So in an effort to track down bad wiring I'm removing the front bumper. Manual isn't the best on this one but I 've just about got it off

Looks like there are just two very funky screws holding it on. They're in the middle of the nose up thru the red plastic between the fog lights and anchored into like yellowish plastic. on the 'heads' its just a flat plastic circle. The other end looks like a regular screw with a "v" notch in it.

Anyone? please!??!!

 

After you take off your belly pan you have the 2 in the nose and one in each side of the fender. TO get the ones that attach to the fender (near where the bumper attaches to the fender)take off a few of the inner fender screws, turn the wheel to get into the area easier (or just take the wheel off). Doing that helps taking the fender/bumper bolt out easier. It also helps if you have a swivle (nuckle) joint on your ratchet. Its not tha t tuff of a job. good luck

 

i've already taken the wheels and mud guards off and both sides are ready to come off, plenty of play in them. just the center, somewhere on the bottom is stuck, presumably by these things that have no obvious way of being removed.

 

The headless plastic bolts can be push out from the oppisite side. If you break it off no big deal goto napa and get new ones.

 

those are the ones that have a v shaped notch in em?
if so, thanks a ton! hard to get to tho

 

That would be them. I broke mine off and bought new ones quick and easy. What helps is if you have needle nose pliers that have a 90 degree bend. Squeeze the v down by where it meets the flat surface and pull.

 

will do.
thanks a ton 4Fun!

 

I highly recommend taking off the head light covers. It makes getting 1 of the 3 upper fender bolts off easy. Take off inner fenders, front spoiler and lower pan, 4 in nose, all at top on aluminum. Here are some of my crappy pics: http://www.adornedmerchandise.com/Mazda/FrontBumper/

 

in 003, those white things are in the same area my two funky screws are.

 

Those went to the license plate frame which I took off. You have to remove these. You can see from 005 that there are 4 in the top of the nose and 3 in the bottom. I got new plastic fasteners for all the lower ones. Mine were missing.

I bought all new aluminum supports for the top of the bumper along with a new bumper. The old bumper had the common warped problem. I was thinking about going '99 bumper but was too expensive...