# 2002 Toyota Camry front bumper--what's the little square panel for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [November 21, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618 "2011-11-21T17:33:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dp1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@dp1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dp1)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/1 "2011-11-21T17:33:29Z")
I got hit by a chunk of asphalt on the freeway and it knocked out the small square-ish panel that’s on the front bumper. What’s that thing for? Is it bad for me to drive with it uncovered? ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/2 "2011-11-21T19:04:18Z")
Is there a threaded hole behind the cover? If so, that’s for inserting a tow hook, which should be mentioned in your manual. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/3 "2011-11-21T19:48:57Z")
Bottom, top, center, left, right? How big is small? ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/4 "2011-11-21T20:57:24Z")
Yep I was going with Lion9Car on this one… ALso Keith has a point…where on your bumper cover is the panel? Many X there are panels that snap out to plug up where the fog lights would normally reside…if you didnt get that option they use these snap in panels. On VW’s and many other cars they have small snap in panels to hide where you screw in your tow hook or tow device…etc. In either case it shouldnt be a cause for alarm as neither type of cover up panel will cause any issues other than being ugly. ---
**Author:** ![dp1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@dp1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dp1)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/5 "2011-11-22T03:12:38Z")
Yes, Lion9Car, there is a threaded hole. Duh. I tried looking this up on the internet and didn’t even think to check my manual. It’s located about a 1/4 of the way over from the passenger side, about the point where the headlight and grille meet (but below that, of course, so I’m still talking about the bumper). And yes, Honda Blackbird, it is ugly. Thanks for the quick responses and putting my mind at ease! ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/6 "2011-11-22T16:43:27Z")
The threaded hole is actually for a marine tie down eye. There are special tie down hooks used specificall for transporting cars by cargo ship. Their loads must be very well secured, as a loose object in high seas could do a lot of damage. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/7 "2011-11-23T04:18:26Z")
You might still have the panel. Check carefully again and maybe you’ll find it on the car. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 10:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/8 "2011-11-23T10:39:34Z")
Pretty common car, so you be able to get replacement at salvage yard or mall parking lot. Just kidding with the last option. Toyota will charge you lots of $$$$$ for their parts. ---
**Author:** ![AlanY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@AlanY](https://community.cartalk.com/u/AlanY)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/9 "2011-11-23T12:12:43Z")
The owner’s manual calls it a place for the emergency tow hook. If you look inside the bag that holds the jacking tools that came with your car, you should find a threaded tow hook (or eyebolt actually). I have a RAV4 and took a quick look. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/10 "2011-11-23T22:18:03Z")
If you install the bolt and say that they do it in Europe everybody will want to copy you. We should call it an i-bolt. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-toyota-camry-front-bumper-whats-the-little-square-panel-for/69618/11 "2011-11-24T00:04:10Z")
Yup that threaded hole is for your tow loop or hook or whathaveyou… Its how you can tow the vehicle with such a big plastic bumper…there would be no way to do so otherwise.