Help: bypassing active grille shutter

Dylan6793 · Apr 28, 2022

I hit a coyote and my grille shutter was shattered to pieces. I still have the actuator and it works, but no grill. I found a couple people saying you can wire a relay to trick the computer to think the grill is opening and closing as long as you still have a functional actuator.

U0284 code in my chevy cruze eco 2011 the... - JustAnswer

my.justanswer.com

I got a 4 pin relay.
Pin 30 = battery +
Pin 85 = Chassis ground
Pin 86 = positive ignition 12v power
Pin 87 = grey/black wire at the shutter actuator

I still get a CEL one from the FPCM, one from ECM

Did I wire the relay wrong?

15cruzediesel · Apr 28, 2022

As far as the relay wiring not sure.

But the wire diagram is mentioned to be for a 2011 eco. I'd first veryify a 4 or 5 year newer diesel wires exactly the same.

Maybe somebody on here can post a wire diagram for the diesel.

revjpeterson · Apr 29, 2022

I don't remember if the post was here or one of the 3 Cruze Diesel Facebook groups, but someone bypassed the shutter by keeping the shutter motor, deleting the actual shutters, then fabricating stops using angle iron to attach the motor so it reacts as if the shutters were moving and hitting their proper limits.

AdrianCTD · Apr 29, 2022

Had something similar happen. Shutters broke, so I removed everything and had a check engine come out. I put the motor back with just the one piece that attaches to the little motor. Luckily that was the only one not broken. After that the check engine light never came back

BDCCruze · May 1, 2022

Is the shutters just for fuel economy at highway speeds? My front end is always open I've never seen it closed.

Dylan6793 · May 1, 2022

AdrianCTD said:
Had something similar happen. Shutters broke, so I removed everything and had a check engine come out. I put the motor back with just the one piece that attaches to the little motor. Luckily that was the only one not broken. After that the check engine light never came back

I have nothing left of the shutter, just the actuator

AdrianCTD · May 1, 2022

BDCCruze said:
Is the shutters just for fuel economy at highway speeds? My front end is always open I've never seen it closed.

Yeah I believe so. Supposed to close at highway speed to increase fuel economy, mine has been broken for the past 5years or so lol. No noticeable difference

AdrianCTD · May 1, 2022

Dylan6793 said:
I have nothing left of the shutter, just the actuator

****, u might have to make some little stoppers then. So the actuator can know where to stop. Unless can figure out how to make that relay work. I might have to look in to that also, that way I can just remove everything

Dylan6793 · May 8, 2022

AdrianCTD said:
****, u might have to make some little stoppers then. So the actuator can know where to stop. Unless can figure out how to make that relay work. I might have to look in to that also, that way I can just remove everything

I thought I'd share some info to help others. I couldn't figure out the relay. However, I went to a hardware store that sells bolts, nuts, Allen keys, etc in eaches. I found so 2 inch long square pieces of metal, I think it's aluminum but it sparked as I cut it down. Anyways, I got one that fit into the actuator (the gear has 8 teeth, but obviously if you ignore 4 corners it's a square. I believe the one that fit was 5/16". Then I got a 2 or 3 inch long skinny bolt. Drilled a hole in the square and the bolt hits the sides of the plastic housing. No check engine light for that. Will post pictures of the rig later.

Also will update if it the code comes back, but I'm fighting with a P2002 so, obviously will wait till I'm CEL free.

akdelta76 · Apr 19, 2023

Dylan6793 said:
I hit a coyote and my grille shutter was shattered to pieces. I still have the actuator and it works, but no grill. I found a couple people saying you can wire a relay to trick the computer to think the grill is opening and closing as long as you still have a functional actuator.

U0284 code in my chevy cruze eco 2011 the... - JustAnswer

my.justanswer.com

I got a 4 pin relay. Pin 30 = battery + Pin 85 = Chassis ground Pin 86 = positive ignition 12v power Pin 87 = grey/black wire at the shutter actuator I still get a CEL one from the FPCM, one from ECM Did I wire the relay wrong?

Change the fuel pump control module w one from a non eco cruze. Get a used one and it latterly plug and play. It's in trunk right side. Thank me later.

MP81 · Apr 19, 2023

akdelta76 said:
Change the fuel pump control module w one from a non eco cruze. Get a used one and it latterly plug and play. It's in trunk right side. Thank me later.

In the diesel? That sounds like a bad idea.

boraz · Apr 19, 2023

akdelta76 said:
Change the fuel pump control module w one from a non eco cruze. Get a used one and it latterly plug and play. It's in trunk right side. Thank me later.

no

Blasirl · Apr 21, 2023

Tidbits in each post - not in any specific order - some point to specific posts but not all:

Active Grille Shutter wiring (looking to modify)

Hi everyone, Does anyone know specifically how the motors operate on the active shutters? Is it a 3 wire design where giving 12 v to one wire opens them, 12v to another wire closes them, one wire for ground? (Thats how some old pop up headlights work). Or is it a more complicated stepper...

www.cruzetalk.com

Adding Active Grille Shutters

Hey Everyone, Just bought another Cruze after going a long time without one. I really do love these cars! My first one was purchased with my Ex. An amazing 2012 ECO 6 Spd Manual. I was always impressed what that car could do fuel economy wise on the highway. Even without a tune! What I didn't...

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Cruze ECO shutter grille explained

Times are tough for automobile manufacturers. Not only are they vulnerable to financial crisis, they also have to face the ever tightening emission and fuel efficiency requirements. While several technologies were developed rapidly to jack up the power produced by an engine, little was done to...

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HOW TO- Electrical control of the 1.4T (LUJ) thermostat...

Per @Blasirl here are a group of tutorial writeups and links to 3D printed part file sources. They describe methods and options for electronically controlling the thermostat temperature on 1.4T (LUJ) engines, and defeating the active "Aero" grille shutters. The effect of these modifications is...

www.cruzetalk.com

Cruze Eco shutter info

I mounted a small switch to monitor the front shutter. 1 It goes thru an open- close- open at startup. 2 Shutter closes at 40mph and opens at 34mph. 3 Shutter opens at cruise speed when a/c is running, it will stay open for 2-3 minutes after turning a/c off, then close as usual. 4 So far no...

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DIY Salvage Diesel Cruze Project

Well here it goes, this is my project....2014 Cruze Diesel with 93k miles, bought from the infamous Copart auction(yay). I have mixed feelings about that "wonderful" business, but that's a whole other thread. I decided that my last auction vehicle was not worthy enough for my 80mi/day drive as...

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Slowly turning my LTZ into an Eco

I always admired the technology behind the Eco trim and wanted one, but the goodies on the LTZ won out over Eco (particularly leather). After a recent discussion with obermd about Eco shutters being closed in the winter, I decided to try a little experiment- if the Eco can have the lower grill...

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ZZP intercooler installed - questions.

I installed the FMIC kit last weekend and have some questions for others who've installed an aftermarket FMIC. The first question is specifically for ECO model owners. With the ZZP kit, the air shutter must be removed. So my harness to the air shutter motor is taped and tied up out of the...

www.cruzetalk.com

Gonzo Cruze Dad · Dec 12, 2023

I saw a post in this forum to switch the FPCM(fuel pump control module)to a non-Eco model FPCM. I found one on eBay for under $25. Received it and installed it, very easy swap. Erased my codes and so far so good. Easy solution and I have an extra FPCM if needed. Not sure how to post a video but if I figure it out I will post…

Dylan6793 said:
I hit a coyote and my grille shutter was shattered to pieces. I still have the actuator and it works, but no grill. I found a couple people saying you can wire a relay to trick the computer to think the grill is opening and closing as long as you still have a functional actuator.

U0284 code in my chevy cruze eco 2011 the... - JustAnswer

my.justanswer.com

I got a 4 pin relay.
Pin 30 = battery +
Pin 85 = Chassis ground
Pin 86 = positive ignition 12v power
Pin 87 = grey/black wire at the shutter actuator

I still get a CEL one from the FPCM, one from ECM

Did I wire the relay wrong?

revjpeterson · Dec 12, 2023

Gonzo Cruze Dad said:
I saw a post in this forum to switch the FPCM(fuel pump control module)to a non-Eco model FPCM. I found one on eBay for under $25. Received it and installed it, very easy swap. Erased my codes and so far so good. Easy solution and I have an extra FPCM if needed. Not sure how to post a video but if I figure it out I will post…

Pretty sure putting a FPCM from a gas Cruze on a Diesel would turn out very badly, if the connectors would even plug in at all.

Help: bypassing active grille shutter

U0284 code in my chevy cruze eco 2011 the... - JustAnswer

Dylan6793

U0284 code in my chevy cruze eco 2011 the... - JustAnswer

15cruzediesel

revjpeterson

AdrianCTD

BDCCruze

Dylan6793

AdrianCTD

AdrianCTD

Dylan6793

akdelta76

U0284 code in my chevy cruze eco 2011 the... - JustAnswer

MP81

boraz

Blasirl

Active Grille Shutter wiring (looking to modify)

Adding Active Grille Shutters

Cruze ECO shutter grille explained

HOW TO- Electrical control of the 1.4T (LUJ) thermostat...

Cruze Eco shutter info

DIY Salvage Diesel Cruze Project

Slowly turning my LTZ into an Eco

ZZP intercooler installed - questions.

Gonzo Cruze Dad

U0284 code in my chevy cruze eco 2011 the... - JustAnswer

revjpeterson

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