Knocked out the "Justintime" method this weekend. Looks great. The adhesive fasteners that I attached my zip ties to worked great as well. I can get you a pic of them deployed as I can't get my big-ass camera in there, but I'll see what I can do.

Spent about 18 bucks total and ended up with some extra zip ties to use around the house (all of them are actually in use already--didn't realize I needed them so bad until i bought some). I'll include them in the total price though.

My condenser, like many others, was full of bugs and such. Really glad I did this.

Nice $100 solution though. Looks pretty professional, though I am partial to the look of the OEM grill.

I'll get some pics up when I get a chance.

-P

 

As long as what you use meets all the requirements of the job and it's not visibly degrading there is no reason to object unless you just want to be unnecessarily prissy.

In my situation the zip ties tie to the mesh up behind all the different openings so you can't see any of them, at all. I also carefully lined the openings with rubber to prevent any mesh-fiberglass rattling. All of my mesh is very taught and vibration-free.

With the stock front ends you guys are dealing with I can understand the desire for screws since the zip ties would have been in a visible location, and that looks trashy IMO.

 

TO be clear, I have no real 'problem' with Zipties... In my tutorial, I used zipties myself LOL. Im just saying, it's acceptable for a DIY solution, and imho NOT acceptable for a commercial grade product. Not for me anyway!

 

http://www.sestrims.com/

Anyone installed or have opinions about the Fit Billet Grill from SES Trims?

 

The top is hideous IMO. The bottom is "so-so"...similar to Mr. Grill but I wouldn't be putting chrome on my fit...ever.

 

Thanks so much for providing clear how-to. I'll try it as soon as I get my mesh in the mail.

 

I did a lazy version of the "justintime" wire mesh mod. I didn't bother to secure the wire mesh with the 2 clips. I just added a couple more zip ties to secure it. I'll be running my baby for at least 400 miles this week. I'll check & report next weekend to see how it holds up. I even thought of adding a Home Depot fiberglass screen but decided to save the $6.

I have ~2.5k miles in her so far. The condenser has a couple of minor dings and a handful of bugs. I noticed that my 2002 Civic EX sedan has an identical lower grill. I had it for 7 yrs. and was lucky to have no condenser issues despite numerous road debris craters on it. I even once found feathers and bird remains on the grill and condenser.

It's my 1st ever vehicular DIY. It took 3x longer for me to measure & cut the wire mesh & to look for a clip that fell into the engine compartment than the actual mesh installation. I wasn't able to properly re-install one of the clips. For some reason, the bastrd won't go down the hole like its other brothers

Pics:
Before installation

During installation (look at all the dead bugs)

Finished product



On a side note, take look at the dead bugs and rock dings on the last 2 photos. I'm so happy I got the clearbra installed (all the pics except for the 1st shows the car with clearbra already installed). I just wish I did it sooner. My hood already had a couple of rock chips. My next DIY project would be to put clearbra on the rear, sides, and on the fuel door (we can't pump our own gas in NJ...the last attendant used his fist with rings to open the fuel hatch).

Last but not least, big thanks & high 5 to justintime for providing clear instructions and photos.

 

Ya'll need to sport some rings and leave an "impression" on your last gas jockey attendants face

It's one thing to put your first scratch on your car, but when someone else does it...well, they deserve a special reminder for their lack of attention to someone elses property.

 

Someone whose job it is to pump your gas should NOT be allowed to wear ****ing rings while doing it. Seriously. I would want to say something to the owner.

 

Hey thanks alot for that DIY. I ordered the Mr. Grille myself yesterday from Ebay after the boneheads at Grille Tech shipped me the wrong damn grille. It took weeks to get the damn thing and then when I finally got it, it says on the box (not for sport model)?! Nowhere on their website does it say the grille won't fit on a sport model. I was steamed, but it's being returned as I type this.

I look forward to get the Mr. Grille product. I ordered mine with a black finish too. Looks like an easy, effective solution to what I consider to be a design flaw from Honda. Zip ties are fine by me, I've been using zip ties for various project for years and they are great. The never corrode, they never lossen, and they are hardly noticeable. Plus they are incredibly strong, a grille fastened with zip ties isn't going anywhere for the life of the vehicle. Some people may still feel comfortable with screws and metal fasteners but for me the zip ties are actually preferred.

 

I need to get that done to my fit I just got a 09.

 

i really need to do this. i do a lot of long distance trips...

 

Just a curiosity....
I found a pdf broshure from Honda Austria (i think...). Take a look at photo n. 7 is that a honda-made mesh grill? Here in Greece they tell me they know nothing of a part like that. (about time i send an email to Austria.....)
http://www.google.gr/url?sa=t&source...Iq4e81ehuS8qrw

 

After 1 week & ~700 miles of mostly highway driving, the wire mesh is holding. Not sure if it's working though since my condenser still has bugs on it. But they could be the old bugs before the installation. I should've probably hosed down them down.

 

The mesh wont keep buhs from getting through! And it's not the bugs you need to worry about!

 

Bookmark, to be able to find this thread easily. Protecting the condensor is at the top of the list of things to do after I pick up my new Fit Monday.

 

My advise to potential new Fit owners is to put a protective mesh on as soon as you buy Fit! When I started the job on the 4 day old Fit Sport this weekend, I saw that there were dents on the condenser already -- which I did not see when I picked up the Fit -- as though something light pushed the fins inward a bit. These spots look brighter too...I don't think anything's leaking, though. Anyway, I used more flexible aluminum gutter guard from Lowes instead of the black plastic mesh. There were heavy duty aluminum gutter guard that was not easy to bend and a roll of lighter gutter guard - which I chose to install. I am NOT a DIY person, but the pictures and detail explanation on this forum help me finish the job in about 1 hour. Tying the zip-ties took the longest.

 

Your not supposed to tie them. One end just sort of slips inside the other. That should cut down on the time.

 

Just an FYI for those in CA.

Their is a division of the BBB called the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Google Search that.

They helped me with my Infiniti which was giving me problems. They are paid by our tax dollars, so there is no charge. They can literally close up shop on service centers that aren't performing to the BBB standards.

The gentleman that helped me did a great job, Infiniti Corp. was calling me nearly instantly, the service managers, everyone. They helped me look into Lemon Law issues, they couldn't assist in the actual case, but they got me really prepared and the reason I'll soon be driving a Fit is because my Infiniti was finally deemed a Lemon. Without their assistance I wouldn't have the first clue of where to go.

Give the Bureau of Automotive Repair a call, file a claim, and watch Honda give you a call back. Or check out their website.

 

Wow it was good to find this thread with only 100 miles on the new Fit. As I was reading I realized I had a roll of the fine plastic mesh like McMaster Carr has. It is generic gutter guard from a roofing company I used to work for.

Went out to the garage today and did the no-drill no-cost grill install. The mesh I have is just barely wide enough to cover the grill on a base. Probably wouldn't work on a sport.



Looks like Honda was going to install a grill but decided not to? I just cut the mesh where the tabs are and it kind of clipped on. I also cut it around the round bosses that look like they are for screws and pushed some pieces of rubber hose over them to secure the mesh.



The mesh is pretty flimsy. I was going to just zip tie it to the slats on the bumper but then I came up with an idea to stiffen it a bit. I cut some pieces of aluminum tubing (from work at my current job we throw the stuff away all the time.) to go behind the slats and help hold the mesh in place.



Then I zip tied through the mesh and around the tubing to secure the mesh.



Should have gotten some white zip ties but I wanted to get this done with what I had on hand. Not very noticeable anyway.

Not too bad to accomplish. If I were doing this again I would sand down the sharp edge on the plastic grill. I've got one heck of a scratched-up arm from rubbing on that sharp edge pulling zip ties and such.

The final product is not very noticeable but looks better than just being open especially on white.



Some great info in this thread. I'm glad I found out about this before I had any trouble. Those plates are off of my wife's "clunker" and will be going in the trash soon.