DYI: Installing Grommets in your Passenger Side Floormats

[kailua]

Ok, folks, so I've had the CX-7 for a week now and went to vacuum the interior and when I got to the front passenger side this is what I see in the footwell:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1047.jpg

[kailua]

And under the passenger-side floormat:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1048.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1079.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1080.jpg

Driver's side footwell:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1076.jpg

[kailua]

My only guess is, is that either the dealer or the nice folks in Hiroshima got overzealous with installing the retaining hooks for the floormats.

So this morning, I went back the dealer to have the TSB for ECU reflash done and while I was waiting, I checked out other CX-7's on the lot. Some had the hooks installed like mine, others simply had the cut out in the carpet for the hooks, but none were installed. I found it odd that they would provide the hooks to be installed and yet the floormats did not have the grommet holes to support this. Perhaps for Japan and Europe it is the exact opposite?

Anyways, I either had the choice to simply remove the hooks and be done with or make life more complicated and do a DIY project for this. Since the hooks were already there, I decided to put some grommets in my passenger-side floormat.

[kailua]

First, I went to Lowe's and bought a grommet kit for about $8.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1084.jpg

You will also need:

- A piece of wood, or hard foam (something to act as a backing)
- Rubber Mallet or Hammer
- Cardboard, plastic or paper to use for masking
- Sharpie or Magic Marker
- Tape measure or ruler
- Box Cutter
- Scissors
- Black Spray Paint
- 3M Masking Tape

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1138.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1089.jpg

First, you need to visually guage where you want your floormats and measure how far in the grommet hole should be to align with the retention hook.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1092.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1095.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1094.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1096.jpg

[kailua]

Me being a lazy bloke, I first aligned the floormat to the position I wanted it in the footwell, and then with the floormat resting on top of the hooks, I simply pushed down on the leading edge (the side facing the front of the car) until it left a mark on the bottom (rubber nubby side) of the floormat.

I then took a sharpie and drew a circle about a 1/2 inch in diameter and I now had the outline to punch out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1098.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1097.jpg

Next flip the floormat onto the rubber nubby side faces up and place a piece of wood or cardboard or foam underneath and punch out the outlined hole with the grommet kit. The kit is pretty straight forward and easy to use. Rather than me explain the instructions on the back of the grommet package, I will just add some photos to illustrate:

grommet Install Kit Parts:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1099.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1108.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1107.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1106.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1104.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1117.jpg

Test: Completed grommet w/out floormat:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1116.jpg

Test Fitting of grommet Finishing Kit:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1112.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1115.jpg

grommet Kit Scoring Tool (Hammer away and the tool cuts through the rubber like butter):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1120.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1125.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1123.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1118.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1122.jpg

[kailua]

Left over holes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1140.jpg

The other half of the grommet:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1136.jpg

Hammer-Time:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1137.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1143.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1142.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1132.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1131.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1130.jpg

Back side:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1144.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1145.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1146.jpg

Top Again:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1147.jpg

Test Fitting in the footwell:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1149.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1150.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1151.jpg

[kailua]

Now, at this point, functionally, the finished product looks pretty good, however if you are a stickler for details like me, I can not stand the fact that the grommets are brass color and not black like the driver's side (could not find any black grommets at Lowe's).

So at this point, I used some 3M masking tape and cardboard to mask off the carpet portion of the floormat, leaving only the new shiny grommets in view. Next, I got out my trusty can of 99 cent flat black spray enamel paint from the local Walmart and painted the grommets black. You don't need to spray too much just a light coating to hide the brass. I did not want to spray too much and have the paint soak into the carpet portion of the mat.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1171.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1152.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1155.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1156.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1157.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1161.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1163.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1164.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1166.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1173.jpg

I did not paint the bottom side (the rubber nubby side) because I would not see the brass color unless the floormats were removed for vacuuming. Once the paint has dried remove the tape and masking carboard and you are done.

[kailua]

All Done:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1177.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1178.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1176.jpg


Finally, beautiful grommetted passenger side floormat back in its native habitat:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1184.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1181.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1180.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/n1choi/CIMG1179.jpg

Total cost of this project is about $10-15 depending on whether you have some of the supplies on hand or not. Total time is about 30-40 minutes. Good luck, folks!

[jeg0024]

Very nice work and pics, someone should move this to the how to section? I think its wierd that you would have the hooks under there with no holes in the floor mats. Someone along the line missed something I think lol.

[papaalex]

nice job kailua ;)

[cxracer]

Good Job Kailua. Came out real nice!
It does seem like a lot of time and effort for installing just 2 little grommets... how long did the project take you?
I have the same setup in mine, but I think I'll take the easy way out and just remove the hooks.
Thanks for the write up.

[jersey_emt]

Looks good!

[kailua]

Good Job Kailua. Came out real nice!
It does seem like a lot of time and effort for installing just 2 little grommets... how long did the project take you?
I have the same setup in mine, but I think I'll take the easy way out and just remove the hooks.
Thanks for the write up.

Actual time to do the setup is 30-40 minutes. I was half doing this and half watching TV last night and in between played some Xbox while the paint was drying. Uploading the photos and posting the DIY took twice as long.

[ROTARY OG]

Wow Kailua! I can't believe you spent so much time on something so small. These kind of simple project posts do nothing for our members. Do you think we need step by step explanations for such a simple unnecessary project? You obviously don't work or have a girlfriend! I bet your just a spoiled rich Islander kid with nothing better to do but play video games and spend your parents money! I left the big island for the mainland right after college because of islanders like you. And Another thing cut those nails, didn't your makua teach you anything? MAHALO!

[kailua]

Wow Kailua! I can't believe you spent so much time on something so small. These kind of simple project posts do nothing for our members. Do you think we need step by step explanations for such a simple unnecessary project? You obviously don't work or have a girlfriend! I bet your just a spoiled rich Islander kid with nothing better to do but play video games and spend your parents money! I left the big island for the mainland right after college because of islanders like you. And Another thing cut those nails, didn't your makua teach you anything? MAHALO!


Nick, you rat bastard is that you? (bike)

[chuyler1]

Nice job. I should have done something like this ages ago for my P5. Now the passenger side mat rides up and leaves an exposed section of the floor.

Just curious, how come you didn't paint the grommets before you installed them? Then you could have just done a quick touch-up if the paint scratched.

[kailua]

Nice job. I should have done something like this ages ago for my P5. Now the passenger side mat rides up and leaves an exposed section of the floor.

Just curious, how come you didn't paint the grommets before you installed them? Then you could have just done a quick touch-up if the paint scratched.

Eh, personal preference. Seemed like more work to paint and then install and then paint again. Plus, I did not have any brushes so probably would have to use Q-tips or somthing to touch up the grommets.

[roskoekole]

and the passenger side stock floormat had no holes at all. Is this the way most CX-7's come?

Matt