Air Deflectors

Three Things to Keep in Mind When Buying an Air Deflector

Sick and tired of the wind thrashing around your vehicle's cabin? Put an end to that without depriving yourself of that open-air feeling when driving on the highways. How? By simply outfitting your ride with a high-quality air deflector. No matter where you install it, an air deflector can bring a significant improvement in your overall driving experience. Interested in outfitting your ride with one? To get more bang for your buck, here are the important factors you should take into consideration if you're in the market for an air deflector:

Air deflector types

• Window deflector

Also called vent visor, this air deflector is installed in the perimeter of the windows to prevent rain, strong wind, and other outside elements from getting into your vehicle's interior. It can be installed in two ways?tape-on and in-channel.

• Sunroof air deflector

If your ride comes with a sunroof, and you're looking for a way to reduce the noisy, strong wind that gets into the cabin without closing the sunroof, invest in a sunroof air deflector. During sunny days, this air deflector also reduces glare and provides extra shade; these are the reasons why it is usually tinted.

• Hood deflector

Commonly called bug deflector, this kind of air deflector protects the vehicle's front end by redirecting wind, bugs, and other road debris over your vehicle, preventing them from hitting the hood and the windshield. This is an ideal choice if you drive your vehicle off-roads.

• Rear window sun and air deflector

Ideal for trucks, this air deflector is installed in the upper perimeter of the rear windshield to shade the cab from the sun's rays and to minimize nighttime headlight glare.

Quality

Most air deflectors are made from smoked acrylic, so you can base their quality on tint, acrylic thickness, finish, and other factors that affect their durability and efficiency. For sunroof deflectors, it's wise to go for units with a protective film to avoid scratching the roof's paint. An air deflector with a high-quality fastening system is also a good buy.

Warranty

This is one thing you should always consider when purchasing an auto part. It may add up to the price of the item, but purchasing an air deflector with good warranty coverage ensures that the unit doesn't have material and manufacturing defects.

Air Deflector-How to Install One in your Sunroof

The sunroof can provide you with a blissful, comfortable travel by allowing outside air to flow into the interior. But when strong wind, noise, and outside elements like debris and rain start to get in, your best resort would be to shut your sunroof. Not anymore! With a sunroof air deflector, you can significantly reduce wind noise and keep debris out without closing your sunroof. If your ride isn't equipped with one yet, add pleasure and value to your driving by installing a high-quality air deflector.

Difficulty level: Easy

What you'll need:

• Clean rag
• Sunroof air deflector
• Masking tape
• Soapy water
• Clean water
• Phillips screwdriver

Step 1: Clean the area around the sunroof with soapy water and a clean rag. After that, allow the sunroof rim to dry completely.

Step 2: Place the deflector on the roof, slightly in front of the sunroof opening. Make sure it's straight and spaced evenly on each side. Some deflectors will require you to tweak the plastic, so they would tightly fit in place. Take note of the tricks or adjustments you need to do to achieve a tight fit.

Step 3: Fit in the deflector. Run masking tape around its perimeter to mark its position. To prepare the area and make sure the deflector tape will securely stick on the surface, clean the area around the sunroof frame with a mild alcohol detergent. Make sure it dries completely.

Step 4: Gently detach the masking tape from the sunroof air deflector rim, making sure the deflector isn't moved out of place.

Step 5: Starting from one corner of the deflector, peel off the tape backing and carefully pull back until all of the tape is uncovered. Fit the air deflector on the sunroof, aligning it with the masking tape markings. Firmly press the deflector to make it adhere to the roof well.

The installation process will take up several minutes to around an hour, depending on the type of sunroof air deflector you're going to install. Some deflectors can be simply clipped on; other types are screwed on, so they need some kind of hardware. There are also units that will require you to apply double mounting.