Is your car’s underside making scraping or dragging noises while driving? If so, a broken or loose undercarriage cover could be dragging on the road. Sometimes, a loose plastic piece under the front bumper will be the first sign of damage you spot.
It’s not uncommon for the undercarriage cover to hang and get dragged as you drive. And since this is a critical component of your car, fixing it as soon as possible is essential. Start by identifying the cause to know if you should repair or replace the piece.
This article discusses the possible causes of a plastic piece under car dragging and how to resolve this problem. You’ll also understand if you can drive with the bottom of car dragging.
Car Undercarriage Cover
The undercarriage cover, also called splash guard, splash shield, skid plate, or lower engine cover, protects the engine and other sensitive parts from damage. It’s a panel attached underneath the engine to ensure water, small rocks, dust, and other debris don’t reach the engine.
Without this cover, you may spend more repairing or replacing parts in the engine bay.
Besides protecting the engine, this cover will reduce aerodynamic drag, ensuring efficient airflow while driving. As a result, you can drive at higher speeds and reduce fuel consumption.
Due to its location, the undercarriage cover takes quite a beating over time. The cover might get loose or damaged depending on your driving habits or road conditions. You may hear it dragging on the road as you drive.
Question: Why is the Car Undercarriage Cover Dragging?
If you hear the splash guard or the plastic piece under front bumper dragging, stop the car and examine the problem. Usually, the undercarriage cover will drag on the road due to the following:
Broken Undercarriage Cover
Hitting hard objects on the road can cause the undercarriage cover to break or develop cracks. For instance, it may break into pieces if you hit rocks, bumps, or branches. You may also face a similar issue in case of an accident.
Drivers in cold regions, particularly in wintry conditions, experience this problem more often. Cold weather or exposure to snow causes the plastic cover to become fragile and break on impact. This plastic hardens and develops cracks, leading to breakage when you drive on rugged or bumpy roads.
The part can also break if you drive with underinflated or overinflated tires. When this happens, pieces of the splash guard will touch the ground and get dragged when driving.
Loose or Worn Fasteners
Loose or worn fasteners can also result in the plastic piece under car dragging. Fasteners are the bolts, nuts, screws, and other components holding the plastic piece in place. When you drive on bumpy roads for an extended period, the fasteners might become loose due to vibrations.
The fasteners experience a lot of fatigue as you run over bumps and potholes. The splash guard will shake due to impact and cause the fasteners to loosen. Consequently, some loose fasteners might drop, causing the plastic cover to touch the ground.
Some cars require removing the undercarriage cover when changing oil. Regular oil changes will cause the fasteners to wear out and loosen. As a result, the plastic piece will hang and scrape the road when driving.
Corroded Fasteners
Water, road salt, snow, and debris buildup can cause the nuts and bolts holding the plastic cover to corrode. Corrosion will damage these fasteners, causing them to fail. Furthermore, corrosion can damage the part where the fasteners hold the splash guard.
Damage due to corrosion is a result of poor maintenance. Since this part gets exposed to a lot of debris, cleaning it more often is essential. You’ll need to thoroughly clean the area around the fasteners to clear any buildup.
Improper Installation
Another possible cause of the bottom of car dragging is improperly installed bolts. The error can happen during installation or when repairing the car. The undercarriage cover can hang if the mechanic doesn’t tighten or install the bolts properly.
You can avoid this issue by taking your car to the dealership or a qualified mechanic. A professional will install the piece correctly and tighten all nuts and bolts.
Answer: How to Fix Car Undercarriage Cover Dragging
Before fixing the plastic piece under car dragging, you must gather the following tools and materials.
- Car jack
- Protective gear like gloves and goggles
- Screwdriver or socket wrench
- White vinegar or WD-40 rust remover
- Drilling machine
- Fastener kit
- Nichrome wire
Start by wearing your safety equipment to examine and identify the root cause. If it’s the plastic piece under front bumper dragging, check for signs of missing, worn, or loose fasteners. You may also want to jack up your car to check the undercarriage.
Then, perform the following fixes depending on the cause.
Tighten the Loose Fasteners
If you’ve located loose fasteners, use your screwdriver or socket wrench to tighten them. Avoid overtightening, as that can damage your bolts, nuts, or screws.
Clean or Replace Corroded Fasteners
If the corrosion is not severe, use white vinegar or a WD-40 rust remover to clean the rust. These products are perfect for dissolving rust on the bolts, nuts, and screws. You can also loosen and retighten the fasteners.
If corrosion has damaged your fasteners, remove them and install new ones. In this case, you’ll need a lubricant to loosen the nuts or bolts. Then, clean the part holding your fasteners to clear accumulated rust.
Replace the Missing Fasteners
Check the undercarriage cover to see if there are missing bolts or nuts. If so, install new ones. You can also look for improperly installed fasteners and fix them.
Repair the Broken Pieces
You can repair a broken or cracked undercarriage cover if you don’t want to install a new one. First, remove the broken pieces from your car and put them together. Then, use your drilling machine to drill holes through the broken plastic cover.
After that, thread the holes using the nichrome wire. The goal is to put the plastic piece together as it was before the damage. Lastly, reinstall the plastic piece on your car’s underside and tighten the fasteners.
Note: Repairing the undercarriage cover will help you save some money. However, treat this as a temporary fix before you buy a new plastic cover.
Replace the Undercarriage Cover
Consider replacing the plastic piece if it appears broken or worn beyond repair. You can also replace it if you don’t want to spend much time repairing the broken pieces. The good news is that a new splash shield will cost you less than $100, depending on your vehicle brand, model, and year.
A professional mechanic or the dealership can help install a new plastic piece.
After repairing or replacing the undercarriage cover, drive to see if everything works correctly. You can examine the fasteners and the plastic piece to ensure they’re still in good shape.
Question: Can You Drive With a Dragging Undercarriage Cover?
You can drive with a car undercarriage dragging, but be aware that you’ll end up harming the car in the long run.
The primary role of this component is to protect the engine against damage. If the plastic piece is broken or missing, water, snow, road salt, and debris will reach the engine and damage it gradually.
A broken or missing plastic piece will increase aerodynamic drag, thus limiting speed. Also, your car will consume more fuel, leading to more emissions. Get the plastic piece repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
Conclusion
You now know what to do if you have a plastic piece under car dragging. Start by examining this cover to identify the root cause. Fixing a dragging undercarriage cover involves tightening loose fasteners, replacing worn fasteners, and repairing or replacing the plastic piece. Let a professional do the job if you can’t fix this problem at home.