Hood Deflector Clip Broke

[IamPro2A]

That clip is metal. I can't imagine he broke that? There is a plastic piece that then pops into the rectangular hole. I could see the plastic clip possibly breaking if it was not aligned right and forced. Or it was brutal cold out.
I remember thinking at the time the setup seemed a bit of an odd way of doing it, unless the metal clip allowed them to repurpose an existing plastic clip they already stocked.

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[Vanishing Point]

I have the Mopar OEM as well. You probably don't realize how many have them installed because there are so few complaints about them. I have none. Rereading the OP post, is it a clip that broke, or a tab on the defector itself.?

The tiny metal tab pressed out on the clip. Like in the Picture Lunentucker posted. Just that little tab.

 

[Vanishing Point]

That clip is metal. I can't imagine he broke that? There is a plastic piece that then pops into the rectangular hole. I could see the plastic clip possibly breaking if it was not aligned right and forced. Or it was brutal cold out.
I remember thinking at the time the setup seemed a bit of an odd way of doing it, unless the metal clip allowed them to repurpose an existing plastic clip they already stocked.

That little tab that is bent out on the clip broke. I can only suspect the metal had a flaw in it. It broke as soon as I started the screw in the plastic portion. That's not alot of torque.

 

[Lunentucker]

That little tab that is bent out on the clip broke. I can only suspect the metal had a flaw in it. It broke as soon as I started the screw in the plastic portion. That's not alot of torque.

I couldn't tell from the instructions if it was plastic or metal. Given that it's metal, I feel they most certainly owe you one. It must have had a stress crack from forming to begin with.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That little tab that is bent out on the clip broke. I can only suspect the metal had a flaw in it. It broke as soon as I started the screw in the plastic portion. That's not alot of torque.

It appears to me to be a spring steel. It must be very stiff, unbendable, making it brittle.

It's very possibly a defect right from the stamping process.
Anyone who has worked with hardware for many years knows that you may find nails with a blunt end, nuts with no threads, washers that aren't round - apparently the cut for the next washer cut into that one, notching it, bolts that misses the cold forging process that puts the threads on, clip nuts with tabs missing, or the nut part not attached to the clip - the list goes on.

I had wondered about making a part that the square nylon nut pushed into, or using one of the long clip nuts I have in that area........... will have to give it some thought.

Someone else here either lost or broke one of these and Benny said - sorry, can't buy those parts.

I couldn't tell from the instructions if it was plastic or metal. Given that it's metal, I feel they most certainly owe you one. It must have had a stress crack from forming to begin with.

Definitely a type of spring steel and yes, likely an issue with manufacturing.

A warning to folks, though - if that tab appears to be bent wrong - don't even try to bend it down if it's too high, or bend it out if it's not out enough - you get ONE shot at it and it must be a really minute move. Like I said - it almost appears to be a spring steel - really super brittle.

There's a square nylon "fingered" nut that goes into the long hole in the steel piece. That nylon nut holds the metal clip into place and putting the screw in expands the nylon fingers out locking it into place (sort of how some license plate fasteners have worked in square bumper holes in the past)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I bet I could drill and pop rivet a small tab back onto such a piece. The pop rivet wouldn't protrude from the surface any more than that nylon nut does that goes into the long hole to hold the other end of the metal part in place.
I've had to do similar repairs in the dash structure of cars after some clown has used lag screws to hold things together, breaking out the tabs that are supposed to hold sheet metal screws.

 

[pkings]

Well, if nothing else now I feel better that I wasn't the only person ever since the beginning of time who bought the Mopar version of the wind deflector. ?

And I did email the folks I bought it from. Hopefully they can help. But the 3M tape solution is tempting.

Like you I purchased it because I dont want to tape anything to the hood. Been down that road and had paint ruined underneath years later when removed. Maybe my issue was not common but don't care to find out

 

[Chaswell]

I have an extra clip.
Chuck

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