Universe93

Going home from work at the usual 5pm "rush", a truck's tire blows and a piece of the rubber hits the front end of my 2013 ES. I couldn't change lanes as the road was all full, but we are all traveling 80mph. Looks like it hit the bottom grill section, which came loose and I see several screws just hanging there.

I haven't really looked under there too much, but thought I'd just ask here. Does anyone have any diagrams or manual type pictures of the grill assembly, specifically the bottom? This might be an easy fix. I just have to get out there, but a little under the weather and just in bed. Obviously, I'm hoping to fix something like this by myself rather than pay someone a hourly labor rate that's very easy to fix (for a shop mechanic).

Ratchey

What is your email address? I have the front bumper disassembly / reassembly instructions that may have what you need.

yardie876

My lower grill ate a truck tire tread a few years ago. Sounded and felt terrible. The grill mesh was crashed but it was 100% not visible once the tread was out. Hopefully you have similar luck.

Dave Mac

This will be interesting - I've always worried that the new Lexus/Toyota spindle grill would be real vulnerable to something like this and that the repair would be costly. I've got a year on mine now with no problem but as you found it can be just a truck tread away at any time.

Dave Mac

lesz

I'm afraid that you might be in for a bigger repair than you might think at first.

I'm not sure whether the grille mounts to the bumper via multiple clips that are molded into the back side of the bumper or if the grille is mounted to something behind it, but if your grille is loose now, there is a good chance that, either the clips on the bumper have snapped off, or that the attachment points on the grille or whatever it is mounted to have snapped off. If either of those things has happened, you are likely to have to replace a couple of very expensive parts. Also, I think that, to get access to the area where the grille is attached to the bumper, you are likely going to have to remove the bumper from the car.

I hope that I'm wrong in my speculation. If not, you are probably going to be better off using your insurance and having the repairs done professionally. When I had a similar experience quite a few years ago, the insurance agent told me that, if the object that struck my car was still moving, my comprehensive coverage would apply (which, for me, has no deductible), but, if the object was not moving and just sitting in the road, collision coverage would apply. If it does turn out that the required repair is an expensive one and if you use your insurance, be sure to explain that the piece of the tire was moving because a comprehensive claim should not count against you with regard to raising your rates, and you may have no deductible or a lower deductible for your comprehensive insurance than for your collision coverage.

Good luck with getting it fixed.

madsen203

You should have got truck's insurance info. He damaged your vehicle, directly or indirectly and is his responsibility.

Call highway patrol--worse case they gets a ticket for littering, best case they pay for your damages.

Ratchey

Sorry, I realized the info I sent was for a 2016 and you have a 2013. Different front grills.