Any idea why all the bolts that attach the bumper on my civic are just spinning? i know the ones in the wheel we’ll have a bolt on top that needs to be held down but I feel like the ones in the engine bay shouldn’t spin

 

Which year and model car?

 

96 Civic coupe

 

Can you indicate on the diagram below which screws you are challenged with?

 

i believe it’s number one. the two bolts next to the grill in the engine bay

 

There is no number 1. Did you look at the diagram? You have A, B, C, D and the White arrow head (triangle).

 

it’s to the left of all the white arrows

 

To the left of the Arrows is Screw B the outside corners of the bumper cover. Those screw into a white plastic clip pushed into the upper fender. If the plastic has been severely stripped there won't be anything for the threads of the screw to purchase on to unscrew. If you are tightening, it's very common for the white tangs of the screw clip to get ripped which in turn reduces screw thread surface purchase area which will not provide adequate resistance when tightening. As such it is very easy to over tighten and strip out the remaining plastic making it challenging to "unscrew" later. You may have to reach up behind the fender tang where the white plastic threw clip is located and push down on it or squeeze the tangs in to give some purchase to the screw for it to unscrew.

Color of the clip may have changed in the 96-00 but I'm pretty sure it's the same design as the 92-95 with the same long term flaws and challenges.