1A Auto Video Library
Our how-to videos have helped repair over 100 million vehicles.
Enter Vehicle Year Make Model

Specify your vehicle's year, make and model to guarantee fit.

How to Remove Front Bumper 2002-06 Nissan Altima

Created on: 2017-08-24

How to remove or replace a damaged, scratched, or broken front bumper cover on 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Nissan Altima

  1. step 1 :Removing the Bumper Cover
    • Remove the six push clips with a prying tool
    • Turn the wheel to access the wheel well
    • Peel back the splash shield near the headlight and remove the 10mm nut beneath
    • Remove the 10mm self-tapping screw on the front of the bumper
    • Repeat the process on the other side
    • Remove the 10mm screws underneath the bumper on the splash shield
    • Pull down the shield
    • Pry out the push clips from the splash shield
    • Pull out the bumper cover and remove it with an assistant
  2. step 2 :Installing the Bumper Cover
    • Lift the bumper cover over the impact foam and into the clip underneath the headlamp
    • Tighten the 10mm screws into the bumper on both sides
    • Tighten the 10mm screws underneath the bumper on the splash shield
    • Press in the clips to the splash shield
    • Press on the six clips to the top of the grille

Tools needed

  • Flat Blade Screwdriver

    Phillips Head Screwdriver

    10mm Socket

    Ratchet

    Assistant

    Trim Tool Set

Open the hood. The handle is under the dash, release the safety catch. Here. The hood prop rod is actually on the bottom of the hood. It goes here, the side of the fender. Remove the six push clips on the top of the bumper and grille. Use the plastic prying tool, you can get this from 1AAuto.com if you don't have one, or a flat bladed screwdriver will. Work the prying tool under each side of the clip, work it up, and slide it underneath. Basically just have to get it to unlock. It's okay if the center part comes out, you can push it back together.

Take the prying tool, pry out this part, push this back together so it doesn't get lost. Remove the last clip. With the vehicle on the ground, you can turn the wheels to the inside and peel the plastic splash shield open a little bit. Reach up with a 10mm socket and ratchet, undo this bolt here. Or you can lift and support the vehicle, take the wheels off, and have a little bit better access, which is what we're going to do so we can show you what we're doing.

Reach up with a 10mm socket and remove this one. Peel back the fender liner. There's also a second screw up in here, actually it is a 10mm self-tapping, reach in and undo it. Remove these Phillips head screws from under the bumper. There is one here, here and there is one here and here. This will loosen the splash shield from inside the bumper so I have more access in there. Actually pull it down and away. Normally, there's an under body shield that is connected to here, that goes underneath the engine for aerodynamics. On our vehicle, it is missing. There are push clips, there are push clips just like the ones on top that you have to pry out with a screwdriver and then push out. You will have to undo those to loosen this bumper from the bottom part. Obviously we don't have those, so we're going to skip that step. Just like the driver's side, remove the 10mm self-tapping screws from the inside of the front bumper. There's one close to the wheel well, and one further in closer to the headlight. Ours is missing on both sides, so we don't have to remove it.

Now the bumper is really loose, and you'll need an assistant to help you pull it off. So with someone helping you, put one hand in the grill opening, your other hand by the wheel opening, we're going to pull it away from the wheel opening and kind of pull to the front. There is a clip under the headlamp. If it's stuck, you may need to pull it off. The driver's side came off real easy for me, and just lift the bumper off and put it someplace safe while you do your other work.

With someone to help you, lift the bumper into place. Place it over the impact foam, and into the clip under the headlamp. It might take a little bit of maneuvering a bit. There it goes. Now the bumper is loosely in place, it's time to put the screws and clips back in. There are two self tapping screws with 10mm heads on both sides of the bumper. There's one that goes in here, and one that goes in the outside here. Our vehicle is missing the inside one, only because it's sort of difficult to get to. I'm going to reinstall just this outside one. If your vehicle has both of these, make sure you try to install both. You're just going into plastic, so once I feel them get tight, I'm going to stop. It's the same on the driver's side, there's a 10mm self-tapping screw that goes on the inside here, and then one that goes on the end of the bumper here. Ours is missing the inside one on this side also, so I'm going to put the other one through the bracket and up into the fender.

Going to reinstall the Phillips head self-tapping screws that hold on the bottom of the fender liner. I just need to slide it up on the inside of the bumper here. Two of these on each side, driver's and passenger side, lined up. At this time, if your car has the under shield that goes here, you reinstall it and reinstall your push clips along the edge of the bumper. Repeat for the other side with the splash shield, installing the Phillips head self-tapping screws.

These clips, these type of push clips, are used in most cars. They just push in like this. This one's all busted and broken. If you got busted and broken ones, you can get new ones from 1AAuto.com You have to remove this one. Your new push clips, they may look a little different, but they operate in the same exact manner. They'll go into the hole, push it, it will lock and snap in, and the whole thing is nice and tight. Reinstall the six push clips on the top of the grill and the bumper. Line up the holes, and push the clips in.

Thanks for watching. Visit us at 1AAuto.com for quality auto parts, fast and free shipping, and the best customer service in the industry.


Why Does My Car Axle Click Diagnosing and Explaining Axle Noises

Watch this video to learn about CV axles, and why they may click when damaged or worn.

Share on:
Go To Top

Same Day Shipping

Need your part faster? Choose expedited shipping at checkout.

Guaranteed To Fit

Highest quality, direct fit replacement auto parts enforced to the strictest product standards.

USA Customer Support

Exceeding customers' expectations, our team of passionate auto enthusiasts are here to help.

Instructional Video Library

Thousands of how-to auto repair videos to guide you step-by-step through your repair.