How does the lower front air dam work?

[Ry2023]

good to know

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[Lolat]

I hit a tire tread (with my new Lightning) and busted the lower air dam off. It broke both the mounting panels (brackets) on both sides. They seem complicated with rollers but no connection, like a motor. How does that lower dam work? Do I need to replace the lower dam? I have no warnings so it does not seem to be an issue, but I would like to know what function those rollers accomplish?. The parts to replace the dam are quite expensive, even at ford on line, and I am too old to climb under there and do it. Does anyone know how that dam works and what it does? Thanks Charles

Ihave removed mine, including motordrive units. It often froze in winter when down, giving me warnings,….. Free for shipping. Text Roger (209) 481-2643.

 

[Henry Ford]

A tire tread took out my air dam. Both actuators were broken as others have also experienced. The body shop replaced all broken parts.

A couple months later I noticed the air dam was always deployed. There were no DTCs or other indication that something was wrong. My dealership replaced both actuators under warranty. I find it hard to believe both actuators died simultaneously but it wasn't in my interest to argue about it.

 

[RickLightning]

A tire tread took out my air dam. Both actuators were broken as others have also experienced. The body shop replaced all broken parts.

A couple months later I noticed the air dam was always deployed. There were no DTCs or other indication that something was wrong. My dealership replaced both actuators under warranty. I find it hard to believe both actuators died simultaneously but it wasn't in my interest to argue about it.

A great example of why Ford has high warranty costs. Actuators probably broken by tire tread, and not replaced then.

 

[B177y]

If anyone is able to mount a GoPro style camera to the front of their truck, I'd love to see what this air dam looks like while it extends and retracts while driving.

I can't imagine that such a fragile and exposed piece of equipment makes a noticeable enough difference to be worth the hassle of warranty claims and repeatedly getting hit by road debris. I have tried to concentrate on other Lightning's that I see driving towards me and I haven't been able to see any noticable air dam, but that's while we're driving about 55 mph towards each other (in opposite lanes of course).

 

[Charles Juedemann]

If anyone is able to mount a GoPro style camera to the front of their truck, I'd love to see what this air dam looks like while it extends and retracts while driving.

I can't imagine that such a fragile and exposed piece of equipment makes a noticeable enough difference to be worth the hassle of warranty claims and repeatedly getting hit by road debris. I have tried to concentrate on other Lightning's that I see driving towards me and I haven't been able to see any noticable air dam, but that's while we're driving about 55 mph towards each other (in opposite lanes of course).

Google this for a great video of the dam
video of front air dam on ford lightning

 

[Charles Juedemann]

A great example of why Ford has high warranty costs. Actuators probably broken by tire tread, and not replaced then.

I don't think a damaged air dam is covered under warranty. I think it would be considered accidental damage and not something any car co would cover under warranty.

 

[RickLightning]

I don't think a damaged air dam is covered under warranty. I think it would be considered accidental damage and not something any car co would cover under warranty.

Right.

But it appeared that instead of being replaced when the air dam was, it was now being replaced under warranty.

 

[WXman]

Can ForScan shut this off so that the truck isn't looking for it anymore? If I have trouble with mine I'd prefer to just remove it and install a fixed air dam like my F-250 had.

So I guess that's a no.

 

[Henry Ford]

A great example of why Ford has high warranty costs. Actuators probably broken by tire tread, and not replaced then.

The actuators were replaced with genuine Ford parts. Both were broken on impact and unable to be reused. They worked fine for a while then stopped working in the down position. The dealership looked at them and determined both were dead. Seems unlikely to me but the service rep said he's seen other things fail in pairs and he thought it was a coincidence.

I think Ford's warranty costs have more to do with their quality than replacing replacement parts. My truck has had three recalls that I can think of. My wife's car currently has two recalls, one of which is a fuel delivery issue with no fix. I like Ford's products but their quality sucks.

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