Deleting or disconnecting active grill shutters

I have had nothing but trouble with these…
Active Grill Shutters (AGS)

The idea is… when above 45 mph they engage the shutters to force air around the front of the car making a more efficient aero package… they claim up to 6%…. ( I seriously doubt that)

But…. They are supposed to open up fully when below 18 mph… however they don’t…
Multiple times and with two different (‘21 Blk Diamond and now ‘22 Badlands) both times after getting to 225 F I pulled over and the shutters were closed…. Clearly creating the overheating issue…. Took immediately to the dealer and they said they were Perfect!!!!

(Right…. like sitting on the side of the road in park might be considered BELOW 18mph…
Right that’s perfect!!!🤪🤪🤪… without question they should be OPEN)

The problem is…. FORD has the ability to re program these things through the PCM ….
Even if they behaved fully open when under the Aero efficiency at 45 mph …. That would be a great place to start.

Clearly after a myriad of complaints you would think they FORD would do something…. Evidently NOT.

A secret…. If you run the AC it forces air via the shutters to cool the AC condenser (refrigerant gas to liquid)….

This shows really how dumb this is… you have to run the AC ( wasting efficiency) in order to keep your Engine cool….

I’m with you… if this continues to be an issue…
I will remove the AGS…. But for now I will Give Ford a chance to mitigate this issue.

Looking at the service manual, the connections to the active grill shutters are on the drivers side, but to access it the drivers side head light assembly must first be removed. In order to remove the headlight assembly, the body trim piece beneath the headlight has to come out, and I've no idea how that is done. Leery of just pulling on it in hopes it comes off. The service manual only says to "remove" it.
There are two connections, one for the upper grill shutter in front of the radiator, and one for the lower shutter in front of the intercooler. On the F150, disconnecting the radiator grill shutter had them remain open all the time and generated no CEL, but likely a DTIC. I suspect doing so on the Bronco would be similar. I have read that disconnecting the lower grill shutter will generate a CEL on the Bronco.
Whenever I determine the best way to remove that lower trim piece under the headlight assembly, I will eventually disconnect the upper grill shutter on my Bronco. I had determined previously that when the AC was on, the radiator grill shutters do remain open.

tsielski

Looking at the service manual, the connections to the active grill shutters are on the drivers side, but to access it the drivers side head light assembly must first be removed. In order to remove the headlight assembly, the body trim piece beneath the headlight has to come out, and I've no idea how that is done. Leery of just pulling on it in hopes it comes off. The service manual only says to "remove" it.
There are two connections, one for the upper grill shutter in front of the radiator, and one for the lower shutter in front of the intercooler. On the F150, disconnecting the radiator grill shutter had them remain open all the time and generated no CEL, but likely a DTIC. I suspect doing so on the Bronco would be similar. I have read that disconnecting the lower grill shutter will generate a CEL on the Bronco.
Whenever I determine the best way to remove that lower trim piece under the headlight assembly, I will eventually disconnect the upper grill shutter on my Bronco. I had determined previously that when the AC was on, the radiator grill shutters do remain open.

I’ve had the grill, light assembly and the body trim piece… off…
I dropped a screw down there and had to find it…

There are plastic snaps and a few screws…the electrical connectors can be stubborn… but it is all doable….

Just be careful putting all the fasteners to the side… that engine compartment is like a vacuum…. So easy to drop a tool or fastener into the abyss!!!😁

Thanks for the update on service manual notes!!! Most likely will be following you down this road…

Let me know if it triggers any codes… that would be nice to know.

I mean, don't they have to be removed for the intercoolers anyway? I'm gonna read this at home so I can get rid of mine

tsielski

Looking at the service manual

Is this available for download like the users manual? Link?

Yes it is, but I didn't find it from Ford. I just did an online search and found more than one site that wanted $$ to download the service manual, and found another that had it available for no cost. I chose the no cost option. Unfortunately I didn't book mark that site so I cant provide a link.