Hey is it just me is it everytime my TL goes down slop head first, it scrapes the Air Vent under the body? Its this plastic bar thing if you look from the front of the bottom of your car. Its like this plastic strip, well mine is scraped up PRETTY BAD. It seems like I scrape it 2-3x a week. Everything is stock, I didnt lower it or anything, it just seems like my old car has a lot more lift than my TL. Do I need to replace it?

 

It was not installed improperly. This air vent is typical of Acura vehicles. I had the same problem with my '95 Integra. During the blizzard last year, there was a block of solid ice attached to the air vent. When I tried to back out, the front panel actually started to come lose.

I have been very careful with my TL. I avoid parking nose first and hitting the concrete blocks. In addition, I have been trying to avoid going down a hill that suddenly levels off (as opposed to small inclinations) and scapes the air vent.

Mark

 

I scrape mine all the time too.. unfortunately the grade of our driveway does it.. but now I'm very cautious of parking blocks and sidewalks. I've gotten it down to a mininum, but still do it. Our car is partially a bottom breather so it's just an inevitable evil.

 

Sacraficial element on the car?
"Something has to go."

Just kidding.
My car does it as well--geometry effects.

I kringe every time it happens.

Still not desensatized from the 04TL Experience...
NathanSilver

 

I have scraped mine also. I have to pull out of certain drive ways going the wrong way just so I don't scrape the air vent

 

Same problem here. My driveway is steep. It's more a problem backing out. I found if I turn the wheel and come out on an angle it doesn't happen.

 

I've run into the same problem, and have adopted 6speed's approach.....take the spots where the incline changes as slowly as possible and always at an angle.

 

Odd...mine is lowered yet I almost never scrape

 

Me too. My driveway is the reason I'm not lowering further than stock. I've to be very cautious and drive at an angle goign up and down the driveway. And Yes! I also had 95 Integra and had to install the clips at least 10 times due to parking over a cement block commonly available on most of the parking lots.

 

just try not to go straight at inclines and declines. go at a slight angle to help reduce the amount that you scrape

 

Have any of you noticed much scraping on speed bumps? I'm looking seriously at the TL, but the parking garage at my work has several nasty speed bumps and I don't particularly want to be scraping the car several times a day, every day. They are almost as high as parking blocks and are pretty steep and pointed at the top.

 

I had the same problem. You aren't scraping the car though, there is a black thing under the car that hangs down that is what is being scraped.

 

So, what is the pupose of the black thing?

 

The black thing forces air up into the engine compartment.

 

Is it a must to have on?

 

When you go up a incline the best way is to go on a angle. You will rarely scrape if you do that... If you go head on with a incline you will scrap 95% or the times...

 

Is it a must to have on?

 

Maybe not, but you do want your engine running as cool as possible don't you? My wife's car has this too. It's my 'early warning notification' that she's just pulled into the driveway. :p

 

i did it like 3 times in one day, ever since then ive been really really careful and so far everythings good.

 

Slow down is the way to prevent this happening.

If you scratch this everyday, you will not be the driver for A-Spec package or lower your suspension kits.



I use it as the early warning, too, as kona said.

 

Happened to me once as well. Since then, however, I've been super super super careful, and hasn't happened since. :o

Just like someone else said, approach the speed bump or dip at an angle.

 

My car`s lowered and only happened once, pulling too close to a snow pile. Other than that, no problemo. Just think about it next time it looks like the area might be in question, and sloooow down!