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Is there a replacement for the gray, plastic air flow thing?

5.4K views 24 replies 16 participants last post by  2015 volt  
#1 ·
Sorry, I don't know what it's called. The gray plastic piece under the front bumper that hangs really low to the ground. I heard there was another version of that I could replace it with that was higher up off the ground. I called my local Chevy dealer and they only have one item in their system, the regular one.

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#2 ·
It's called an air dam, and for the first generation Volt there are two versions of it, the second one being about an inch shorter than the first (thus giving an extra inch of clearance.)

Mine scraped every day for years, but really didn't seem much worse for wear - it's more rubber than plastic (but actually a mix of the two I believe.)
 
#4 ·
Will it cost anything to have it replaced or removed? There was a thread on here a while back which I can't find that mentioned the shorter air dam and that the dealer would replace it for free. Is that true?

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#5 ·
Another options is to do what one member did and measure a couple inches down and make the long one into a short one with a pair of heavy duty scissors or tin snips.
 
#6 ·
Anyone know how much it would cost to have mine replaced with the shorter one? I saw a thread on here a good while back where someone mentioned that they would replace it for free. Is that true?

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#7 ·
They will not do that anymore. If you bought it new and it was under bumper to bumper they did some as a customer satisfaction thing.

It is not hard to do. I think the part is about $70 US.
 
#9 ·
I would just save your money and live with the occasional scraping noise. But then again, I'm the ultimate cheapskate - the only person worse than me is my dad.
 
#11 ·
The dealer replaced mine before the car was out of bumper to bumper, it was really getting raggedy. Even now, the new deflector scrapes.
 
#12 ·
My chevrolet dealer will not remove the liwer air dam without a replacement , as it also helps keep the traction battery cool
 
#14 ·
I just replaced mine with the shorter version yesterday, was pretty easy except when one of the clips that the screws thread into popped off and landed inside the plastic under the engine - took 10 minutes to find and fish out.

@coachdubya - not sure what you are talking about as the shorter model I bought (from here) has no tabs.
 
#16 ·
I had the front bumper cover off a few weeks ago to replace the RH turn signal assembly and there's no tabs like the original air dam.
 
#17 ·
Just be careful you don't do this:

Image
 
#22 ·
I keep wondering why they don't put a front mounted camera on these low clearance cars. the sensors are okay, but it would still be nice to see the ground in front of you.
 
#24 ·
About a year ago a forum user mounted a rear cam in the front. He had to mount it upside down so thenleft and right made sense, but the the ground and sky was upside down. Maybe someone makes a camera which is configurable with dip switches of jumpers. If I can find that post, I'll edit this with the link.
 
#23 · (Edited)
#25 ·
My Chevrolet dealer told me that there wasn't a replacement
They just took offcthe lower dam, it I'd held in place with 21 nuts and bolts
They refused to remove it as it helps generate cool air to keep the traction battery cool