Anyone knows about Maverick grill shutter removal?

[HeyBales]

The recall some have mentioned is because a few Mavericks caught on fire because the engine bay was so tightly closed. I believe leaking fuel caused disaster- by venting the engine bay it's less likely to cause a huge explosive effect if something catches on fire?

Rather, leaking fuel was caused by a disaster - connecting rod bearing failure causing hole in engine.
That disaster of course leads to your described disaster.
23S27 recall - might as well have it all out for Sammy.

2020-2023 Ford Escape, 2022-2023 Ford Maverick, and 2021-2023 Lincoln Corsair models fitted with the 2.5L hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines

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[HeyBales]

I wonder: Is there any method to control its open or close?

Curious what you would find useful to do manually with them?

 

[sammy]

Curious what you would find useful to do manually with them?

It was stupid question. I thought of it as a bug cover.

 

[zach57x]

If we had them removed is it easy to add them back in?

 

[sammy]

If we had them removed, is it easy to add them back in?

I didn't try to remove or install. But first, I think the front bumper needs to be removed.

 

[bbhaag]

This is the main reason for the shutters. They were developed originally for the C1 platform (2012) as another solution to help attain the increasingly more restrictive CAFE standards.

Yep, this is the primary function of the active air shutters.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I wonder: Is there any method to control its open or close?

It is all done automatically. The computer decides when they should be closed or open.

 

[MetalsGeek]

Ford had a QA issue with a batch of improperly polished crankshafts that could lead to the engine throwing a rod. They did not have traceability on these to show which specific vehicles were affected but could at least narrow it down to the 2.5L hybrids built before 5/18/2023. Since the engines might actually keep running on the 3 remaining cylinders, this could pump fuel vapor through a crankcase breach into the underhood area and create a fire or explosion risk.
This was eventually addressed in recall 23S27 (NHTSA 23V-380). It took Ford a long time to devise a strategy to deal with this disaster cheaply enough to be at all practical, as you can imagine. The first portion of the fix came early and increased ventilation enough to prevent the accumulation of fuel vapors, hence the missing shutters. Ford eventually updated the ECU firmware to detect this situation and warn the driver to stop. Finally, the warranty on the long block was increased under Customer Satisfaction Program 23N06 to 10 years or 100K miles but in most cases will require at least one of 2 new MIL codes added in that firmware update. They are P032F - Combustion Engine Producing Insufficient Torque, and P1061 - Excessive Engine Component Deterioration - Forced Limited Engine Speed. I can imagine that the shutter delete seemed like a good enough idea to keep it in future production. The heat loss probably reduces MPG just a bit but not enough to worry about.

 

[Bruce W]

I brought my new maverick from Granger Ford, Iowa
When I cleaned the dead bugs on the front and windshield, I found there were missing parts on the shutter blind.

Anyone know why Ford removed those shutter blinds?

To keep ga vapors from building up. There are also extra holes in the bottom shield. Mine is a 22 and had to bring it so they could vent the engine compartment better. It’s so when your engine crankshaft comes out through the side of the engine block it vents quickly.

 

[Bruce W]

It is all done automatically. The computer decides when they should be closed or open.

The bottom flap is gone.

 

[HeyBales]

The bottom flap is gone.

More than that - read all the comments in this thread.

 

[HeyBales]

I didn't try to remove or install. But first, I think the front bumper needs to be removed.

I don't believe so - I read thru the TSB awhile back, but it seemed easier than that. Just some gentle bending. Well, being removed, I guess gentle didn't matter.

 

[HeyBales]

If we had them removed is it easy to add them back in?

Interesting - were you given them back?

I know some shops are pretty good about always giving or at least showing replaced parts so customer feels good the work was done.
But I wouldn't think giving these back would be part of step since it can be visually confirmed they are gone.

 

[zach57x]

Interesting - were you given them back?

I know some shops are pretty good about always giving or at least showing replaced parts so customer feels good the work was done.
But I wouldn't think giving these back would be part of step since it can be visually confirmed they are gone.

Nah mine came without from the factory, im wondering if I could order some and put them in myself

 

[Darnon]

Ford had a QA issue with a batch of improperly polished crankshafts that could lead to the engine throwing a rod. They did not have traceability on these to show which specific vehicles were affected but could at least narrow it down to the 2.5L hybrids built before 5/18/2023.

Ford does have the traceability, but it wasn't something so specific as 'bad crankshafts' rather general finishing/cleaning processes at large which is why it potentially encompasses the entire engine population until 9/01/2023.

I didn't try to remove or install. But first, I think the front bumper needs to be removed.

Bumper removal is not required to remove or reinstall.

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