What Is This For?

[installer]

As you look at your grill there is this,sat behind it,protruding down and 3/4 along the grill left to right as you look at it -



Which looks like this behind the grill -



Which is here in the yellow box -



I only really noticed it when I replaced my grill today.It`s designed to come off,because it comes away when you remove your grill and it`s secured by the grill fixings.

It covers the air intake which is sat about here -




I can only think that its there,for restriction OR to protect the intake itself.As there would be nothing at all to stop anything going up the intake,if its removed.
The part completely covers the intake.
So how about drilling a few holes where the in take is,say with a 6 mm bit,so it aids airflow,but still gives some protection.
If you put some masking tape on and mark the location of the intake,then remove the part and drill the holes (only 3 screws) it would save any damage to your car.

Any thoughts or ideas on this?

[armoured farmer]

Took off my "inlet pipe to the air box and replaced with Chrome flexi tubing (looks like the pipe on the back of a tumble dryer), and fed it to the front grill.Put some thin crossed mesh inside to act as a filter, works a treat ,total cold air feed..ALOT BETTER..

[Jamie]

I think that part must be engine specific as I don't have it on my 2.0t... which engine do you have?

[installer]

It`s off a 1.9 CDTi

[armoured farmer]

its on the v6 ,must be a diesel thing

[installer]

its on the v6 ,must be a diesel thing

Why though?

Unless the petrols have different intake system,i thought was same on all vectras the location of intake pipe

[Duncan]

As Jamie, not on my 2.0T either. I remember someone asking the same question some time ago and it seemed specific to diesels.

D

[installer]

Is the 1.9`s a more direct intake system,therefore needing a bit of protection?
Pipe is very short and direct into the airbox.

[Caterman]

It ain't on mine any more! Took it off when i fitted the grille.

[Ian]

On astra sport, a lot of guys buy the Vec C / Signum diesel intake pipe cos its larger bore (diesels use more air by nature of their combustion) and then do the derestricted airbox mod - its the most popular intake mod on there.

but I guess that the flap is just to protect the intake from any large obstructions, say a large leaf that would block up the intake and may damage the engine through los of air?