Air Dam falling off at highway speeds, 89 miles on odometer

[hbc07]

Serious question......why are some of you keeping the air dam on? Are there people out there that think your 4Runner looks better with it on? Someone on here did the numbers and it equated to like a 0.7 miles per gallon advantage with it on compared to off. Let's be serious...we aren't buying 4Runners for their gas mileage. I'm genuinely interested and not trying to criticize. Why are you guys keeping your air dam on?

Because I'm indifferent to it thus far, and my indifference is overweighed by the minimal fuel savings.

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[ModernDay4Runner]

Yesterday I discovered that three of the four outermost screws were gone from my air damn. Since I happen to like the look of the air damn, I decided to try to remedy the situation as opposed to removing it. I went to my local dealership and purchased a few of the OEM screws and at Lowes, two thin pieces of galvanized strapping type metal and some adhesive. I used the adhesive on the four outermost screws and the top of the air damn where it meets the bottom of the bumper. May or may not doing any good, we'll see, I also removed a screw on the front fender liner and insert the short end of the L shaped support I made to provide some rigidity to the damn. I am assuming the poor design results with too much stress on the screws, causing them to back out. Anyways, should I have to do this for a brand new nearly $60K vehicle, no, but I did. Normally I would be too embarrassed to even share this information, but I am getting older and realizing that IDGAF what people say or think as much as I used to. Posting this for those that prefer to keep the (damned) damn. The support I installed is not viewable and I think it can only help the situation. Time will tell.

 

[The_Dark_Knight_Forever]

Yesterday I discovered that three of the four outermost screws were gone from my air damn. Since I happen to like the look of the air damn, I decided to try to remedy the situation as opposed to removing it. I went to my local dealership and purchased a few of the OEM screws and at Lowes, two thin pieces of galvanized strapping type metal and some adhesive. I used the adhesive on the four outermost screws and the top of the air damn where it meets the bottom of the bumper. May or may not doing any good, we'll see, I also removed a screw on the front fender liner and insert the short end of the L shaped support I made to provide some rigidity to the damn. I am assuming the poor design results with too much stress on the screws, causing them to back out. Anyways, should I have to do this for a brand new nearly $60K vehicle, no, but I did. Normally I would be too embarrassed to even share this information, but I am getting older and realizing that IDGAF what people say or think as much as I used to. Posting this for those that prefer to keep the (damned) damn. The support I installed is not viewable and I think it can only help the situation. Time will tell.

Ingenuity should not be frowned upon whether others agree with what's done or not. Keep us posted on your makeshift fix please.

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

Serious question......why are some of you keeping the air dam on? Are there people out there that think your 4Runner looks better with it on? Someone on here did the numbers and it equated to like a 0.7 miles per gallon advantage with it on compared to off. Let's be serious...we aren't buying 4Runners for their gas mileage. I'm genuinely interested and not trying to criticize. Why are you guys keeping your air dam on?

That is a serious question? Just like the Toyota engineers who thought it looked good, I do too. Do I wish they used longer screws, yes.

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

The screws that are installed now, only make contact with one thread. This is what I purchased to remedy the problem.

I like your solution. do you have the part number for those please? But I think the $0.85 bracket I added will provide rigidity and less stress on the screws.

 

[Vincenzo]

I like your solution. do you have the part number for those please? But I think the $0.85 bracket I added will provide rigidity and less stress on the screws.

I was thinking of doing the same but if you look. The facia that it’s attached to flexes as well

 

[Vincenzo]

I like your solution. do you have the part number for those please? But I think the $0.85 bracket I added will provide rigidity and less stress on the screws.

From Amazon. Found the bolts in a kit with the spring nuts included. Didn’t like the nuts. They were too long. Ordered additional spring nuts that should work.

 

[4R Platinum or Die Trying]

That is a serious question? Just like the Toyota engineers who thought it looked good, I do too. Do I wish they used longer screws, yes.

It was a serious question. I don't think the Toyota engineers think it looks good. I think the Toyota engineers put it on there to make their gas mileage statistics better. We're all allowed to have our own opinions and set up our 4Runners how we like. I think all 4Runners look better with it off. You think your 4Runner looks better with it on. That's all good. We're all 4Runner enthusiasts in the end.

 

[alpa_chino]

There is a current quality check hold on some incoming 4runners...possibly due to the air damn. Id keep an eye out for some news on the issue. Was supposed to get mine this week but now not sure when i will get it

 

[The_Dark_Knight_Forever]

There is a current quality check hold on some incoming 4runners...possibly due to the air damn. Id keep an eye out for some news on the issue. Was supposed to get mine this week but now not sure when i will get it

Thanks for this news.

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

It was a serious question. I don't think the Toyota engineers think it looks good. I think the Toyota engineers put it on there to make their gas mileage statistics better. We're all allowed to have our own opinions and set up our 4Runners how we like. I think all 4Runners look better with it off. You think your 4Runner looks better with it on. That's all good. We're all 4Runner enthusiasts in the end.

All good..I agree, we can all have opinions but I don't think Toyota would put something on the 1st redesign in 14 years if they did not think it looked good. They dropped the ball with the short screws and lack of support/rigidity. If that is the only shortcoming for this vehicle I will be super happy with my purchase.

 

[Vincenzo]

Hopefully no one runs over all of those screws out there on the pavement

 

[The_Dark_Knight_Forever]

Hopefully no one runs over all of those screws out there on the pavement

I second that!

 

[Cookie62]

Serious question......why are some of you keeping the air dam on? Are there people out there that think your 4Runner looks better with it on? Someone on here did the numbers and it equated to like a 0.7 miles per gallon advantage with it on compared to off. Let's be serious...we aren't buying 4Runners for their gas mileage. I'm genuinely interested and not trying to criticize. Why are you guys keeping your air dam on?

I like the look with it on.

 

[MikeSmot]

Hi all, to update, since the post and going to the dealer, I finally have a notification from the dealer that my part is in.

I am used to it being off but the wife wants it on. Will update thread if any new methods are used for rein-stallion by the dealer besides rebolting it back on

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