Weathertech bug deflector installation fail.

Just tried to install the weathertech bug deflector tonight. it was an epic fail.

The anchor screws wouldn't screw in because I assume the anchors did not get pushed in far enough therefore it couldn't expand.. Only got one of four screws in and that was with me forcing the screw in instead of threading it in. The order I had things stacked was: hood->rubber strip->bug deflector

Then I read the instruction again and it said to put the deflector in between the hood and the rubber stripping.. tried it that way but then the fit was even worse.

I'd be interested to hear how you installed it..

 

I have an avs one and I have it: hood, deflector, weatherstripping. I had the same problem as you and my fix was smaller screws. It is holding great after a year and a half.

 

I bought the weathertech bug shield and I was very dissappointed, I ended up returning it! I have pictures of when I installed it, I would post them but it is hard to tell where the shield did not even line up correctly with the hood or the grill. I definately do not recommend this product, now the floor mats are a different story

 

Okay so you have the deflector in between hood and weatherstripping.. when I tried that way, the weather stripping was wrapping around the deflector all weirdly and the deflector was touching the metal hood directly so I figured no way it was designed like this...

When you installed it did you put the deflector mounting tabs between the hood and weatherstripping?

 

Yes, I that is how I have it. Im not sure if the AVS one is different than yours but it works great on mine. Here is the best pic I have of it.

 

MAYBE you bought the wrong year/style, I have a 99 and I got a deal from a guy that included a bug deflector, but he had a 2002 and the styles are completely different. Yours has a curve and mine is just straight and the 2nd gens are obviously much different. Just a thought...

 

I can't really remember, I think like you I tried it both ways as I could not believe this was the way it was supposed to fit. I to thought the mounting hardware was not correct for the application. My trucks an 09 and may be different from yours but like I said before the fit was the main issue for me.

 

Nope.. bought it new from Weathertech and picked it up from their show room.. curve matches my hood..


I'm thinking maybe perhaps it had to do with it being 20 deg out when I tried to install it.. maybe i'll try it again when it warms up..

 

Hate to resurrect a 2 year old thread but did you ever find a solution? I bought one and have the same problem. I called Macneil they said I had the wrong fastener kit and sent the very same one. I'm two weeks in and no bug shield.

 

I have an OEM bug deflector but its essentially the same. You need to press on the plastic clip to keep it from rotating while you tighten the screw. If your hardware is shot, ask your dealer parts guy for a bug deflector hardware kit... I recently picked one up for $5.49

 

Thanks. WeatherTech now thinks they sent me the wrong part. I didn't have a problem with the plastic clips rotating. They'd bend at the end and you couldn't tighten the screw to expand them. We'll see what WT comes up with.

 

Well it turns out all I needed was power tools and someone to help hold it in place so the fasteners could go in straight. Took it to my friends house, put the middle fasteners in first and with a power drill with a phillips bit managed to get the fasteners to expand with a little force. The outside fasteners were a breeze after that and fits perfectly. Took a while but finally got it on.

 

When I checked the price of the little plastic cone-shaped bumpers that stick to the outside of the hood to keep the deflector from shaking, the dealer wanted $2 each, and they had to be special-ordered. Lousy parts department, hafta special-order damn near everything.

When I checked the price of the mounting screws, the dealer wanted over $16. Can't remember if that included the bumpers. Also unable to find the right sized replacement at the hardware and box stores.

 

Not sure if its too late or anyone has posted this but i just took my weather strip off and put the bug reflector on.

 

I know this is a very old conversation but I am having the same problem with my 2001 weathertech bug deflector. I destroyed the plastic screw inserts there were 5 . There was no way to get it to fit between the hood weather stripping as I saw on utube the instructions didn't speak of taking off the weather stripping under the hood. My question was can I remove the original hood weather stripping? Looks MXER256 did exactly that . Mine didnt come with the adhesive long stickers like the auto part store thought it did. I ordered it online as they had none for a 2001 Tacoma. I'm going to remove the weather stripping to get the dang bug deflector on I've had it 2 weeks ! Anyone else know if that is a bad idea??? Thankyou.

 

Sorry to bring this thread back. My weathertech bug deflector installation is going horribly. The plastic screws and mounts are too small for the holes in the hood. The just fall out. I'm trying to find some plugs and screws to substitute but no luck so far.

This thing is garbage.

 

I have mine in the box still since I last tried putting it on. I figured I would take it to a guy I talked to that does body work and he has the right screws and plugs for it. I gave up after the plastic screws were bent and trashed . Someday I will take it to him . I was bummed that it was really a bad set up with the plastic attachments it came with. I bought it 4 months ago.

 

did you try McGeorge for direct OEM fit?

do you have same shape of hood as I do? I have part# somewhere if you need it

 

Somehow I figured out it this afternoon. It took a couple of trips to Ace Hardware and Advance Auto to get the right parts to make it work. Will post pics here in a few. Still a bummer though.

 

I'm done with Weathertech myself,, I've bought a lot of product from them for the taco and my wifes highlander but I bought the floor mats and bug deflector and side window deflectors for my other truck a few months back,, well one of the side window deflectors disappeared. They sent me another one but it attaches different than the original, I couldn't figure it out without tearing up the weather stripping in the channel where it fits,, long story short is I now have two sets they sent, one broken when sent, the other that i don't use because it'll tear the weatherstripping with the metal clips they say you need, even though the one on the opposite side it good. Bad engineering and they deleted my feedback I left. Done.