I think I finally have a solution for those two plastic retainers on the rear of the belly/splash pan. I was surprised to see that I have access from above the holes. I thought they were in an enclosed frame member. That makes all the difference.

I'm going to put a bolt through each hole, with a nut and lick-tite holding it in place. After positioning the pan, I'll add a large washer and another nut - maybe a wingnut. That should make removing the pan a snap. Pictures to follow when I do it.

Also, there was quite a bit of rust on the frame pieces. I sanded the rust spots, coated them with a rust inhibitor, and painted them. I don't like rust. With that splash pan, it's hard for clean water to get to those frame pieces. By "clean," I mean not loaded with salt from our snowy, winter roads.

 

yep, i remove the lower shroud and wash from the bottom each spring to rid salt.

 

Very good idea.

 

yah, without removing that piece no meaning washing from the bottom. my wife took the GK to those touchless auto washes with the undercarriage wash through winter but did no good. had caked on salt everywhere. lol

so i place the car on ramps, remove the shroud, and run a lawn sprinkler under the entire length of the car by pulling the hose to move the sprinkler every min or two by a few feet. 10min and the undercarriage is very clean.

then wash the engine bay from the top. very clean by then.

i something like this:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....L._SL1500_.jpg

 

What a great idea! We don't have the salt issue here, but that is a great idea for those that do.

 

My solution. Left it off, permanently. No place to trap dirt and oil drips, if any. See that diaper pad in the middle? Why would you want to conceal an oil leak if you have one? My driving in the Fit allows me to get over 40mpg, so those who thinks removing the pan affects aerodynamic then it is not effective enough to worry.

 

Save the hassle, in Houston, if I want the bottom washed, I drive the car over a flooded area after a heavy rain storm.

 

 

When a prospective buyer comes to look at it. : )

I'm surprised Honda doesn't have a maintenance requirement for changing that pad. : )

 

Having just changed my oil I'd be very concerned about how exposed the filter would be without the cover in place. It's right on the bottom of the engine, and slightly tilted toward the front in such a way that I would think it could catch on something.

 

In California, I'm sure that my cover is full of DIRT instead SALT.

 

fixed......

 

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

 

Thanks for the warning. That is probably a very minor risk I am taking. On the positive side, I don't have to deal with the pan every time I change the oil/filter and I intend to change it a lot since it is the fluid that protects the engine from excessive wear and tear. After looking at the bottom again, the engine will probably get ripped off before the recessed oil filter gets touched. Then, I could be unlucky.