ActiveTuning 05-06 Nissan Altima S5 Grille

Installation Time: 10 Minutes

Tools Required

• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Side-cutting pliers or large scissors
• Glue/Gun (INCLUDED)

Please be careful when handling the aluminum mesh as there are sharp edges. The use of gloves is recommended.

Installing The Mesh on Non-Prepainted Grilles after Painting

The first step is to have your grille painted (if it did not come pre-painted). Be sure that the paint is fully cured. Once that has been done, follow these instructions to install the mesh. Allow 24 hours for the glue to cure, and then follow the instructions on removing your old grille, and installing the new one.

First you need to set up a work area. Any flat surface covered with a soft folded blanket will work fine. The freshly painted surface of the grille needs to be protected from scratches.

Lay the grille surround face down on your work surface. Pre-fit your mesh to insure that it fits well, and flush to the fiberglass at the bottom where the clearance to the bumper cover opening is minimal. Apply a bead of adhesive to the top, sides and bottom of the mesh opening just below the edge as shown, and spread it out flat and smooth with a fingertip:

Place the grille into position the grille so that the bottom edge is as flush as possible with the surround. Push it up after adding weights to hold it down.

Apply a thick 1/4" bead of adhesive through the mesh so that it bonds to the adhesive bead below. Wipe it smooth and almost flush with the mesh with a fingertip: Insure that no adhesive will be visible from the front.

Allow to cure for 24 hours before installation.

Assembled and Painted Grille Installation

Open the hood, and you’ll see four fasteners holding in the upper portion of the OEM grille.

Using the small screwdriver, pry up the center of the fastener by inserting the screwdriver into one of the three recesses in the fastener.

It will come up about 1/4" and stop. Now grab the protruding center portion with your fingertips, pull up, and it will pop out. If you have any difficulty, try shifting the grille around a bit to allow the holes in the grille and in the mounting surface underneath to better align themselves, or prying a bit under the large outer diameter of the fastener. Set the four fasteners aside, they will be reused to install your Active Tuning S5 Grille.

To remove the two lower fasteners, you will need to release the tabs with the screwdriver.

Pull the top of the OEM grille away from the car just enough to fit your hand and screwdriver in behind the grille. Apply some pressure to the side of the tab with the screwdriver blade while pulling out on the bottom of the grille and it will pop loose. Repeat for the other side. Store the OEM grille in the ActiveTuning S5 Grille box. Add a piece of protective tape to the bottom and sides of the grille opening to protect the paint if desired.

A short piece of edge trim is also included and needs to be installed onto the protruding front lower edge of the OE bumper cover grille opening edge such that the S5 grille will "hook" underneath it. Now carefully place the AT S5 Grille in the bumper cover opening by centering it and "hooking" the lower edge into the center lower recess of the bumper cover grille opening.

Apply slow steady pressure to bond the adhesive caulk and set the lower edge flush.

Roll the grille rearward, apply light pressure to set the adhesive caulk around the upper holes, and insert the upper fasteners in the holes. The holes in the grille are drilled slightly oversize to allow for production tolerance variations, and the fastener will cover the entire hole. Apply some additional steady pressure downward at each fastener location to compress and set the adhesive caulk, and then press the center pins down to lock them into place.

Clean off your new grille, close the hood and you’re done!

If you are still having problems, post your issue in our installation issues forum.