Expert: William Forster - 11/2/2007

Question
My daughter his a pole.  I cang get a replacement fender cheap.  I would like to replace it my self.  I see about 7-8 bolts on top under the hood.  Where else is the fender attached? does the bumper need to come off?

Answer
The fender is attached to the bumper cover- remove the headlamp to access the bolts. There is also a bracket going from the fender/bumper area to the inner structure. It has 1 small bolt holding it. If it's the right fender, the washer bottle will need taken out to remove the fender, the fill tube snakes through the hole in the front fender mount bracket. The bottle lives in a pocket in the right front corner, inside the bumper cover. You will need to remove the fender liner to get the bottle out. The hood hinge is spot welded to the fender, you will need to remove the hood bolts on that side, and support the hood. The whole hinge assembly will come off with the fender, If you carefully twist the hinge on the fender back and forth, you will snap the 1 spot weld that holds the hinge to the fender. That will allow for more adjustment of the hood hinge, and you will be able to place the hinge assembly back on the car, supporting the hood while you attach the new fender. Leave the bolts loose on the body side of the hinge so the fender will slide easily under the hinge. Also, ream the fender mounting holes larger- these things never fit right if you don't enlarge the holes. Bill