That was an old Gen III mod for really cold climates. Don't think it's still necessary from Gen IV on...
@RRxing perhaps not needed, but still viable below freezing for a couple reasons most still don't get / understand. Got enough sensors in your car yet?
Yes, if the active grill shutters are still used. Come to think of it, in extreme cold, don’t they (by design) just stay partially open? A grill’s design purpose is to provide protection from kicked up debris too, it’s not just cosmetic. And if you want to put a finer mesh, gives you a lattice for attachment. I find it handy too, for our block heater cord plug, the grill spacing is just right to securely wedge the plug, avoid it dangling/dragging. And it’s a convenient strong-point to zip-tie the cord.
