Loose Air Dam grommets and screws

[jptoro]

Guys.
When I bought my SR5 the Air Fam was somehow loose. I took it to the dealer so they “fixed it”. I took it a second time and according to them they fixed it again.

well, a third time is a charm. Now, the sir dam is loose again this time on the opposite side.

It is a very silly complaint but this is also a very simple fix.

Is this a common people for such a simple part ? It is just annoying. I will buy the grommets and screws.
Thx

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[Tallgeese00MS]

Well seeing as the mass QC hold that has affected all 4Runners not at dealerships is because of the air dam, yeah you’re not alone. Might as well take it off, it only adds an estimated 0.5-0.8 mpg. And it looks better off personally.

 

[LARIN]

I would be careful to just say the air dam is only there for fuel savings. No one on this site or the internet knows they are just speculating. It could be there for brake cooling and to protect the ac condenser coils as far as we know.

 

[2Runner_6G]

I would be careful to just say the air dam is only there for fuel savings. No one on this site or the internet knows they are just speculating. It could be there for brake cooling and to protect the ac condenser coils as far as we know.

I think you may be on to something. I took mine off because it was loose, but it handled better with less noise when the air dam was installed. Also, I do get at least 1 mpg less with it off.

 

[brumey]

Mine is staying on. When I first got the 4R 2 months ago, I checked it. Two of the screws were loose. I tightened them being careful to not over tighten and its been good. I do check for looseness before a long trip.

I hope they have a recall.

 

[nubbins_]

I would be careful to just say the air dam is only there for fuel savings. No one on this site or the internet knows they are just speculating. It could be there for brake cooling and to protect the ac condenser coils as far as we know.

I think you may be on to something. I took mine off because it was loose, but it handled better with less noise when the air dam was installed. Also, I do get at least 1 mpg less with it off.

Brake cooling is a real stretch.......brake ducts are a very discrete and separate thing altogether.

However, the point of all air dams is to reduce the amount of air going under the vehicle. More wind noise and possibly difference in handling is pretty reasonable to expect when it's off. Having it on could conceivably catch a wayward rock as well and stop it from hitting something more important underneath

 

[jptoro]

Well guys. Nothing like a zip tie for now until I get the grommets from amazon. Mine is staying on.
Thanks

 

[George]

I broke my air dam the day i took my first drive, the second day after i bought it. All dusty and brush scratches and the half hanging on air damn. Right in front of the showroom the head service guy grabbed the right plastic screws and reattached the darn thing. Easy peasy! I keep a couple spares in case i do it again. I drive a lot on the freeways, so i need every mileage advantage i can get.....i am getting between 19 and 20 mpg!!!

 

[johnnygutter]

Here’s my question. If the air dam is so reliant on helping fuel economy, why is the air dam excluded from both the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models? All hybrids “advertise” the same MPGs, yet the ORP, Limited, and Platinums all have the dam.

 

[nubbins_]

Here’s my question. If the air dam is so reliant on helping fuel economy, why is the air dam excluded from both the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models? All hybrids “advertise” the same MPGs, yet the ORP, Limited, and Platinums all have the dam.

It's just 1 mpg at best, not that reliant. iForce Max isn't for efficiency, and manufacturers rarely go out of their way to tailor EPA mpg ratings to accurately reflect off road models like GM does.

Some people claim that the air dam does better than 1 mpg, but most likely that's only at speeds far exceeding EPA's highway test conditions (I'm pretty sure it's like 50mph or something), and under which conditions 4R's mpgs would be going down the toilet anyway - air dam or no air dam

 

[ibu66]

So the question is, to remove it or not?

 

[johnnygutter]

It's just 1 mpg at best, not that reliant. iForce Max isn't for efficiency, and manufacturers rarely go out of their way to tailor EPA mpg ratings to accurately reflect off road models like GM does.

Some people claim that the air dam does better than 1 mpg, but most likely that's only at speeds far exceeding EPA's highway test conditions (I'm pretty sure it's like 50mph or something), and under which conditions 4R's mpgs would be going down the toilet anyway - air dam or no air dam

I just drove from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back to LA a couple weeks ago and with the air dam, I got nowhere close to what the advertised MPGs would be for the highway. But I knew going into the 4Runner that the advertised MPGs were never going to be met. Plus I also knew that the hybrid was more for towing power and off roading than fuel economy. If I really was that concerned about gas efficiency, I would have bought a Camry.

 

[johnnygutter]

So the question is, to remove it or not?

I finally removed it. Maybe I'll add it back on when I do another road trip, but that's a big maybe. For now, it's off and honestly, my ride looks a whole lot better!

 

[df525]

This is the explanation from a earlier model Tundra about the usage of air dam. Of course that's a active system vs. 4runner's DIY.

Looks like it helps at higher speed >37mph while not in 4H/4L/Tow

https://www.toyota.com/owners/warra...article/tundra-hv/2022/om0c031u/ch04se050426/

 

[Hwy101vta]

I got my Runner on March 8th. My air dam came loose after 2 days on both ends. I took it to the dealer, and the writer was telling me that I most of hit or rubbed it against something. No, I know I didn't. Both ends? nothing on the center and no damage on air dam? come on. I would of have noticed. They brought the mechanic and found the clips off in both ends. They did fix it, but I told the head guy of the writers "I'll asure you I am not the last one you'll hear about this issue. So, no, you are not along and for us that like to keep it? I hope that they come up with a solution or replace it with a TRD skid plate

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