Exterior Trim (v6) Acura TSX II

Engine Compartment Cover Replacement

Note. Take care not to scratch the front grille or the body. When prying with a flat-tip screwdriver, wrap it with protective tape to prevent damage.

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1. Remove the left engine compartment cover (A). Detach the clip, and release the hooks (B). Pull up the left engine compartment cover to release the pins (C).
2. Remove the right engine compartment cover (A). Detach the clip, and release the hooks (B). Pull up the right engine compartment cover to release the pins (C).
3. Detach the clips, and release the hooks (A), then remove the front grille cover (B).
4. If necessary, detach the clips (A, B), then remove the front fender trim (C). NOTE: The left side is shown; the right side is similar.
5. Install the engine compartment covers in the reverse order of removal, and note these items: If the clips are damaged or stress-whitened, replace them with new ones. Push the clips and the hooks into place securely.

Front Grille Replacement

Note. Take care not to scratch the front bumper. When prying with a flat-tip screwdriver, wrap it with protective tape to prevent damage.

Scheme 5

1. Remove the front bumper (see «FRONT BUMPER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION»(/acura/tsx/ii-2008-2014/remont/exterior-body-panels/#bumpers-v6__front-bumper-removalinstallation) ).
2. Remove the front grille (A) from the front bumper (B) Remove the screws (C), and detach the clips (D, E). Release the ribs (F).
3. Install the grille in the reverse order of removal, and note these items: If the clips are damaged or stress-whitened, replace them with new ones. Push the clips and the hooks into place securely.

Front Grille Molding Replacement

Note. Take care not to scratch the front grille. When prying with a flat-tip screwdriver, wrap it with protective tape to prevent damage.

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1. Remove these items: Front grille Front "A" emblem (see «EMBLEM/STICKER REPLACEMENT»(/acura/tsx/ii-2008-2014/remont/exteriorinterior-trim/#exterior-trim-v6__emblemsticker-replacement) )
2. Remove the front grille upper molding (A) from the front grille base (B). Remove the screws. Release the hooks (C) (eight places) and the projections (D) (three places) from the grille base.
3. Remove the screws, and pull out the front grille molding A to release the hooks (B) (two places) and the hooks (C) (four places) from the front grille base (D), then remove the molding and the center hood seal (E) from the grill base.
4. Install the moldings in the reverse order of removal, and push the hooks and the projections into place securely.

Cowl Cover Replacement

Special Tools Required

KTC Trim Tool Set SOJATP2014*

1. Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program; call 888-424-6857

Note. Put on gloves to protect your hands. Take care not to damage the body. Use the appropriate tool from the KTC trim tool set to avoid damage when removing components. When prying with a flat-tip screwdriver, wrap it with protective tape to prevent damage.

Scheme 8

1. Remove these items: Windshield wiper arms (see «WIPER MOTOR TEST»(/acura/tsx/ii-2008-2014/remont/wiperwasher-systems/#wiperswashers-v6) ) Front fender trims, both sides (see «ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER REPLACEMENT»(/acura/tsx/ii-2008-2014/remont/exteriorinterior-trim/#exterior-trim-v6__engine-compartment-cover-replacement) )
2. Remove the cowl cover (A). Detach the clips (B). Disconnect the washer tube (C). Detach the clips (D, E, F) by carefully pulling up the cover. Release the hooks (G). Release the hood hinge covers (H) from both hood hinges (I).
3. Install the cover in the reverse order of removal, and note these items: If the clips are damaged or stress-whitened, replace them with new ones. Push the clips and the hooks into place securely. Make sure the hood hinge covers are seated on the cowl cover securely. Make sure the washer tube is connected properly.

Windshield Side Trim Replacement

Special Tools Required

KTC Trim Tool Set SOJATP2014*

*Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program; call 888-424-6857

Trim Replacement

Note. Put on gloves to protect your hands. Take care not to damage the windshield. Take care not to bend the windshield side trim. Do not use any metal tools to remove the windshield side trim, or you may chip the edge of the windshield and some cracks in the windshield will result. Use the appropriate tool from the KTC trim tool set to avoid damage when removing components.

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1. Remove the windshield side trim (A). While pushing the upper retainer (B) area of the trim to the pillar side by hand, gently pry up the trim to release if from the retainers. Gradually work your way down to release each of the retainers (C). Slide the trim rearward to release it from the bottom clip (D).
2. Remove the bottom clip (A) by turning it 90 "from the body.
3. If the bottom clip is damaged or stress-whitened, replace it with a new one.
4. Install the bottom clip (A) on the windshield side trim (B). Be sure the projection (C) on the clip points up.
5. Hold up the windshield side trim (A), starting at the top, fit the holes in the trim to the retainers (B) and the bottom clip (C) into the hole in the body, then push on the trim until the trim and the bottom clip snap into place. NOTE: If the retainers were replaced, do not pull up on the trim for at least 24 hours while the adhesive cures.

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1. Gradually scrape off the adhesive tape (A) under the retainers (B) while heating it with a heat gun to about 212-248°F (100-120°C). NOTE: Do not overheat the painted surface around the retainers. To keep the exterior resin parts near the A-pillar from being overheated by the heat gun, wrap them with aluminum foil.
2. Clean the body bonding surface with a shop towel dampened with isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning, keep oil, grease, and water from getting on the surface.
3. Install the upper retainers (A) and the lower retainer (B). Peel the adhesive backing away from the retainers. Line up he retainers with the alignment marks (C) on the body, and attach the retainers with the adhesive tape (D). Apply the two-part epoxy adhesive (E) around the edge of the retainers as shown.

Roof Molding Replacement

Special Tools Required

KTC Trim Tool Set SOJATP2014*

*Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program; call 888-424-6857

Note. Take care not to scratch the body. Use the appropriate tool from the KTC trim tool set to avoid damage when removing components.

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1. Apply the protective tape (A) to the body. Pry up on the roof molding (B) with a trim tool.
2. Pull up and slide the roof molding to release the front bracket (C) from the pin (D).
3. Pull up the front area of the roof molding (A).
4. Pull up and release the rear bracket (A) from the pin (B), then remove the roof molding (C).
5. Install the molding in the reverse order of removal, and note these items: Take care not to damage the windshield molding. Make sure the roof molding is installed securely.

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1. Slowly peel up the old side sill protection tape.
2. Clean the body bonding surface with a shop towel dampened with isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning, keep oil, grease, and water from getting on the surface.
3. Peel off adhesive backing A from the side sill protection tape (C). NOTE: Do not peel adhesive backing B.
4. Align the edge of the side sill protection tape (C) with the radius tangent line (D) in the body, and align the edge of adhesive backing B with the convex area (E) of the body, then press the side sill protection tape where the adhesive backing A was removed into place.
5. Remove the adhesive backing B from the side sill protection tape (A), and press the tape into place.

Rear License Trim Replacement

Special Tools Required

KTC Trim Tool Set SOJATP2014*

*Available through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program; call 888-424-8857

Note. Take care not to scratch the trunk lid. Use the appropriate tool from the KTC trim tool set to avoid damage when removing components.

Scheme 22

1. Pull out the rear license trim (A) to detach the clips (B, C), then remove the trim.
2. Install the trim in the reverse order of removal, and note these items: If the clips are damaged or stress-whitened, replace them with new ones. Push the clips into place securely.

Emblem/Sticker Replacement

Note. When removing the emblems, take care not to scratch the body.

1. To remove the front "A" emblem, remove the front bumper (see «FRONT BUMPER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION»(/acura/tsx/ii-2008-2014/remont/exterior-body-panels/#bumpers-v6__front-bumper-removalinstallation) ).
2. Clean the body surface with a shop towel dampened with isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning, keep oil, grease, and water from getting on the surface.
3. Apply the emblems where shown.

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See also:
• FRONT BUMPER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION
• WIPER MOTOR TEST
• EMBLEM/STICKER REPLACEMENT
• ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER REPLACEMENT