For those visiting this thread that may have missed the link to my post in the "mods" thread of how to install radiator guard without removing any parts....
1. cut screen to shape
2. apply black duct tape to cut ends. This will prevent scratches during installation and rattling noise after installation.
3. fold horizontally (not vertically!) and insert through grill
4. patiently and carefully unfold and fit - using both hands reaching through grill.
5. pull forward GENTLY with fingers and needle nose pliers (pliers will break screen if pulling too hard)
6. arrange screen behind grill and orientate for the best fit possible
7. bend the tip(s) of zip tie(s) and insert through the screen and pull back to hook the bent tip back through the screen. (hard to describe but I hope it makes sense)
8. grab the tip(s) of zip tie(s) that were bent and stuck through with a needle nose pliers and pull the tip toward you to wrap around grill and secure the tie
TIP 1: Don't fold the screen vertically to fit it through the grill. It will break. You CAN fold horizontally (the way it was rolled to ship)
TIP 2: DO fold screen vertically to cut it. It's cleaner and easier than using a tin snip (true for vertical cuts only).

 

I followed the "noshortcuts" method, a little differently. I cut the mesh across the width of the roll, cutting a 5 5/8 inch wide piece. Four pieces is enough for the top and bottom grilles. The width of the roll provides about 90% coverage. Gaps are in the center, near the center post, camera, and Kia badge.

5 5/8 inch wide allows feeding it through with no folds or bends. A 90 degree pick tool is useful for positioning.

I used 6 inch, 40 lb. tie wraps. The 8 inch were too stiff, and 4 inch too wimpy. The noshortcuts method of bending the tie wrap ends worked great (see above).

Consider tying a string to the grille piece before feeding it through. It is valuable for retrieval when the piece is dropped behind the bumper ..
Photos of my top grille.

 

I followed the "noshortcuts" method, a little differently. I cut the mesh across the width of the roll, cutting a 5 5/8 inch wide piece. Four pieces is enough for the top and bottom grilles. The width of the roll provides about 90% coverage. Gaps are in the center, near the center post, camera, and Kia badge.

5 5/8 inch wide allows feeding it through with no folds or bends. A 90 degree pick tool is useful for positioning.

I used 6 inch, 40 lb. tie wraps. The 8 inch were too stiff, and 4 inch too wimpy. The noshortcuts method of bending the tie wrap ends worked great (see above).

Consider tying a string to the grille piece before feeding it through. It is valuable for retrieval when the piece is dropped behind the bumper ..
Photos of my top grille.

That radiator guard looks great!

 

@C-Trink @noshortcuts

is there an easy way to pop the cover under the bumper to get access behind the lower grille, or does that not get the job done?

edit: i ask because it’s time for me to stop waiting and do this. Just noticed a sizable ding on a bracket that the radiator sits behind. A half inch higher or lower and id be looking at a dry cooling system.

 

There’s definitely an easy way to pop the cover under the bumper. However, that lands you behind the radiator/intercooler (Great for the BOV install).

I’d recommend the fold and slide through method. Try and read what those who have done it recommend. If I were to do it again I would get my pieces cut (like my diagram on post #54) then tie a string to each side for positioning and fold them to get it through the lower grille and work on zip tying them like @noshortcuts showed.

 

After I couldn’t get in there from the bottom, it kind of became an exploratory mission on how to get in from the top. Which led me to, while I’m in here I’m going to “properly” remove my front emblem. Like I said before, there are WAY too many screws in the upper grille assembly… I honestly haven’t put them all back yet since I want to do my mid and upper grilles with the small mesh. No rattles or any problems either. When I get those done I’ll get them all secured.

 

After I couldn’t get I. There from the bottom, it kind of became an exploratory mission on how to get in from the top. Which led me to, while I’m in here I’m going to “properly” remove my front emblem. Like I said before, there are WAY too many screws in the upper grille assembly… I honestly haven’t put them all back yet since I want to do my mid and upper grilles with the small mesh. No rattles or any problems either. When I get those done I’ll get them all secured.

im a little more concerned with the lower section. If a rock hasn’t come up that high on me in the past 20 years then I’ll continue to roll with it. Not worth all the time to strip apart the entire front end for a $15 piece of thin mesh.

i have my mesh in order though. It arrives Monday. The plan is to tackle the hitch and the mesh next week. We shall see

 

How is it a design flaw? Lots if vehicles out there with large holes in the grill. Maybe it is for aesthetics or for air flow but it sounds like you took one hell of an impact to put a hole in your radiator.

 

Get your 2021 Sorento a radiator guard

Bought a Sorento EX a month ago. Feels good, drive it around, until last Saturday. A stone flew through the lower grill of the front bumper and hit the radiator. I didn't hear any sound, nothing wrong from the dashboard, no high temperature. However, I saw pink fluid around the front bumper and...

www.kia-forums.com

It’s been discussed. The gaps on the lower section of the bumper are enormous and low to the ground. Best to cover it up

 

We have a DIY fix. Give a search. I imagine Kia is not the only brand with broken radiators due to style-over-function engineering. If you take a walk and look, VERY MANY cars have grille holes as big or bigger in front of radiators.

 

Happened to me a month ago. Rock impact and leaking radiator. Cost 1480$ covered by insurance. Installed the amazon grill afterwards.

 

I think this could be getting into class-action territory. A vehicle should be able to drive in typical conditions without getting a critical part destroyed.

I skimmed through the thread but haven’t seen whether or not the grill blocks the radar array.

 

Most brands have cars with large holed grills these days. I think it's an unfortunate fashion. Unless other brands have rock proof radiators, then I imagine all brands have the same problem. Maybe there can be a class action against the ICE industry's unfortunate fashion choice.
You'd think engineers wouldn't be stupid. You'd think car manufacturers wouldn't want new radiators breaking from normal usage. But, alas...

 

What I think is that as times goes the aluminum grade gets cheaper and cheaper and also the coolant passes are getting thinner for better heat dissipation. Before I installed the diy grill after the radiator was replaced I could alredy after one week see new dents from rocks hitting it. After the grill was installed I don't see new impacts on the radiator but surely can see discoloration from rocks on the grill. Called Kia Canada to complain only response that I get is the car was engineered this way for better cooling purposes and they will do nothing to help.

 

Stupid engineering is their answer.
If it was for "better cooling" then they succeeded because a stalled car remains cool but a car with an "Amazon grill" warms up with every drive. 😆

 

See post #54 👍.