Many cars that fall into the sports-car or sporty-sedan classes come with factory-installed spoilers. Though a few spoilers are actually functional -- adding to the aerodynamic efficiency and stability of the vehicle at high speeds -- most are merely cosmetic and designed to add a sleek, sporty look. Some enthusiasts like to exaggerate that look even further by replacing the factory spoiler with a more aggressive looking after-market model. Installing one of these add-ons involves removing the old spoiler and, if there is an integrated high-mount brake-light, doing some electrical re-wiring. This is a project of moderate difficulty suited for fairly experienced do-it-yourselfers. After-market spoilers generally come in vehicle-specific kits that contain all of the parts that you'll for your particular model, as well as detailed installation instructions. Read and follow the instructions that come with your kit for installation on your particular vehicle. Spoilers are available in quite a few styles. Some have top-mounted elements that attach to the rear of the trunk or hatch (figure A), and additional pieces that attach to the top section of the rear fender. Others attach only to top surface of the trunk or hatch. The elements themselves come unpainted (figure B), so unless you plan to repaint your vehicle, it will be necessary to have the parts painted in advance in a color that is an exact match with your vehicle.
Materials:
Rear-spoiler kit, including parts and installation hardware
Ratchet wrench or speed-handled socket wrench
Screwdriver or torx driver
Cordless drill and hole-saw attachment
Fish-wire
Panel-removal tool
Important: Before beginning any project that involves electrical wiring, disconnect the vehicle's negative battery cable. - Use a panel-removal tool, gently pry loose the plastic panel on the underside of the trunk lid (figure C). You may need to first loosen or pry loose any plastic tabs that are used to mount the panel in position. Carefully lower the panel, being careful not to scuff it, and set it aside.
- Once you've removed the panel, and with the vehicle's negative battery cable already removed from the battery terminal, you'll need to unplug the wiring that leads to the existing high-mounted brake-light (figure D).
- The existing spoiler on our vehicle is held in place with two nuts that fasten from the underneath side of the trunk lid. We removed the nuts with a speed-handled wrench and the appropriate size socket (figure E). An ordinary ratchet wrench with a long socket would also suffice.
- With the nuts removed, lift the factory spoiler off and clear of the vehicle (figure F). Use caution not to scratch it since you may one day want to reinstall it on the vehicle, or on another vehicle.
- The wiring to the high-mount brake light comes off with the spoiler. Use a torx driver or screwdriver (whichever is appropriate) to remove the screws holding the brake-light housing in place in the old spoiler (figure G). With the screws removed, carefully lift out the lens, housing assembly and wiring. These will be fitted into the new spoiler, which is pre-molded to accept a high-mount brake light as well.
- In the kit used in our demonstration, the new spoiler did not have a hole to accommodate the wiring for the brake light. It was necessary to use an electric drill and hole-saw attachment to cut a hole in the bottom portion of the spoiler so that the wiring could be fed through.. If this step is necessary with your kit, first measure and mark the location for the hole. The hole in the new spoiler will need to match the location on the vehicle where the wires are fed through. Then carefully cut out a hole in the fiberglass using the hole saw (figure H).
- Once the hole has been cut, the wiring will need to be threaded up into the body of the spoiler to the point where it can be connected to the brake light. A fish-wire will make this part of the job easier (figure I). Once the wiring has been fed through, you may want to use a small piece of electrical tape to hold the wire stationary while the installation is completed -- preventing it from slipping back down into the hollow body of the spoiler.
- With the wiring in place, reattach the brake light in the same manner that it was previously attached. Make certain that the bulbs are plugged back in, then reattach the lens (figure J).
- Once the placement of the wiring and light housing is complete, the spoiler is ready to be installed on the vehicle. Before installing it, however, clean the surface of the trunk lid where the old spoiler was attached. Typically, dust and grime tends to build up on the painted surface beneath the spoiler.
- After cleanup is complete, feed the end of the wiring through the grommet and hole in the trunk lid (figure K).
- Carefully position the new spoiler on the vehicle (figure L).
- Attach the spoiler from underneath the trunk lid with the hardware provided, using a speed wrench or socket wrench. In our example, we retained the rubber gaskets from the old spoiler and used them in the new attachment to ensure a water-tight fit (figure M).
- With the spoiler firmly attached on the vehicle, reconnect the brake-light wiring (figure N).
- Reinstall the interior panel on the underside of the trunk lid.
RESOURCES :
Ultimate Auto Detailing
Model: 0879389419
Author: David H. Jacobs
(1995)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Motorbooks International
Some vehicles provided by Beaty Chevrolet
Beaty Chevrolet
9615 Parkside Drive
Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: 865-693-7712
Web site: beatychevrolet.com
Vehicle trim accessories from RK Sport
Vehicle trim accessories from
RK Sport
251 Airport Road
Oceanside, CA 92054
Toll-free: 800-214-8030
Fax: 760-433-1477
Web site: www.rksport.com
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