Home/ Repair guides/ 1994-2000 Toyota RAV4 Front Bumper Replacement

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1994-2000 Toyota RAV4 Front Bumper Replacement

Replacement of the front bumper may seem...

iFixit Library 1994-2000 Toyota RAV4 Moderate 1 hour Guide 171635

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Guide overview

Before you begin

Replacement of the front bumper may seem daunting at first. However, this guide will show you a step-by-step process to replace the front bumper. The front bumper is located at the front part of the car under the hood, the hood is in front of the windshield. Replacing your front bumper may be necessary since it may be damaged or cracked. Damaged front bumpers may have trouble holding the headlights. While replacing the front bumper, you need to be aware of the hazards of making sure the vehicle is parked properly and not putting your whole body under the car. You will be using a socket wrench with a 10mm socket. Now you are ready to replace the bumper.

Step 1

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The front bumper is located under the hood and below the headlights. The red box (photo 3) is the bumper.

Step 2

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This is called a socket wrench and it is attached with a 10mm socket. This is the only tool you need for this process.
This tool is required to remove 10 mm bolts
The mechanism is shown in the red circle. This mechanism determines the turning of the socket. When the socket turns left it is loosing the bolts. When the socket turns to the right it is tighting the bolt.

Step 3

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Open the driver's side door
The square lever with the car symbol, pull it towards you.

Step 4

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There is a lever in the grill of the car. Press up to activate it
After activating the hood you will be able to hold the hood up with one arm.
In the red circle from the second picture, there is a thing holding the metal stick called a hood lift. Pull the hood lift and press it up.
The hood lift will have a hook to enter and attach it self to the hood. Put the hook of the hood lift inside the hole. (Example of this in the third picture).

Step 5

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The next step requires removing a bolt next to the passenger door (right door next to the wheels).
Connect the socket to the bolt and twist the handle to the left. Continue to do this till you remove the bolt.
Make sure the wrench's mechanism is set to loosen the bolt.

Step 6

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There is another bolt next to the wheel to the front left of the car.
The same thing applies to this bolt. Twist the handle to the left and remove the bolt.
Remember to keep all of the bolts and nuts with you. You will need them when you put back the new bumper.
Storing bolts and nuts in the driver's seat is a viable option

Step 7

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The next set of bolts is located at the bottom of the bumper.
Your head/body does not need to be under the car to remove these bolts.
There are three bolts in total like this (the bolt in the red circle)
Twist the handle to the left and remove the bolt.

Step 8

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Twist the handle to the left and remove the bolt.
The bumper is now loose and you will be able to remove it but don't pull it to remove it since the cables of the lights for the bumper are still attached.

Step 9

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In the front bumper, there is a light panel to fully remove the bumper you will need to detach the cables of these lights.
In this photo (second slide), we remove the right (passenger) light.
Press on the clips on the sides of the cable (where my thumb and index finger resides). Then pull to slide the cable.

Step 10

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This cable is still on the right side of the bumper. There are four sections for this cable we need to match to remove.
In the third photo, there are gaps in the socket where the light enters. We simply need to match it with the gaps and we can remove the light.
The second photo showcases (the material in the red circle) the part we need to match.
Now the operation we need to do is to twist the light while pulling carefully to see if the gaps match with the material.

Step 11

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Transition to the left side of the bumper. This light as we recall in step 9. I remove the brown cable by pressing the clips and pulling it out.
However similar to the step 10 you can twist and turn to match the gaps and remove the light.
Both ways are viable you can use either matching the gaps or pressing the clips to pull out the cable or light.

Step 12

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This is the same for this step. To remove this cable you will apply the same rules we follow in step 10.

Step 13

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Now we can remove the bumper.
Press up with your two hands like in the second photo and pull the bumper towards you.

Step 14

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To put your front bumper back you will simply do the order in reverse.
Push the brown cable into the appropriate socket and once you hear a click then it is stable.

Step 15

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Once again match the gaps of the material with the cable. Once the light has entered the component twist to the left or right.
Make sure to pull lightly to verify if the cable is placed correctly

Step 16

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Place the cable in the appropriate gaps and twist and turn like in step 15.

Step 17

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This is the same for this step. Twist and turn to stabilize the cable.

Step 18

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Place the bumper down on the car.
The photos of the lights are there to give you an understanding of when the lights are turned off. In the next steps, we will be verifying if the lights work or not.

Step 19

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To check if the lights are on, go to the driver's seat.
Look behind the wheel and there will be this switch to turn the lights (Photos 1).
Press the switch up to activate the right light.
Check the light on the right side to make sure the cables are plugged in correctly.

Step 20

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Now press the lever down to activate the light on the left.
Now check if the light is activated.
if neither of the lights is on remove the bumper and plug in the cables again before moving along

Step 21

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Have your socket wrench ready.
Switch the mechanism (explain in more detail in step 2) to the opposite direction to tighten the bolts.
Retrieve the bolts that you removed.

Step 22

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We will be working on the left side first. Place the bolt under the socket where you removed it.
Press upwards and turn to the right to tighten the bolt.
The bolt will feel secure when you turn to tighten it which will get harder. Keep on tightening till you can not anymore.

Step 23

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This step is the same as the last one. Press upwards and turn right with the handle to tighten the bolt.

Step 24

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We will now go to the bottom of the bumper to put the bolts back to the sockets.

Step 25

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Press the bolt to the socket and twist it to the right to let it start entering the socket.

Step 26

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When the bolt gets harder to turn as you tighten it. Use the wrench to tighten the socket.
Do steps 25 and 26 for all of the bottom sockets.

Step 27

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Now you placed back the bumper
Grip firmly and wiggle the bumper to make sure the bumper is secured properly.

Step 28

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Hold the hood up to remove the hood lift

Step 29

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With the hand that is free from holding the hood use it to press down on the hood lift to secure it.

Step 30

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Pull down the hood and press it down to push it till you here a click.
The process of the bumper is now done. Enjoy yourself!