2022+ Tundra Front Active Spoiler Solutions

Working on creating a solution or getting the info straight as far as Front Active Spoiler error messages on the dash. Currently testing on a 2023 1794 Tundra with the front active spoiler.

Tested Information:

The truck currently has the active front spoiler and active grill shutter system deleted with no codes on the dash. Initially the Active Front Spoiler module was separated from motor by pulling a part the motor plastic housing and removing the circuit board. When connected back to the harness with no motor attached to the circuit board it resulted in no CEL(check engine light) but a notification on the dash that it had a malfunction. Clearing the fault with an Autel works until you put it back into drive and then you are met with another notification on the dash but no CEL. I then completely disconnected the module from the harness and left the harness empty. This resulted in no notification on the dash and when scanned with an Autel unit the module shows "no response" so impossible to have a fault. Other modules that are not equipped on this model, i.e. active suspension, show the same "no response" when the module is scanned. Driving down the road with multiple power cycles and speeds changing from above 40mph to below 35mph with no notifications on the dash since the module was removed completely.

Once the active front spoiler notification was stopped I then was met with a CEL and notification for the active grill shutters since I had the module removed from the shutter assembly but still attached to the vehicles harness. Autel Fault Code Message "Grill Shutter Mechanical Linkage Failure". Removing the grill shutter motor completely results in a different fault message "Grill Shutter Motor Missing". To achieve no error or CEL a cheat device was needed to prevent the active grill shutter motor from over rotating in either direction when the system does a self check on start up. With the device installed there is no longer a CEL or fault for the grill shutters and no fault for the disconnected active front spoiler module.

Needed Information:

CBI makes a delete module for the Tundra that should stop the notification from showing up on the dash when deleted but in my case there was no error on the dash when the module was removed. I did see a Technical Service Bulletin(Toyota TSB #T-SB-0011-22) was released March 2, 2022 for Active Front Spoiler(EDITED: Active Front Grill Shutter) faults on stock trucks. My thinking now is that Toyota has updated the ECU modules for 2023+ trucks to no longer provide a notification on the dash since it never resulted in a TRUE Check Engine Light.

To prove this theory and hopefully save people time and money when deleting their Active Front Spoiler I need a some tests done on some specific vehicles.

2022 Tundra with an Active Front Spoiler and haven't had the Technical Service Bulletin update performed. Please disconnect your front valance harness from the housing located in front of the radiator behind the grill. ***Expected result would be a notification on the dash expressing an error related to the Active Front Spoiler***

2022 Tundra with an Active Front Spoiler and HAD the Technical Service Bulletin update performed. Please disconnect your front valance harness from the housing located in front of the radiator behind the grill. ***Expected result would be NO notification on the dash expressing an error related to the Active Front Spoiler and normal operation with the module disconnected***

2023+ Tundra with an Active Front Spoiler. Please disconnect your front valance harness from the housing located in front of the radiator behind the grill. ***Expected result would be NO notification on the dash expressing an error related to the Active Front Spoiler and normal operation with the module disconnected*** MY CURRENT SITUATION AND TESTED INFO

Any feedback is appreciated and will help solve the annoying problems that come with modifying the front of these new trucks equipped with the Active Front Spoiler and Active Grill Shutters.

 

Welcome to the forum!

The TSB (T-SB-0011-22) was to fix an issue related to the Active GRILLE Air Shutters, not the Active Front Spoiler...

If you unplug the Active Front Spoiler (and Active Grille Air Shutters for that matter) on any MY22+ Tundra, you will receive a MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) with some DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code)...

 

@ryanwgregg thanks for the fix on the TSB. Appreciate the shared info and correct the Grill Shutter Motor will always result in a CEL when disconnected, I had to design a 3D printed stopper to prevent over rotation(CEL) when removed from the actual shutter assembly. Now sits zip tied out of the way with the shutter assembly removed and no CEL. Hoping to see some other 2023 truck owners with the same results as I found with the disconnected front spoiler system.

 

What the heck is a grill shutter?

 

OUTLINE

(a) A grille shutter system is used. This system blocks the flow of air into the engine compartment from the upper radiator grille.
(b) The grille shutter suitably controls cooling airflow for the engine by opening and closing the shutter, reducing drag.
(c) The grille shutter system is composed of a swing grille actuator assembly, radiator shutter assembly and ECM.
(d) The grille shutter system is controlled by the swing grille actuator assembly. The swing grille actuator assembly is integrated into the radiator shutter sub-assembly.

MAIN FEATURES

(a) The adoption of the grille shutter system has the following advantages.

• Reduces the air resistance in the engine compartment when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds.
• Facilitates warm-up of the engine by blocking the flow of cold air into the engine compartment when the engine coolant temperature is low. This supports fuel economy.

FUNCTION OF MAIN COMPONENTS

Swing Grille Actuator Assembly

• Actuates the radiator shutter sub-assembly based on the signal from the air conditioning amplifier assembly and ECM.
• Sends a diagnosis signal to the combination meter assembly when a malfunction is detected.

Radiator Shutter Sub-assembly

The fins of the radiator shutter sub-assembly are closed by the swing grille actuator assembly to block the airflow to the engine compartment.

ECM
Sends an engine coolant temperature signal to the swing grille actuator assembly via CAN communication.

Air Conditioning Amplifier Assembly
Sends the A/C refrigerant pressure and outside temperature to the ECM via CAN communication.

OPERATION
(a) The swing grille actuator assembly performs cold condition control while the engine coolant temperature is low.
(b) The swing grille actuator assembly performs high speed traveling control.

Cold Condition Control

• When the ignition switch is ON at the engine coolant temperature is below 40°C (104°F) , the grille shutter is closed until the engine coolant temperature reaches 75°C (167°F).
• Using the air conditioner with low outside temperature, the grille shutter is opened when the pressure of the refrigerant becomes higher.

High Speed Traveling Control

• When the vehicle traveling speed is between approximately 60 to 150 km/h (37 to 93 mph), the grille shutter is closed.
• When the vehicle is traveling and engine coolant temperature is approximately 97°C (207°F) or more, the grille shutter is opened.
• When the vehicle is traveling and outside temperature is approximately 35°C (95°F) or more, the grille shutter is opened.
• When the vehicle is traveling and air conditioning refrigerant pressure is high, the grille shutter opens and closes in accordance with the vehicle speed and the outside air temperature, etc.

HINT: Sometimes, the grille shutter operates after the ignition switch turned to ON or Off. This does not indicate a malfunction.

FUNCTION
(a) Warning Indication
(1) The combination meter assembly uses the multi-information display and buzzer to provide the driver with grille shutter system malfunction information.

DIAGNOSIS
(a) If the ECM detects a malfunction in the grille shutter system, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are stored in the ECM.
(1) The DTCs can be read by connecting the Global TechStream (GTS) to the DLC3. For details, refer to the Repair Manual.

 

I disconnected the active spoiler on my 2023 1794. No errors on dash but I did not drive it yet, just started the engine in the driveway. Let me know if you need more info.

 

Ugh, this is one of the advanced features I dont like about the truck.
Why? Just one of those type of things to eventually break and cost a small fortune to fix.

 

@DRP Getting up to speed and driving it with the connecter disconnected would be the final test to see if a notification shows up on the dash. When I tested with the module attached to the harness but disconnect from the motor I didn't receive a CEL until the vehicle was in drive and got above 10 MPH. Thanks for the reply and the info is appreciated.

 

Well, got up to 70mph and the front bearing went bad, radio knob fell off, plastic thingy on the side of the drivers seat cracked, all sorts of wind noise started happening, and the A/C quit blowing..... Oh, wait a sec, that was just a nightmare from reading stuff on this forum.

70 MPH and no error codes shown on the dash. Hope this helps.

 

Glad to hear the test went well and no one was hurt. Seems like something changed for the 2023+ model years involving the dash warning for the Front Active Spoiler. That is now (2) cases where a simple unplug of the front spoiler doesn't cause any issues on 2023+ models. Hopefully we get some more owners to run this quick test so we can confirm. Thanks again.

 

I've got a 2023 SR5 with the active air dam built in October of 2022! I'll unplug it on my lunch break and see if anything pops up when I'm driving around town!