Has anyone ever just removed the shutter behind the grill just bc it broke instead of replacing it? I live down in Houston and engine temps get to warming up pretty quickly without the need for a closed shutter to prevent air from cooling the engine at first. Unless there's more reason for the shutter, I don't see much need for one down here in the south. Thoughts or suggestions?
I have a 2019 2.7eco with 130k miles in Houston Tx and Lafayette La

 

I see low risk here. I would run it with it unplugged and see how that does. If drivability there is good and warm up goes well during this upcoming cold spout, I don't see an issue. I will caviat that with idk every detail of the warm up programming, so I don't give warranties. But, most cars and trucks don't have them, so I'd say not pertinent to operations.

 

Well full disclosure, the fact is the previous owner hit a big bird high rate of speed, broke grill and couple shutter blades, hence the reason for thinking of just removing the shutter assembly altogether.

 

If the shudders are broken, break the rest off and run it that way as well. see how it works. Then if that works, unplug it and see. If that works, come back and tell us about it. Remember temperatures you test it at and pay attention to warm up times. and probably mpg on the highway? Idk if they close at highway speed or not.

 

I'd imagine they'd stay open to let air flow thru radiator for cooling, and close during startup/warm-up time for faster getting to normal/optimal temp range. Up in north snow country I can the need for that, but down south its quite a different story. Effectively it'd be the same as before ever having the shutters. I'm mostly wondering about engine coding issues. BUT removing the broken one altogether was a good idea. 🤔💯

 

The shutters run partly open even in summer. The amount they open depends on engine load. During hwy cruise here in Pa, mine run mostly between 20 and 30% open, and the amount varies constantly with engine temps. I have a 15 xlt 2.7.

In my observations it seems the cooling system is sized to remove much more heat than a non turbo 2.7 can produce, meaning it is sized for the 2.7 max output plus some extra.

That said when I run my 5 star 91 tune the shutters default to 100% open. I don't notice any change in cooling or mileage, except that the normal few degree engine temp swing is less than with the 89 tune and the shutters operating.
Being in PA I would not want to do without them in the winter.

As the others have said, try unplugging them or remove the remaining blades and see what happens. I don't think you'll have any issues unless you get close to freezing temps, and even then you'll probably just have longer warm up times.