Fixing skid plate without parts and limited resources
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Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 11
From: Baltimore
Fixing skid plate without parts and limited resources
Hello everyone,
Please excuse me if my description of this problem makes little sense or is hard to imagine -- I am unable to lift my car to take photos, and I don't know much about cars in general. I will do my best!
Around February, I was parked in a lot and went forward to leave my spot, without seeing that there was a barrier in place. The skid plate on the bottom of my Fit was dragged off -- I was able to completely remove it. It didn't cause any issues immediately, and I didn't think twice about it for months. I still have that piece, and can see that the areas where it screws in are torn -- I don't think it could be screwed in again.
Several months later, I could hear the skid plates on the bottom of the car rattling at high speeds, but it didn't cause any immediate problem. I would occasionally hear them very briefly skid against the road on a bump, etc, but it wasn't regularly dragging. Over time, the front part of the skid plate (from my investigation it looks like multiple individual plastic plates), was dragging in the front of the car. Investigation showed that there was some screw loose -- this was visible when looking into the front wheel well. I had no idea how to replace the screw or what type it was. Eventually, I duct taped the parts in place so they wouldn't move. As you can imagine, that didn't last too long. I then super glued them in place, and also super glued a screw into the aforementioned spot, so the piece that actually skids against the ground is now relatively firmly in place. I have driven for hours at high speed like this and it hasn't come loose, but obviously it isn't ideal. Additionally, there are still some flaps that are loose, and sometimes at higher speeds you can hear them vibrate. As far as I can tell, my car hasn't suffered any mechanical damage during this time.
What are my options for fixing this on my own? My impression is that if I was able to glue everything firmly in place, that would "work", but no glue seems good enough given the high vibration. I also don't know if this would cause some issues for other maintenance. Note thate one of the plates is completely removed and I have no idea how to put it back in place -- it is just a thin sheet of plastic that I've had in my trunk.
How much would this cost to get repaired at a mechanic? I have a friend who has risers for the car (how we did the aforementioned work), and other friends who know more about cars than I do, and could help me if I need to do some slightly more involved work or remove a wheel to get access to any parts.
Hopefully this makes enough sense. If not, I'll try to answer any questions.
Thank you!
Please excuse me if my description of this problem makes little sense or is hard to imagine -- I am unable to lift my car to take photos, and I don't know much about cars in general. I will do my best!
Around February, I was parked in a lot and went forward to leave my spot, without seeing that there was a barrier in place. The skid plate on the bottom of my Fit was dragged off -- I was able to completely remove it. It didn't cause any issues immediately, and I didn't think twice about it for months. I still have that piece, and can see that the areas where it screws in are torn -- I don't think it could be screwed in again.
Several months later, I could hear the skid plates on the bottom of the car rattling at high speeds, but it didn't cause any immediate problem. I would occasionally hear them very briefly skid against the road on a bump, etc, but it wasn't regularly dragging. Over time, the front part of the skid plate (from my investigation it looks like multiple individual plastic plates), was dragging in the front of the car. Investigation showed that there was some screw loose -- this was visible when looking into the front wheel well. I had no idea how to replace the screw or what type it was. Eventually, I duct taped the parts in place so they wouldn't move. As you can imagine, that didn't last too long. I then super glued them in place, and also super glued a screw into the aforementioned spot, so the piece that actually skids against the ground is now relatively firmly in place. I have driven for hours at high speed like this and it hasn't come loose, but obviously it isn't ideal. Additionally, there are still some flaps that are loose, and sometimes at higher speeds you can hear them vibrate. As far as I can tell, my car hasn't suffered any mechanical damage during this time.
What are my options for fixing this on my own? My impression is that if I was able to glue everything firmly in place, that would "work", but no glue seems good enough given the high vibration. I also don't know if this would cause some issues for other maintenance. Note thate one of the plates is completely removed and I have no idea how to put it back in place -- it is just a thin sheet of plastic that I've had in my trunk.
How much would this cost to get repaired at a mechanic? I have a friend who has risers for the car (how we did the aforementioned work), and other friends who know more about cars than I do, and could help me if I need to do some slightly more involved work or remove a wheel to get access to any parts.
Hopefully this makes enough sense. If not, I'll try to answer any questions.
Thank you!
Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 465
From: Vancouver , BC
based on your knowledge/repair availability just remove whatever falls off and drags and enjoy your life......its not a big deal.....i think the shields are there more for aerodynamics than protection....no glue will work and no tape will work
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,523
From: Manitoba CANADA
I'd agree with 205FITEX. This is not an important item. People have deliberately taken them off because because they were such a nuisance. If your steering wheel falls off now that's an important item. These covers, not so much.
Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 146
From: ME
It is an important item, though not a critical one. What I did with mine, I used self tapping screws to secure the "wings," just a couple, accessible through the wheel well. Most of the plastic pins were broken and missing. This way, it'll never flap off again.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,523
From: Manitoba CANADA
And yet you have to be prepared to maintain this on an ongoing basis. If you take it in somewhere for an oil change or other work underneath the chances are they won't put it back on properly. Maybe lose a screw or not bother replacing one. My last car did not have this kind of cover - it was completely open below. In fact, no car I have ever owned before the Fit had this, and now suddenly all of them do. Such an amazing invention, a great leap forward in car technology. 
Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 146
From: ME
Right. When we do an oil change at work we are required to note if it's missing, or damaged. I can't tell you how often we get claims for "missing" shields...sorry, we noted that on your work order on your clapped out beater, have a nice day. The new Rouges are terrible, having 22 push pins and 2 bolts holding up the cheapest piece of plastic.
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