Has anyone removed the fender piece just below the hood ?
Ramie

 

Yes, at least the one on the passenger side. It helps to clean the area really well so you can see most of the fasteners. Most of them are plastic fasteners where you unscrew the center part then the toothed outer part is able to be pulled out. There's also three actual screws if I recall. Just be thorough, I found most of them by feel, and don't forget about the one at the very front that's up under the front lip. It will still be held in by friction once all the screws are removed and will need to be flexed a bit to be removed and then to reinstall it again.