I would like to know at what point do these flaps actually open as mine are still closed when the engine is fairly hot.

 

I am also very interested. I think they open up very rarely.

 

They are open when your engine is hot - you just don't know this

They do not have a mechanism to open or close them. Instead they have a magnetic lock which disengages when the engine is hot and allows them to be opened by the wind when the car is on the move. Put simply: the magnets locks them closed when its clear that the car does NOT need cooling; In any other case, if in doubt, or when something is wrong, they are not locked and are opened by wind. When the car is standing with a hot engine, you can test this by pushing your finger or a stick through them.

 

Are you sure that's how it works? Cuz i def. remember seeing them open when the weather was extremely hot even when the car was stationary.

 

This is certainly the way it works on pre-LCI cars.

On LCI cars the flaps look differently and there is an axle in the middle. They might work differently. Please post here if you find proof that they can open alone.

 

Thanks for the information. Very helpful.

 

what flaps are we talking about? aerodynamics... on our wagons?????

 

Did you ever put your hand out the window at any speed over 70mph ? The wind blast is incredible....It would have to be some kind of strong magnet to hold a flap closed in that kind of wind. It might be more likely it's similar to a wiper motor controlling the opening and closing of the flaps.

 

Pics to them on the car, or a link to where they are?

 

Do you have any idea how strong a magnet can be

That said, on the LCI cars it might be a motor, because of the more complicated tasks it has to fulfill.