The notice of a grill shutter malfunction Toyota appears shortly once the check engine signal appears on the panel.
It means that the actuator has failed and cannot control the grille vent to open or close as intended.
Grille Shutter Malfunction can occur as a result of malfunctioning sensors, a clogged grille shutter, and faulty electronics.
These problems can be due to a car collision, traveling on a slippery or snowy road, and water entering the system. Find out the details of how serious the grille shutter inoperative is below.
What Is A Grill Shutter?
An engine is a mechanism that drives our automobiles. Because an engine is so strong, it heats up rapidly.
When no cooling unit is used to remove the heat from the engine, it will overheat soon, causing it to malfunction.
All engines use a liquid-cooled system. However, liquid cooling is insufficient. So every car needs an additional grille shutter system.
If the grille shutter opens, air will travel through the radiator. When air flows, it helps to remove hot air. Therefore, the engine will cool down.
An actuator in the active grille shutter system regulates the airflow, and it is deactivated or activated by sensors.
As soon as the engine gets heated, the grille shutters will open the grille vent to let the air through.
Otherwise, The active shutters will close to retain engine heat. An additional function of a grille shutter is that it helps fuel economy and lowers wind drag as a result of controlling temperature.
What Are The Causes Of A Grille Shutter Malfunction
An active grill shutter malfunction warning appears quickly on the dashboard once the yellow check engine light flashes.
It suggests that the actuator failed, and the grille vent will not open and close as intended. Here are the common reasons.
Bumper Collision
A bumper accident in the front is one of the most typical reasons for grille shutter malfunction.
The bumpers are situated in front of the grille shutters and are created of plastic. Therefore, the shutters may be damaged if something hits your front bumper hard.
Sometimes, the damage to the shutters may be small and merely aesthetic.
In some circumstances, though, the collision might harm the shutter blades to bend or shatter. It can affect them from correctly closing and opening.
Water Intrusion
Water infiltration is another typical case of ford active grill shutters problems. Water ingress can occur when the seals covering the shutters are defective or torn out.
Water can penetrate the shutter system and damage the interior parts.
The water can make the active grill shutter stuck open or jam over time, prohibiting them from closing and opening correctly.
Shutter Jammed By Debris Or Dirt
Shutters are positioned in the front of your vehicle, and shutters may be affected when the car gets into an accident.
Not only does the bumper get distorted, but debris can also be blown into your shutter system.
Some drivers also report that after driving for a long time, debris, dirt, and engine wear can build up and clog the grille shutters, harming their functioning.
Snow Buildup
When you are in cold weather and snow is all over the place, it can jam the aero shutters and harm the temperature sensor. P0115 is the diagnostic trouble code for a defective sensor.
When you notice the engine error message, pull over and examine the grille shutters.
If you remove all the snow in the system and the problem still remains, the temperature sensor is to blame. In this case, you will need to replace it.
How To Fix Active Grill Shutter
Active grill shutters are an excellent method to cool your engine down, but they may be inconvenient when aero shutters are stuck in to open position.
Your engine will overheat. Here are some possible solutions:
Prevention
It is always better to have preparation and prevention than to repair the problems. Here are some steps that can help you avoid the grill shutter malfunction.
A dirty system or engine wear prevents the air from going through the engine, so try to clean it up regularly. Try to keep seals in great condition to avoid water and dirt.
Besides, you should drive carefully, especially when starting and stopping the vehicles, so aero shutters do not have a great impact.
Method 1: Use WD-40
- Take off the screws that are holding the shutter in position.
- Using a cloth and soapy water to clean the shutter.
- WD-40 or a comparable lubricant is good for lubricating the shutter.
- Reinstall the shutter and tighten the screws.
- Start your engine and let it idle for some minutes for testing.
Method 2: Use a hairdryer
- Take off the screws that are holding the shutter in place.
- Using a cloth and soapy water, clean the shutter.
- Adjust the hairdryer to a high temperature and aim it toward the shutter.
- Keep the hair dryer for some minutes to melt the ice.
- Reinstall the shutter and tighten the screws.
These are just simple methods to adjust the grille shutters. However, it would help to take your vehicles to qualified professionals for a thorough inspection.
They will scan the engine for potential issues and fix the engine for you.
When There Are Active Grille Shutter Problems?
Incorrect Engine Coolant Sensors
The grille shutters are dependent on sensors measuring the temperature of the engine. The grille shutters will open if the temperature falls under 40°C.
The system will open the grille vents when the temperature hits 75 degrees Celsius or above.
However, in case the sensors do not report the right engine temperature to the car computer unit, it won’t know when to activate the grille shutters.
Whenever the temperature drops below 5° Celsius, the shutter vents will be stuck in either the open or closed position. Sensor failure is a major issue; you must address it as soon as possible.
Can you drive with grille shutter malfunction? When your car does not have the repaired temperature sensors, closed shutters will make the engine overheat.
A replacement of sensors will cost you around $225, or you will need to bear a higher cost for other overheated car damage.
A Blown-out Grille Shutter Fuse
The electric motor powers the grille shutter system, and a fuse controls it. Its function is to reduce the volt of the power source.
The grille shutters do not require a lot of electricity. But when the grille shutter fuse is blown, nothing helps shield the wire from the high voltage. It is also the reason causing the grille shutter malfunction.
It is simple to replace a blown fuse. Any vehicle component store can do the task.
However, when the fuse keeps blowing, there must be a severe problem with the automated transmission system (AGS).
Grille Shutters Not Closing or Opening
Grille Shutters Not Closing or Opening is most likely a relevant situation of active grill shutter problems.
There are many reasons, including an ice buildup, a faulty shutter motor, and a poor connection between the shutter and the motor.
As mentioned before, the grill shutter opens and closes the vents to cool down the engine. Once stuck, the vehicle can get hot, causing severe damage to the engine compartment.
Improper Alignment of Shutters
Grille shutters may be seen on most current vehicles.
If such shutters are not correctly connected, they can create various issues, including increased fuel consumption, reduced engine efficiency, and greater engine noise.
Poorly aligned grille shutters are frequently the consequence of an improperly placed or broken shutter. A manufacturing flaw might also cause the shutter to be misaligned.
It is critical to get these grille shutters carefully adjusted. These wrongly aligned shutters are also similar to the stuck engine issue.
No Link With PCM
The powertrain control module (PCM) is an electrical device in your vehicle that manages various engine activities, including (AGS) system.
The PCM regulates the shutters’ opening and shutting by variables such as engine coolant, ambient air temperature, and speed.
If the PCM finds a problem with the shutters or malfunctions itself, it will issue a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and flash the warning light.
A malfunctioning shutter motor or a damaged link between the actuator and the shutter are common causes for the PCM to identify a problem with the shutters.
Conclusion
Grill Shutter Malfunction will not allow the air to go through the engine. You will not want your shutter stuck in a closed position.
The heat generated by an engine will not cool down and cause major problems to the system components.
Thus, you should keep your engine clean and free of snow or dirt. If you tried the solutions that did not work, you should consider a technician for a complete examination.