How to Paint the Grill on a Jeep Cherokee, Wrangler, or Liberty

The grill on a vehicle is the mesh or bars located between the headlights; its function is to allow air to pass easily into the radiator of a car, which is used to keep the engine from overheating and cracking. Because the grill is located on the front of the Jeep, which may travel offroad or in messy situations, it becomes dinged and scraped up overtime, losing its shiny coating and making the entire vehicle appear dull. The best way to remedy this is to paint the grill with a fresh coat of enamel to return that new-car shine.

Step 1

Remove the grill from your Jeep-how this is done will depend on the model you have, so consult the manual that came with the vehicle or purchase a Haynes or Chilton repair guide.

Step 2

Once the grill is removed, sand it lightly by hand using medium-grit sandpaper. The goal of sanding is not to put gouges or thick scrapes into the plastic, but to instead remove any rough flecks in the paint or to reduce and even out scratches.

Step 3

When the grill is sanded smooth, wipe it down with a wet cloth to remove the dust-this step is very important, so don't skip it. Put a towel, tarp, or papers under the grill. Spray the plastic evenly in wide sweeping motions with metal spray paint primer; primer meant for metal will prevent rust, fill in cracks, and will make the paint adhere properly. Once the first coat is on, allow it to dry, then sand off any run marks. You will need to put on three or four coats to get it completely covered and smooth.

Once the primer is completely dried, wiped the grill down, let it dry, then repeat the process using spray paint. You will need to change your angle to get inside of the grill edges. Allow each step to dry completely before applying the next coat, or the paint will pool and run down the edges, causing ugly run marks.

Step 4

When the grill looks the way you'd like, reattach it to the Jeep, making certain that it is attached properly.