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So GoG Hivemind I need help with a famous "holy hell I'm always surprised by what gets answered here" question.

A piece of metal fell off my car. More specifically, one end fell off, leaving it to drag along underneath. It was about three feet long and an inch, inch and a half wide. Part of it was clad in rubber. It dropped down from one end and I was able to remove the second end by popping out a pin from a bracket welded to the car - the mechanism was similar to a door hinge.

This strip of metal looks like its sole purpose was to reinforce a "pan" attached to the bottom of the car, and the pan looks like it's designed to protect the undercarriage from road debris that might pop up. This pan even seems to have a groove in it allowing it to accept the strip more easily.

So, what's it called? I don't want to look like a total idiot when I take the car to the mechanic and ask him to put on a new one ;)
This question / problem has been solved by RWarehallimage
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Ixamyakxim: So GoG Hivemind I need help with a famous "holy hell I'm always surprised by what gets answered here" question.

A piece of metal fell off my car. More specifically, one end fell off, leaving it to drag along underneath. It was about three feet long and an inch, inch and a half wide. Part of it was clad in rubber. It dropped down from one end and I was able to remove the second end by popping out a pin from a bracket welded to the car - the mechanism was similar to a door hinge.

This strip of metal looks like its sole purpose was to reinforce a "pan" attached to the bottom of the car, and the pan looks like it's designed to protect the undercarriage from road debris that might pop up. This pan even seems to have a groove in it allowing it to accept the strip more easily.

So, what's it called? I don't want to look like a total idiot when I take the car to the mechanic and ask him to put on a new one ;)
I could probably name it (former mechanic here) but I'd need a decent picture :)
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Ixamyakxim:
My accountant/mechanic/bartender should be in the office before too long if no one gets to this quickly. :)
*starts car*
*car explodes*




Oh! It was the fuel regulator!
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JudasIscariot: I could probably name it (former mechanic here) but I'd need a decent picture :)
I'll get one up tonight. Right now it's rolled up in my driveway. Yes, I "hate rolled" it into a loop after slithering under the car trying to pop out the pin ;) Before I did that, it was (basically) straight.

*edit to add LOL "driveaway" ? Had to fix that one ;)
Post edited September 25, 2015 by Ixamyakxim
I don't know if a part like that has a specific name.

If you want to sound like you know what you're talking about try making something up and stating it as seriously and as-a-matter-of-fact-ly as you can, like:

- "undercarriage brace"
- "guard support"
- "road buttress"
If its what I'm thinking, its called a "heat shield" for your muffler, so if you park over leaves they won't ignite.

Edit: or at least a part of the "heat shield" system for your exhaust. Re-reading your post, that pan might be the actual heat shield for the muffler.
Post edited September 25, 2015 by RWarehall
Well, that depends.
Is it a car made for machos, an El Camino for intance, or one of these "gluten free e-cars" that run on manioc, made for the funny people of Starbucks? :D
I'll hazard a guess.

The pan you mention is the heat shield for the catalytic converter. It's not there to protect your car from debris, it's to stop your car from starting a fire if you park in tall grass or something similar.

So the strip would be something like a catalytic converter shield bracket.

Anyway, just a guess on the basis that my shield fell off, too. Probably okay if you're not parking in fields.

A photo of the underside of the car, indicating where the part fell off, may be more telling than a photo of the part itself.

edit:
Ha, ninja'd by RWarehall.
Post edited September 25, 2015 by grimwerk
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Pseudoman: - "undercarriage brace"
LOL I like this one ;)
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RWarehall: If its what I'm thinking, its called a "heat shield" for your muffler, so if you park over leaves they won't ignite.

Edit: or at least a part of the "heat shield" system for your exhaust. Re-reading your post, that pan might be the actual heat shield for the muffler.
Okay this sounds about right. I think I can now "fudge" the description a lot better than before using Pseudoman's technique and the knowledge that this think was part of a muffler heat shield.

"Brace that I think reinforces the muffler heat shield" is a lot better than the five minute description I had for a long strip of metal before LOL.

*edit to add Okay sounds like this was pretty close as we have a confirm from grimwerk! Luckily I'm 1) not going to be parking in any fields and 2) the shield itself is still up there. But it sounds like I'll want to get that brace on there before the shield comes down LOL. I don't want to have to casually stroll away whistling, trying it pretend it wasn't my car that just burned down X ;)
Post edited September 25, 2015 by Ixamyakxim
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grimwerk: I'll hazard a guess.

The pan you mention is the heat shield for the catalytic converter. It's not there to protect your car from debris, it's to stop your car from starting a fire if you park in tall grass or something similar.

So the strip would be something like a catalytic converter shield bracket.

Anyway, just a guess on the basis that my shield fell off, too. Probably okay if you're not parking in fields.

A photo of the underside of the car, indicating where the part fell off, may be more telling than a photo of the part itself.

edit:
Ha, ninja'd by RWarehall.
Funny because I've had something similar fall off in the past and that's exactly the advice my mechanic buddy gave me rather than fixing it! (Just don't park on grass or leaves)
Well done, GOG. No fires in lxamyakxim's driveway!

EDIT: Unless lxamyakxim takes the advice I skipped over. :) It's an important part for me - my vehicle goes many places. Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads.
Post edited September 25, 2015 by budejovice
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RWarehall: Funny because I've had something similar fall off in the past and that's exactly the advice my mechanic buddy gave me rather than fixing it! (Just don't park on grass or leaves)
I didn't replace mine, either!

It's in a bin of "parts what done fell off" in my garage.

I'll need a second bin soon enough.
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Pseudoman: - "undercarriage brace"
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Ixamyakxim: LOL I like this one ;)
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RWarehall: If its what I'm thinking, its called a "heat shield" for your muffler, so if you park over leaves they won't ignite.

Edit: or at least a part of the "heat shield" system for your exhaust. Re-reading your post, that pan might be the actual heat shield for the muffler.
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Ixamyakxim: Okay this sounds about right. I think I can now "fudge" the description a lot better than before using Pseudoman's technique and the knowledge that this think was part of a muffler heat shield.

"Brace that I think reinforces the muffler heat shield" is a lot better than the five minute description I had for a long strip of metal before LOL.

*edit to add Okay sounds like this was pretty close as we have a confirm from grimwerk! Luckily I'm 1) not going to be parking in any fields and 2) the shield itself is still up there. But it sounds like I'll want to get that brace on there before the shield comes down LOL. I don't want to have to casually stroll away whistling, trying it pretend it wasn't my car that just burned down X ;)
And instead of brace, they usually call something like that a "hanger" when it comes to exhausts.
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Ixamyakxim: But it sounds like I'll want to get that brace on there before the shield comes down LOL. I don't want to have to casually stroll away whistling, trying it pretend it wasn't my car that just burned down X ;)
You could probably tie it in place yourself with wire. Don't use anything that will melt, of course. If you get it just right, you could develop a really satisfying rattle!