Underbody splash shield missing a cover?

[Clydemung]

Log time lurker, first time poster.

I've recently took possession of my 2022 XLT Maverick, velocity blue, and I was under it and I noticed what appears to be a missing cover. Here the picture:

As you can see the rectangular opening has slots that would hold the cover's tabs. I showed the picture to the dealer and they agreed it's missing. Anyone else noticed it's missing on their's? It's also possible the cover on some Mavericks don't have this opening. They ordered part number NZ6Z-6775-A to replace what's there but they have no idea when it'll come in.

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[Darnon]

That's normal for there not to be anything there. And if anything the engine compartment fire recall added even more holes to the underbody shield.

 

[Clydemung]

I guess I'll have wait and see the part the dealer ordered. Didn't know there was a recall for an engine compartment fires.

 

[Darnon]

The opening you're thinking is missing a cover is, in fact, one of the holes added as part of the recall.

On mine (produced before the recall) that square area was embossed as if it was intended to be an access opening. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some point in its design life for the Escape/Corsair/Bronco Sport to have a cover there (or maybe they do on other powertrains?) and Ford simply added that back in to the cutting die to accord with the recall remediation design.

 

[NoVaJimmy]

Just wanted to update this thread that in the OP's photo, that hole has an intake/snorkel that provides cool air to the PTU on AWD models. The slots on the sides are where the plastic intake snaps together to attach to the engine splash shield. Maybe they started installing these on the Hybrids for cooling but I'm going to guess that OP has an EB model with AWD and is missing the intake.

 

[Darnon]

Except there's a conspicuous lack of a rear driveshaft above the exhaust. So it's either a FWD EcoBoost (do those still have the cutout?) or Hybrid.

 

[Gstamper]

Mine is a 2023 front wheel drive EcoBoost and I wondered the same thing, because that little door is not present

 

[Darnon]

Mine is a 2023 front wheel drive EcoBoost and I wondered the same thing, because that little door is not present

There's no door. On an AWD EcoBoost there would be a plastic air scoop there to direct cooling towards the PTU assembly.

 

[Gstamper]

Thank you Sir!

 

[wb5oxq]

Mine is a EB with AWD and 4K tow and the scoop is there. I figured it was to direct air to something.

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