What's this hanging from my car?

Richard53

bigjl wrote: »

They are poorly fixed on in my experience on modern Fords.

Aha, right. Mondeo, just noticed mine is dangling down too.

Weird_Nev

arcon5 wrote: »

The heat shield is very light, very highly unlikely to damage the exhaust!!!

It rattles against the exhause causing annoying noise, it can wear on specific points (i.e. sharp edge resting on flexi joint) and cause failure at that point, and if it gets snagged (since OP has said it hit the road over speed bumps) then it could simply rip the lot off. Not to mention if it just falls off completely it presents a major risk to other road users: It takes far less than a heat shield to kill a motorcyclist.

Put it this way - I'd rather not have anything hanging half off the underside of my car as I drive about.

bigjl

Rodney_Trotter wrote: »

Thanks for that.

Not like it wasn't pointed out six hours ago

Your point being?

504 posts in less than a month?

Wonder what the previous, likely banned, forum name was.

Quentin

bigjl wrote: »

....Wonder what the previous, likely banned, forum name was.

We can now look forward to a new name appearing very shortly!! (Rod = PPR!)

RichardD1970

bigjl wrote: »

Wonder what the previous, likely banned, forum name was.

Captain Flack was suggested by another user, very similar posting style, although, if so, this incarnation appears to have toned down the personal, insulting stuff :rotfl:

Rolandtheroadie

I normally use chicken wire to fix it, folded over a few times so the only thing that can fit through it is the securing bolt/threaded bar.

pledgeX

Thanks for the feedback all. I took it to the garage today and it was indeed the heatshield. He tried fitting it back on but it was falling to pieces so he said it's likely to come off again a few miles down the road. He just ripped it off.

He said we could replace it, but as it's not near the cat (and therefore the hot area) he would not worry. Seeing as that didn't cost me anything and I only need this car to keep going for a few more months I'm happy with that!

It's a piece of cake to fix by the way (if it wasn't flaking apart like mine). All you need is a socket wrench, some washers and enough room to get under the car.

jase1

Richard53 wrote: »

Aha, right. Mondeo, just noticed mine is dangling down too.

And mine.

And the Focus before that.

One of the 'features' of Fords it would seem, as I've not had the same problem on other makes.

colino

OP, find another garage. Manufacturers don't go to the expense of fitting bits of metal for no purpose. 99% of the time the heatshield won't be needed, but it's there for the conditions that could occur when the engine is working hard and the ambient temperature is right that you'll wish you went to a proper garage and not an idle busker.