Hey guys,

I own a 2003 Mazda B2300 Base model and I'm replacing the OEM front grey grill with an OEM Chrome grill.

I was able to remove the old one, but in attempting to install the new one, the two lower clips retract into the the chassis whenever I try to snap it into place. How do I hold these clips in the open (non-retracted position so that I can snap the new one into place.

The truck has never been hit and the front end is 100% original.

It seems like it should be a simple install, but when the clips retract, the grill tabs cannot seat themselves

 

Can you use needle nose pliers hold them open?

 

I spent some time looking over the clip design because I just couldn't prevent them from retracting when I tried to mate the grill tabs.

These two lower vehicle clips have dimples formed into the top of them. So I pulled the clip forward (out away from the chassis) until the dimple was exposed. Then I aligned the front grill tabs with the clips and using slight upward pressure on the entire grill assembly I managed to use the clip dimples to hold the clips from retracting back into the chassis and they installed.

I greased and used SeaFoam in order to reduce the force needed to mate the clip and grill tabs to each other.