Honda Accord Bumper Covers

Easy Maintenance Tips for Honda Accord Bumper Cover

Contrary to popular belief, that strip of plastic in front of your Honda Accord is not the bumper. Rather, it is a bumper cover that surrounds the car's actual structural steel bumper. And it is this bumper cover that requires regular cleaning and maintenance not only to keep your sedan's front end looking sporty but also to continue protecting the structural bumper from the elements. Thankfully, maintaining the Honda Accord bumper cover in good condition is quite easy and takes only a couple of hours of your time.

• Stick to washing your car by hand.

Regular washing of the bumpers remains the best way to keep ugly stains and dirt at bay, but we recommend doing it manually rather than driving your car through an automatic car wash. Automatic car washes do not clean the vehicle as thoroughly as doing it by hand, particularly when it comes to the hard-to-reach grooves and corners of the bumper cover. What's more, drive-in car washes often use brushes whose bristles are hard enough to leave scratches on the paint. So aside from saving money, your car's bumper cover will look even better if you wash it using the ol' sponge and bucket method.

• Avoid parking your car under the sun.

UV rays from the sun can speed up the deterioration of the plastic that makes up the bumper cover, causing it to fade or even crack in severe cases. Because of this, we recommend parking the car in a covered garage or any shaded area. In addition, we also recommend polishing the bumper cover with wax that has anti-UV properties after every car wash for added protection.

• When repainting your bumper cover, take out the cover first.

Whether it's to hide a sizable scrape or you want to give the bumper a more customized look, detaching the bumper cover first would make cleanup easier.

• Most scratches can be remedied with a buffing compound, but for deeper scrapes bumper filler might be required.

Buffing compound and buffing filler typically come with a set of instructions, so make sure to follow these carefully. We also suggest finding a compound closest to the color of your vehicle to make it less noticeable.

• A bumper cover is a panel that houses your car’s crash safety components. 
• It is typically made of high-density reinforced plastic and attached to a metal bumper beam.  
• It is designed to absorb shock and crumple in order to dissipate energy during a low-speed collision.
• OEM replacement parts typically cost around $130 to $1,300. Bumper covers are either sold individually, in sets of 2, or as part of a kit.
• Replacing a damaged bumper cover is important in ensuring your vehicle’s crash safety and resale value.

 

The Honda Accord has come a long way from its debut as a three-door hatchback to an icon in the midsize sedan market today. The model is known for its safety, low emissions, and quality driving. Over the years, the Accord continues to be a favorite because of its ability to pack the power of a sporty car in a roomy family sedan.

 

To learn more about the Honda Accord, let’s take a closer look at one of its components: the bumper cover.

 

A bumper cover is a panel that houses your car’s crash safety components. It is typically made of high-density reinforced plastic and attached to a metal bumper beam. This part serves both aesthetic and functional purposes. These are installed in both the front and rear of a vehicle. In a forward collision, the bumper cover protects the headlights and engine, while the rear bumper cover protects the taillights.

 

The bumper cover is an external component of the vehicle that is fitted over a metal beam. It is designed to absorb shock and crumple in order to dissipate energy during a low-speed collision. It also protects the front and rear of your car from flying debris while driving on the road.

 

Before the ‘70s, cars featured heavy chrome bumpers which were meant to resist force. This may sound good in theory, but road accidents at the time still resulted in mangled vehicles and serious injury. Stricter regulations soon demanded better crash safety systems for cars, specifically in low-speed collisions.

 

Car manufacturers later switched out metal bumpers for high-quality thermoplastics. The idea was to combine flexible and rigid components to redirect and resist impact from a collision. The plastic bumper cover was lined with a bumper absorber which is meant to dampen the force and slow down the crumpling process. The remaining impact energy is transferred to the reinforcement bar and bumper brackets which redirect it toward the front of the vehicle.

 

There have been ten generations of the Honda Accord, each with parts of varying sizes. Let us help you find the right bumper cover for your car by using our website’s search engine. Simply plug in your car’s year, make, and model to browse through relevant parts.

 

The cost of Honda Accord bumper covers varies depending on your car’s year and model. OEM replacement parts typically cost around $130 to $1,300. Bumper covers are either sold individually, in sets of two, or as part of a kit. These may come with or without tow hook holes, parking sensor holes, fog light holes, and license plate provisioning.

 

While working on this part on your own is possible, we strongly recommend going to a trusted mechanic to ensure a proper and secure installation.

 

Due to the bumper cover’s location in the front and rear of your vehicle, it is likely to get worn and damaged over time. As a safety precaution, it is recommended to have your bumpers checked every time it is hit in a collision. While dents and scratches may seem cosmetic, only a professional can distinguish whether an internal part is compromised and requires replacement.

 

Catch internal damage early

Misalignment and fine cracks on the bumper are hard to detect from the outside of your car. Having your bumper cover removed and replaced allows your mechanic to check for any underlying issues with its connected crash safety components.

 

Prevent serious injury in a subsequent crash

A single faulty part can diminish your car’s ability to absorb and lessen the severity of the impact, which keeps passengers safe during a road accident. Replacing a damaged bumper cover ensures that important features such as headlights and the engine remain intact in case of a forward collision. It also limits the impact to the front of the vehicle, minimizing the energy transferred to the passenger cabin.

 

Keep your car looking fresh

Replacing an old and damaged bumper cover is a great way to update your vehicle’s look. Scratches and dings from kicked up rocks and branches can easily make your car look old and dated. If you’re planning to sell your car, cosmetic damage may turn buyers away because it can be taken as a sign of hidden damages. Replacing your Accord’s bumper cover will help you retain its resale value.
 

So you’ve finally decided to install the bumper cover on your Honda Accord by yourself. While it can be a bit challenging to do, installing a Honda Accord bumper cover is not that complicated. In this guide, we share some simple tips on how to make the installation process a much easier affair.

Tip #1: Make sure to clean the bumper cover first.

Bumper covers are typically pre-coated with a black primer or e-coat, and this needs to be cleaned first before mounting onto the bumper assembly. Using 600-grit sandpaper, wet sand the whole bumper cover and wipe down with wax and grease remover. Once it’s clean, lay it on a towel or blanket to protect it from scratches.

Tip #2: Check if all the needed hardware is on hand.

Some bumper cover manufacturers include mounting hardware, while some don’t. So make sure that all the necessary hardware is on hand before beginning installation. Most screws and clips for bumper covers are usually available in hardware stores.

Tip #3: Get help from a friend.

While it’s entirely possible to remove and install the bumper covers all on your own, having someone to hold the bumper cover while you prefit and screw it in place can significantly cut down on the effort needed.

Tip #4: Spray the basecoat at a distance of 12 inches.

The distance is roughly similar to that between your pinky finger and your thumb. Spraying it too close may cause the paint to build up and leave unsightly drips on the surface, while spraying it too far may leave a faint cover on the bumper.

Tip #5: Don’t reuse the old hardware for your new bumpers.

While those old screws and clips from your previous bumper cover might still look OK, they might already be weakened structurally due to use. So while it might save you back a couple of bucks, investing on a new set of bumpers might save you and your car in the long run.

Tip #6: Look for any small holes in the bumper cover.

These holes indicate places where screws have to be mounted. Typically, these holes are located at the front of the car near the hood latch and the wheel wells directly on front of the tires.