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Watch Out for This

Old May 3, 2025 | 08:09 AM
  #1  
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Watch Out for This

My 2015 had this problem, and so does my son's 2020. A few months ago, I noticed a dragging noise when driving my car. Looking underneath, I saw a large piece of that black "plastic" material hanging very low.

Getting underneath, I saw the problem. There is a piece of that black plastic that attaches to the belly pan. It extends vertically at the front of the engine. By "front," I mean the end with the crank pulley - on the passenger's side. It looks like there are two holes that should accept those pushpins to attach it to the car. On both my car and my son's - each a bit over 90,000 miles - those pins left the vehicle, and that piece dropped, eventually pulling part of the belly pan with it.

I tried to put that piece back on my car, but I gave up. It's very difficult to get to the connecting points. I eventually ran wire through the mounting holes and pulled it up. One of these days, I'll try again. In the meantime, the belly pans are off both cars.

I'll have to see if I can find diagrams of this.
 
Old May 3, 2025 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by SilverEX15
My 2015 had this problem, and so does my son's 2020. A few months ago, I noticed a dragging noise when driving my car. Looking underneath, I saw a large piece of that black "plastic" material hanging very low.

Getting underneath, I saw the problem. There is a piece of that black plastic that attaches to the belly pan. It extends vertically at the front of the engine. By "front," I mean the end with the crank pulley - on the passenger's side. It looks like there are two holes that should accept those pushpins to attach it to the car. On both my car and my son's - each a bit over 90,000 miles - those pins left the vehicle, and that piece dropped, eventually pulling part of the belly pan with it.

I tried to put that piece back on my car, but I gave up. It's very difficult to get to the connecting points. I eventually ran wire through the mounting holes and pulled it up. One of these days, I'll try again. In the meantime, the belly pans are off both cars.

I'll have to see if I can find diagrams of this.
I had my undercover off since the first oil/filter change in 2017. Somehow, the attaching black plastic supporters got loose (push screws came off?) and started dragging on the road. To resolve the problem, the mechanic used a few cable ties to secure the plastic parts. No issue ever since his idea of a fix..
 
Old May 4, 2025 | 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by wasserball
I had my undercover off since the first oil/filter change in 2017. Somehow, the attaching black plastic supporters got loose (push screws came off?) and started dragging on the road. To resolve the problem, the mechanic used a few cable ties to secure the plastic parts. No issue ever since his idea of a fix..
I can't imagine how Honda thought the pushpin-plastic screw combination was a good idea. It's ridiculous.
 
Old May 4, 2025 | 09:45 AM
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But but..... it's soooo cheap and soooo easy to do on a production line ....... a win for Honda designers!
 
Old May 4, 2025 | 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by woof
But but..... it's soooo cheap and soooo easy to do on a production line ....... a win for Honda designers!
Screws would have been better and probably just as easy.
 
Old May 4, 2025 | 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by SilverEX15
I can't imagine how Honda thought the pushpin-plastic screw combination was a good idea. It's ridiculous.
i keep a few of them as spares . oil changes are a little tedious , since the pan has to be removed but to me it's worth keeping it properly installed . definitely keeps
the engine bay a lot cleaner .
 
Old May 4, 2025 | 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by SilverEX15
Screws would have been better and probably just as easy.
Screws require handling a power tool. The plastic push pins just get pushed in with your thumb. Couldn't be easier. No torque specs, no worn screwdriver bit, couldn't be easier.

Not a good decision for the Honda customer perhaps but the customer isn't really part of the decision making process.
 
Old May 5, 2025 | 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by woof
Screws require handling a power tool. The plastic push pins just get pushed in with your thumb. Couldn't be easier. No torque specs, no worn screwdriver bit, couldn't be easier.

Not a good decision for the Honda customer perhaps but the customer isn't really part of the decision making process.
Right, but there are probably half a dozen screws holding that panel in place, including the two plastic ones in the rear. Each of those pushpins has a plastic screw in the center.
 
Old May 9, 2025 | 12:40 AM
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The aftermarket ones suck too. Mine got torn down after reversing then consequently shoveling some snow. Drug enough for me to warrant a replacement. New one fell off within 500 miles. A full undercarriage plate would be ideal. I know on some of the ecomodder testing, full body under pans gave some up to 16% increase in fuel economy. Shame.
 
Old May 9, 2025 | 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by 2015LXFIT
The aftermarket ones suck too. Mine got torn down after reversing then consequently shoveling some snow. Drug enough for me to warrant a replacement. New one fell off within 500 miles. A full undercarriage plate would be ideal. I know on some of the ecomodder testing, full body under pans gave some up to 16% increase in fuel economy. Shame.
A full body pan would be a cheap way to improve fuel economy.
 
Old May 22, 2025 | 05:23 PM
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Zip ties

I have a 2015 and noticed the potential problem at my first oil change. I used zip ties on the back two fasteners. The rest of the screws have held fine for the ten years I've had the car. Threading the zip ties through the metal panel of the car is difficult, but I highly recommend this strategy. I've never had a problem. Of course, I change my own oil. I'm not sure an oil change place would be willing to do this.
 
Old May 23, 2025 | 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Brian Jones
I have a 2015 and noticed the potential problem at my first oil change. I used zip ties on the back two fasteners. The rest of the screws have held fine for the ten years I've had the car. Threading the zip ties through the metal panel of the car is difficult, but I highly recommend this strategy. I've never had a problem. Of course, I change my own oil. I'm not sure an oil change place would be willing to do this.
Yes, but the piece that fell on our 2015 and 2020 is vertical, in front of the engine on the passenger's side. It attaches high up, and it's very difficult to get to the attaching point. If it ever stops raining here, I'll have to spend some time with both cars.
 
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