A/C condenser susceptible to damage
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Sorry I've been away for a bit, but a few updates for everyone here from the VoltShop. We have spent time this fall and winter updating our jigs and templates to improve the quality of our finished product. We've also change suppliers to upgrade the metal mesh for the lower screen. Thank you for all of your support over the past years. we continue to keep busy making RAV4Screens, as well as so many more.
I noted some common questions popping up in this thread, so I thought I would add some input based on 10+ years of making grille screens for many cars.
In 10 years of making screens for many cars, we have never had a report of any car with them on it overheating. And we have never had a report of a car having a puncture through one of our screens. Ken D's picture of what happened (Post #261) is a prefect example of having dodged a bullet. It is hard to predict if or when that might happen to anyone, so this is about preventative action. Saving your self frustration, time taking the car in to get looked at and fixed, paying for it and or fighting with Toyota, sleeping well at night instead of worrying.... Essentially, this is one form of insurance.
Generally, a punctured radiator or AC condenser isn't a warranty item. Rocks happen.... It would seem that manufacturers are making condensers and radiators out of thinner material, making them more fragile. And less grill in front of them adds to the issue. GM did recognize this with the Volt and covered many radiator replacements under warranty with a TSB, but that was such an unheard of thing that even service managers had to be told about it. Many Volt owners paid for the repair unknowingly because the service folks at the dealership were unaware and never thought to look for this TSB. Toyota is working with customers on a case by case basis when they complain. I know a number of my customers have gotten the repair paid for by Toyota. The keys to this seem to be patience, persistence, and using the terms, "Design flaw" and "Failure to protect." A dealership can be helpful to this process, so staying on their good side is a plus.
This problem is NOT just a RAV4 thing. More and more cars are affected. Thinner materials, grills that are designed for beauty instead of protection, aerodynamic and design considerations that make for less frontal area... They all seem to be factors in this. The Kia Telluride and Sorento, Subaru Ascent and Outback, Honda Clarity and others are all problems. Honestly, every single Kia and Hyundai model made today is a problem waiting to happen. The 23 Sportage is as bad or worse than anything I've ever seen.
HTH!
Steve
I noted some common questions popping up in this thread, so I thought I would add some input based on 10+ years of making grille screens for many cars.
In 10 years of making screens for many cars, we have never had a report of any car with them on it overheating. And we have never had a report of a car having a puncture through one of our screens. Ken D's picture of what happened (Post #261) is a prefect example of having dodged a bullet. It is hard to predict if or when that might happen to anyone, so this is about preventative action. Saving your self frustration, time taking the car in to get looked at and fixed, paying for it and or fighting with Toyota, sleeping well at night instead of worrying.... Essentially, this is one form of insurance.
Generally, a punctured radiator or AC condenser isn't a warranty item. Rocks happen.... It would seem that manufacturers are making condensers and radiators out of thinner material, making them more fragile. And less grill in front of them adds to the issue. GM did recognize this with the Volt and covered many radiator replacements under warranty with a TSB, but that was such an unheard of thing that even service managers had to be told about it. Many Volt owners paid for the repair unknowingly because the service folks at the dealership were unaware and never thought to look for this TSB. Toyota is working with customers on a case by case basis when they complain. I know a number of my customers have gotten the repair paid for by Toyota. The keys to this seem to be patience, persistence, and using the terms, "Design flaw" and "Failure to protect." A dealership can be helpful to this process, so staying on their good side is a plus.
This problem is NOT just a RAV4 thing. More and more cars are affected. Thinner materials, grills that are designed for beauty instead of protection, aerodynamic and design considerations that make for less frontal area... They all seem to be factors in this. The Kia Telluride and Sorento, Subaru Ascent and Outback, Honda Clarity and others are all problems. Honestly, every single Kia and Hyundai model made today is a problem waiting to happen. The 23 Sportage is as bad or worse than anything I've ever seen.
HTH!
Steve
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Looks good. What did you use for the all around trim?I made my own custom lower grill screen, used these components, will be adding the upper grill screen behind the grill, if it gets packed with bugs and debris, I think it can be vacuumed easily, if not it won't be hard to remove for cleaning, it won't be difficult to check it regularly.
1/16
Made of flexible rubber, this 1/16" trim fits onto straight edges. Simply cut to desired length and push on. It has a firm grip that holds it in place.www.customcargrills.com
https://www.amazon.com/AUTOT-12x6mm...07LC6LN2F/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
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Thanks.
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Custom Car Grills, see the link in the post you quoted.
2023 RAV4 Prime XSE here.
Do your new screens fit both my model's upper and lower grills? Should these screens be installed behind both the upper and lower grill?
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My 11-month-old 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime was damaged on the NYS Thruway on 6-7-2022 due to the flaw design in the grill which allowed a large stone to go through the grill and puncture the Inverter Radiator just behind the grill. I paid $1,030 for the repair, $480 for the tow (I was on a trip) and $103 for the mesh behind the grill to prevent a reoccurrence. I know this is not an uncommon problem. Has anyone figured out how to pursue Toyota to accept this responsibility?
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My 11-month-old 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime was damaged on the NYS Thruway on 6-7-2022 due to the flaw design in the grill which allowed a large stone to go through the grill and puncture the Inverter Radiator just behind the grill. I paid $1,030 for the repair, $480 for the tow (I was on a trip) and $103 for the mesh behind the grill to prevent a reoccurrence.
I know this is not an uncommon problem. Has anyone figured out how to pursue Toyota to accept this Toyota responsibility?
I know this is not an uncommon problem. Has anyone figured out how to pursue Toyota to accept this Toyota responsibility?
Toyota won't even accept responsibility for the roof rail leak, good luck getting them to cover road hazard damage. The warranty covers only manufacturer's defects, but comprehensive insurance should cover anything damaged by falling objects or rocks.
I installed both the upper and lower screens and they've already paid for themselves as my bumper is littered with rock chips from driving on 880. Lots of loose gravel, construction, dump trucks with rocks, etc. I found a nickel sized rock sitting on my lower bumper in front of the screen which the RAVScreen stopped from hitting my A/C condenser. These new radiators and A/C condensers are very thin and easily damaged so definitely worth buying. It's hard to notice it behind the grill unless you're standing next to it, but IMO it looks cooler with the screen.
these kind of grill designs have been on Toyota and other car manufacturers vehicle for a while now… it’s not new and it doesn’t seem like they will change the design anytime soon.
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Well, thanks. And I know you're probably correct about Toyota's reluctance/refusal to step up, but the mere fact that your screen (and mine) prevents damage to the inverter radiator should substantiate the fact that there's a design flaw in the grill. I think I'll write to Toyota. I know I could put in an insurance claim, but I'm afraid of what effect it will have on my auto insurance premium. Thanks for responding.
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36 Posts
Just ordered screen from Amazon and edge guard from Grainger. I am thinking installing the screen with something else than zip ties. I live in the hot weather and in a few years plastic ties will become brittle and fall off. Thinking maybe using screws with fender washers or something like that. Once I remove the shroud to get an access to the behind the grill I will be able to tell.
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758 Posts
Good quality nylon zip ties should last a life time
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Every single thing in my garage made out of plastic must be bad quality because all of that eventually breaks apart. It could take 3-10 years but nothing lasts a lifetime. Stainless steel screws will.
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I guess if the zip ties may last as long as the plastic screen if not longer. unless you ordered metal screen.
Replace the zip ties every three or four years then? 🤷♂️
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36 Posts
Aluminum.
Amazon.com: Modengzhe 40 x 13 inch Car Grill Mesh Sheet, Black Painted Aluminum Alloy Multifunctional Grille Mesh Roll, 6 x 12 mm Rhombic-Shape Grids : Automotive
Buy Modengzhe 40 x 13 inch Car Grill Mesh Sheet, Black Painted Aluminum Alloy Multifunctional Grille Mesh Roll, 6 x 12 mm Rhombic-Shape Grids: Grilles - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
smile.amazon.com
There are UV resistant outdoor rated zip ties.
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There are maybe UV rated but my garage is not made out of glass. If it is 114-118 air temperature I am sure garage is much much hotter. The only thing did not (yet) crumbled is a black plastic bin I bought from Home Depot with the yellow top I keep my outing equipment in until I go on the trip. Besides I might use plastic ties if I don't find a better way. But I am installing the screen behind the grill anyway so I am going to try to find a better more secure way. For the bottom I think I already know how to do it.
Stainless steel zip ties:
www.amazon.com/Tskcos-Premium-Stainless-Strength-Self-Locking/dp/B09Y86WFV3/
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