smaller ones are screws and the bigger ones are the 10MM bolts.
Just for reference, what part of the grille moves? The whole part or just the inner grille?
Just for reference, what part of the grille moves? The whole part or just the inner grille?
Driver
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 181
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 109
Likes: 5
From: AZ
There's a Lexus emblem in the center of a plastic grill with horizontal grates. That is the piece that moves.
I just tried tightening the Phillips head screws and that did not work. As I said, I tightened the 10mm bolts yesterday w/o success.
Anyway, I'll figure it out and post an update.
Thanks everyone.
Eddie
I just tried tightening the Phillips head screws and that did not work. As I said, I tightened the 10mm bolts yesterday w/o success.
Anyway, I'll figure it out and post an update.
Thanks everyone.
Eddie
Good call TJ, but from Eddie's description I think he has tightened them and they 'felt tight'. If stripped they would continue turning and turning (and you would even be able to have a little vertical play depending on how much the threading was stripped)
I think those bolts do hold the grill in place, but there are more , perhaps less obvious, screw/bolts to be found to remedy the situation.
If it were me I would examine it really well,.. and if I saw nothing else obvious to work with I would do a quick fabrication job of my own screw/bolt in recessed areas of the grill. This should be a rather simple project to get a plastic piece tight on the car, even if you can't find the 'original' method of tightening.
It could be those two bolts are responsible for the tightness, but something else in the framing/plastic has malfunctioned and you will have to do something as I suggested to tighten it all up snug.
I don't know how loose it is, but be sure you get around to it sooner than later so you don't have replace it
Do inform us of what you managed to figure out/do,.. as it just adds to the database of awesome information here.
Thanks,
I think those bolts do hold the grill in place, but there are more , perhaps less obvious, screw/bolts to be found to remedy the situation.
If it were me I would examine it really well,.. and if I saw nothing else obvious to work with I would do a quick fabrication job of my own screw/bolt in recessed areas of the grill. This should be a rather simple project to get a plastic piece tight on the car, even if you can't find the 'original' method of tightening.
It could be those two bolts are responsible for the tightness, but something else in the framing/plastic has malfunctioned and you will have to do something as I suggested to tighten it all up snug.
I don't know how loose it is, but be sure you get around to it sooner than later so you don't have replace it
Do inform us of what you managed to figure out/do,.. as it just adds to the database of awesome information here.
Thanks,
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
pass427
LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006)
5
Sep 29, 2010 08:26 AM
