Simple Fix for Broken Air Guide (Air Dam/Gravel Guard)

C@lvin · Post by **C@lvin** » 10 Dec 2010, 23:57

Judging from what I see on other 850/S/V/70s on the road a lot of these brake off and never get replaced. The aftermarket URO brand part sells for around $70 - $80 depending on your MY (see FCP Groton). Needless to say, the genuine Volvo replacement part is much more expensive.

If your air guide brakes off from running over debris or parking curbs, etc., you can fix it easily and inexpensively with this method. You may have the materials on hand already or you can pick up a 6X18 piece of sheet metal and the other hardware at Home Depot or most any other hardware store for less than $10. You will also need some "tin snips" and a clamp or two to hold the reinforcing sheet metal in place while you drill the holes in it.

Borrowing the concept from the fix for the plastic dashboard brackets that's posted here on MVS, glue the broken "ear" or mounting bracket/tab back on the air guide to assist in measuring and attaching some reinforcing sheet metal. Then measure, cut, drill, and attach the pieces of sheet metal. Easy as that.

Here are a few pictures.....

Post by **jreed** » 11 Dec 2010, 05:14

Nice work! I like the locking nuts -- that's a good idea. I used plumber's metal pipe strap instead of sheet metal to fix my air dam and it doesn't look as professional as this. Thanks.

C@lvin · Post by **C@lvin** » 12 Dec 2010, 10:12

Thanks. The pipe strap is a good idea too. Someone also has mentioned using cable ties.

Post by **jblackburn** » 12 Dec 2010, 12:25

Yeah, I've seen lots of other cars without them. Mine ran hot without it on there, and my gas mileage took a hit too (and it's never been great anyway).

Great idea for a fix; I held mine up with a billion zip-ties for a while, but I bottomed out on a big hill and took it off again, ripping both of the tabs clean off of it. Metal brackets probably would have kept that from happening

Post by **j_cd** » 12 Dec 2010, 12:32

This is ingenious and I'm going to do it. I also think I've noticed mine running a little hot and mileage suffering without the air dam. I'll have to put it back on this week.

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 12 Dec 2010, 15:02

Good fix. Mine is on the missing list and I am now trying to find a used one for my 1998. Junk yards around the Twincities are out of stock, which leaves the dealer or junk stuff.

Any suggestions?

Post by **jblackburn** » 12 Dec 2010, 15:09

Got enough for a $150 order through FCP? That's where I get big things from, and free shipping helps a lot

DougM · Post by **DougM** » 02 Feb 2012, 06:57

Thanks again to this awesome site!

Imagine my surpise when I pop the trunk on our 850 to see this large piece of black plastic in there. A quick search on the part number to discover it is the air guide. Then a quick search here on air guide leads me to this post.

$10 and 30 minutes later and the air guide is back in place.

Now it is time to beat the 16 y/o who somehow knocked the air guide off to begin with, and "forgot" to mention it to me. (Just kidding on the beating part)

brunocerous · Post by **brunocerous** » 04 Dec 2017, 14:06

Just had to say thank you for this awesome idea!

I took on this repair, using an old air dam from a 1998 V70 and put it on the 'new' 2000 V70: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=78410&start=290#p456238

Even though the two tabs had been torn off completely, they were still attached on the '00. I held them in the approximate location on the air dam to drill the holes in the right place and folded the sheet metal over the plastic tab, then back down along to the nuts/bolts that hold it in place.

Good stuff!

Post by **scot850** » 04 Dec 2017, 15:32

I use a metal 90 degree bracket to repair the center 'lip' for the air-dam. The one which clips into the bottom of the radiator.

Neil.