Can you drive with a bad active grill shutter

If you are concerned about some of the most common Ford active grill shutter problems, then you may want to know what causes these and ways to address them.

Basically, the active grill shutter serves a purpose of stopping aerodynamic drag while at the same time improving fuel efficiency. But at the same time, some issues may arise to this component, which is why it helps to understand what causes these problems and common fixes.

The most typical issue with the active grill shutter is the high temperature or noise production. Other problems may come, which is why it is important to know the root of these issues. Then, you can get them all fixed up properly.

Ford Active Grill Shutter Problems

There are times when active grill shutter problems will arise. And when they do happen, there are certain things you can do. Here are the common issues with the active grill shutter:

• Blown fuse
• Communication is lost from the PCM
• Poor alignment of the active grill shutter

If the problem is with the fuse, then you will need to check it and have it fixed or replaced. In the case of poor communication from the PCM, a good way to address this issue is by using your scanner tool for clearing out an error code.

And lastly, you will have to position the active grill shutter when it is badly aligned. This is an effective way to solve this problem to help you achieve the best results.

Causes Of The Ford Active Grill Shutter Problems

Before you start working on a faulty active grill shutter, it is important to understand the possible causes of these issues. Since this component controls the engine temperature of your vehicle, the problem arises immediately after turning your engine on and starting to drive.

When you drive slowly, this component keeps your grill vent in an open position that cools your engine. As you speed up, the grill vent closes to save fuel and improve aerodynamics.

However, when there are issues with this system, you will quickly notice two most common signs – reduced fuel efficiency and increased aerodynamic drags.

Perhaps your vehicle is getting a poor fault code and this causes your active grill shutter to malfunction. It is also possible that you have a blown fuse, which also explains this error code once you scan it.

This is why your active grill shutter does not work as it should. With this in mind, you need to have it replaced by a professional if you have tried all means of getting it fixed but without any success.

How To Fix An Active Grill Shutter Problem

The most common reason behind the active grill shutter problem is an internal fault code that you are receiving. In some cases, Ford comes with a DTC or the Diagnostic Trouble Code with your active grill shutter module that can be causing this problem.

If you are not quite familiar with this tool, then you can get yourself an OBD II adapter before you proceed to the steps below.

1. Put your engine in idle.
2. Connect your OBD II adapter to the plug in the truck and your laptop by using the FORScan. Alternatively, you can use your scanner tool when plugging it on your truck.
3. Wait for a bit to allow your FORScan to show some data. Then, you should see a bar pop up that shows a warning or fault codes on your active grill shutter.
4. Next, click on this fault code. Press and hold the reset button and allow a few seconds before you can see another bar pop up instructing you to start your engine.

How To Fix A Faulty Active Grill Shutter Fuse

In case the issue is with a blown or faulty fuse, then here are the steps you can take to address this issue.

1. Open the hood to check if the fuse is worn out or bad. Locate the faulty fuse from your fuse box.
2. Take the fuse box cover out and check if the fuse is blown. Use your nose pliers to remove the bad fuse.
3. Place the new AGS and lock up the fuse box cover. Close your hood and re-calibrate the AGS module with a scanner tool. Start your truck’s engine to complete the process.

Alignment Issues

Another reason why your active grill shutter is having some problems is because of poor alignment. This is why you should check if the housing, wiring harness, and retainer are poorly aligned or broken.

Locate your AGS and take the cover out gently to prevent it from getting crushed or damaged. Inspect the parts to make sure nothing is loose or if something requires to be fitted.

If you see that the wiring harness is broken or loose, then you can fix it by soldering. In case the other parts need to be aligned, get them fixed up as well.

Once you have adjusted all the wiring harness, housings and sensors, put the AGS cover back in place.

Additional Information You Should Know

The active grill shutter is a part of your truck’s engine that opens or closes the vents to control the temperature as it stops aerodynamic drag. It also makes sure that the engine cooling system stays in good condition.

Moreover, it helps to improve fuel economy. It is pretty much like an air conditioner that cools your engine once it is hot.

The total cost involved when fixing the active grill shutter can go anywhere from $100 to as much as $170. It all depends on the model of your truck, labor, and location. If there is more work to be done and there is a need for a full replacement, expect the cost to be higher.

Read More: Ford Ac Compressor Pressure Relief Valve Keeps Opening: Causes & How To Fix

Bottom Line

By following these tips, you should be able to fix these Ford active grill shutter problems even without the help of a professional. It all requires having the right tools and techniques to make sure you address the problem correctly.

We hope this post has been helpful for you in figuring out how to diagnose a problem with your AGS and the ways to solve them.

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