Fitting Towbar to Kia Carens

[Clive_5123006]

After reading The Fit your own towbar article in March 2009 edition of Practical Caravan, I decided to have a go on my 2005 Kia Carens and ordered a Towsure towbar

According to the instructions I have to remove the whole bumper, the instructions say to remove light clusters and trim inside the boot.

Then remove bumper "(undo 10 fasteners on upperside of bumper, 4 around / rearward / underside of each wheel arch." I can see 4 screws along rear of each wheel arch but this would involve taking wheel off to remove these, also I am not sure if the bumper should come off with mud flaps as 3 of these screws seem to be holding mudflap to bumper, this is as far as I got.

Instructions then says "Inside boot locate bolts holding top of bumper arms to top of chassis rails (2 on each side) and undo. Gently pull bumper tips outwards, then pull bumper rearward".

It would have been nice to have a diagram with the instructions so I have been looking for a workshop manual on line but so far no luck.

I have also been along to a KIA dealer but they could not help.

Has anyone ever removed a bumper from a Carens?

 

[Dustydog]

Clive

I took father in laws Carens rear bumper off last year to fit some eversing sensors.

You're nearly there. Under the rear wheel arches are also two small cross head threaded bolts . You really have to know they are there to see them. If I remember they are half way up the wheel arch just under the plastic wing mud shield. Off she comes. Not as bad as it sounds.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Clive_5123006]

Thanks for the reply after posting this Iwent out and had another go.

I managed to get bumper off, (after going to local KIA dealer who couldn't help me) I decided with the help of a neighbour to have another go and discovered as you said that there is in fact six not four fasteners to remove from wheel arch, there are two screws in edge of bumper that holds mudflap to bumper, then two screws that hold mudflap to wheel arch these I had found before, but then there as you say is the bolt with a screw slot at the top of the wheel arch that holds the front tip of the bumper in place, I only found this with the use of a torch and finally one clamp and screw bolt underneath that holds bottom inside of mudflap to the bumper (you have to get under the car to see this).

The bumper then pulls out from the sides near wheel arch standing at the back of the bumper tip up slightly and pull towards you and off the location pegs (two each side just under the rear lights.

I have fitted the towbar but had a couple of minor problems, one being I had to grind one edge of main crossbar as it did not line up to holes of side arms, I measured these ends and there was about 2mm difference, the main problem was the bumper support plates supplied had to attached to the bumper then bolted to the support arms when the bumper was put back on the car using 2 x M10x35 Set screws supplied, I then found the location holes in the arms were for M12 screws, luck would have it a local hardware shop was open on Sunday morning and I was able to get a couple of replacements.

I then had to remove the bumper again and drill bigger holes into the bumper support plates to take these bigger set screws. I could not use the washers supplied as these were also too small but found I could saw to size one of the two bushes supplied for using on a mk1 Carens, this was all because the manufacturer had put in the incorrect size location holes on the support arms so beware if you are fitting a Towsure bar it may be best to check these with bolts supplied first.

 

[Dustydog]

Clive

The instructions should have told you about the hidden bumper screws. Dad in law has a Witter and their instructions were excellent. Anyway looks like you succeeded in the end. Well done .

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Clive_5123006]

Clive

The instructions should have told you about the hidden bumper screws. Dad in law has a Witter and their instructions were excellent. Anyway looks like you succeeded in the end. Well done .

Cheers

Dustydog

Dustydog

Yep the instructions from Towsure were good but it read as "remove 10 fasteners from top side of bumper, 4 around /rearward/ underside of each wheel arch." which at first made me think is that 2 from each side or 4 from each side? but as we now know was 6 from each side.

I had posted this request on two KIA forums the previous week and had no luck I should have come to this forum first. answer straight away!