Front bumper

[richard]

Is it normal for the soft wraparound molding on front bumper of a 1990 reatta to pull away and leave gap and space between chrome piece above

[Ronnie]

No. If installed properly there shouldn't be a gap as you describe. If the car sits outside all the time heat may be distorting how it fits.

[kdirk]

Ronnie is correct. The rub strip is soft plastic with mounting studs molded in to the  back side. The studs are held in place with self tapping nuts. When the plastic gets heated it will distort, showing as dimples on the front side of the strip. It will also tend to get distorted at the corners where the strip curves around the contour of the bumper.  The only solution for this is to remove the bumper and strip, use a heat gun to straighten the distortion and then reinstall the strip.

 

The key to getting it right  on reassembly is to start at the center and work your way outward, installing one nut at a time symmetrically  until ypu work your way to both ends of the rub strip. It is helpful to keep pressure on the strip to keep it tight to the bumper as you install the nuts, especially at the corners as you tighten the nuts down. This helps keep the strip close as you wtap it around the contour of the impact bar.