I had a little look under my car today and found a big plastic plate underneeth the car. It seems like it is there to protect something, but I can't figure out what.. And another thing; It's only mounted with two screws in the rear and the front-end of the plate isn't fastened at all.. I figure this makes alot of vibration and I'm just wondering if I can remove it or if it is supposed to be fastened in some way in the front?

 

Hi. This is just a splash guard to keep the engine clean. Mine is attached by 2 (recessed) bolts at the front, 2 at the sides (accessed thtough the wheel arch) and 2 bolts + 2 clips at the rear (MY98) so it sounds as if some of yours are missing. You can remove the guard with no ill effects other than getting the engine splashed and the engine will be better cooled but whether or not you want that depends on how hard you drive it, what mods you have done, whether or not you do track days etc. In other words, you don't need to remove it unless you are having overheating problems.

 

The plate i'm talking about is further back.. Maybe it's there to protect the gear-box..I don't know, but I know there can't be much protection in it ;-)

 

I've got a metal sump guard in my car. Its held by two bolts in the front and one at the back.

 

I think it is there to protect the sensors on the side of the gearbox.

DaveW

 

Oh yeah, that might be.. It was under the gearbox.. My my initial question was/is.. Should it only be fastened with two screws in the rear? To me it seems like it is supposed to be fastened somehow in the front aswell?

 

On mine it shares a grey clippy type thing with the front 'plate' under the engine - the clip holds them both together & to yet another part. Doesn't look hugely secure, but it doesn't come off that easily either!

 

The plastic gearbox cover is held in with one screw on one side of the gearbox and a small *popper* type retainer in the centre at the rear of the cover.
The front of the gearbox cover is secured by the plastic sump guard with two "U" shaped plastic clips. The front sump guard itself is secured by various bolts.

A

 

Ahh.. I see! I'm just missing the two plastic clips then.. Well, thanks alot for helping me with this one!