How To Solve When A Plastic Piece Under Car Dragging?

Why is the plastic piece under car dragging? Sometimes you detect a dragging sound coming from the bottom of your car while driving.

This loud noise is caused by the piece of plastic under your vehicle loosening and partially leaving it, then dragging it on the road.

Normally, an engine shield protects the engine compartment from hard objects outside. It helps protect the engine from dirt, water, mold, and rust. This piece is also known as skid plate or undercarriage coverage.

So how to solve the problem? Let’s follow us to find the answer.

Why The Plastic Piece Under Car Dragging?

Car Operating In Severe Weather

One of the causes of plastic cover under car dragging is driving in cold weather. Low temperatures make the plastic harder because its components will deteriorate when exposed to cold.

So if the vehicle has to operate on bumpy roads or thick ice layers, the plastic pieces mounted under the vehicle are likely to harden and crack under low temperatures.

Missing Nuts 

The next reason for making the plastic shield under car dragging is because they have lost the nuts that hold them to the car.

It may be caused by an error in the installation and repair of the vehicle.

The repairman did not install the nuts sufficiently or did not attach them tightly, causing them to loosen and fall off during the vehicle’s operation.

Besides, when you often drive long distances, they will also loosen and drop after a long time through bumpy roads. As a result, pieces of plastic will be released and dragged on the road.

Hit Hard Objects On The Road

The plastic on bottom of car dragging is also due to collisions with hard objects on the road.

If your tires are not properly inflated (for example underinflated or overinflated by 5PSI) and your vehicle has to travel on rocky and bumpy roads, the plastic is very likely to break on impact.

How To Fix The Plastic Piece Under Car Dragging

Step 1: Determine If The Plastic Piece Is Loose

The first step is to check the undercarriage to see whether the board is loose. If you have a garage, you can easily check it out yourself.

When you look under the automobile and see the plastic sheet coming off, you need a car jack to raise and support your vehicle.

The piece of plastic under the car is designed to be removable. So should you find any signs of cracked or broken plastic skid plates, you can detach them easily.

Step 2: Check If The Piece Has Partially Detached

Although certain skid plates may drag as they release, this is not always happening with every plastic coating.

You may not notice that the skid plate of your vehicle has become unfastened until it partially separates and slides down the roads. It may occur in any car model, but it is particularly the case for taller vehicles.

The symptoms of a partially separated piece are when you initially notice small vibrations and the humming sound of the piece scraping on the road.

It emphasizes the need to confront the situation straight on. If it’s not addressed, a partially detached skid plate won’t remain for a long time and falls totally off your automobile sooner or later.

Step 3: Snug The Pieces Up If They’re Broken

When the plastic dragging under car is cracked, but you don’t want to replace it with a new one, you’ll need a drill and tire wires.

After removing the plastic piece from the automobile, you should put the cracked pieces back together.

After that, you should drill parallel corrugated holes in the broken skid plate and thread the holes together using wire.

It can save you some money by not having to buy new panels. However, it won’t last as there’s a chance it will crack elsewhere.

Step 4: Replace The Plastic Piece

If your underbody guard has broken too much and worn out on the road, it’s best to have it replaced by a dealer or by yourself.

After removing all the nuts and old plastic pieces, you should put the new plate in, fix it and use a wrench to screw the bolts and nuts into the right places.

Finally, lower the car and take a drive to check that the plastic sheet is firmly attached. In case you cannot replace them, the best way is to hire experienced and skilled technicians to help you.

FAQs

When Should I Replace A Splash Guard?

Normally, it would be best to replace the splash guard only after it is damaged. You have to get a new one after seeing plastic undercarriage cover dragging on the road.

Because if you don’t replace it, the other parts it protects can be affected and impair your car’s aesthetics.

In addition, once it is loose or loses its nut, or cracks appear, you should consider replacing it.

When you go through bumpy roads, hit hard objects, or in extremely cold weather, sooner or later, they will get bad damage, loosen, and fall down.

When replacing this plastic piece, you need to park your vehicle on a flat road and ensure your engne is off and completely cool to avoid burns.

Besides, when you find that the plastic covering is scratched or too old for the vehicle, you should also change it.

It’s advisable to go to an authorized dealer or auto repair shop to guarantee this engine cover is securely attached.

Can I Drive Without The Plastic Piece Under The Car?

Undercarriage plastic pieces are essential, so it’s best to drive with them. It has high coverage to protect your car’s engine compartment, avoid being hit by hard objects, and puncture it.

Another great function of this plastic sheet is to reduce the vehicle’s drag for a smoother ride. The shield also prevents mud, water, ice, and snow from entering the wire slots and rusting metal parts.

In addition, leaves, twigs, and small rocks can get caught in your car’s alternator and force you to replace it.

This plastic sheet is not very expensive, but you will have to spend a lot of money replacing and repairing parts in the engine compartment.

How Much Does a Splash Shield Replacement Cost?

Depending on the type of car you own, the price of these protectors can range from $10 to $100.

You should replace the splash shield with the correct vehicle type and pay attention to your vehicle’s history details to sync with each other.

Besides, remember to check the product’s information to ensure its quality. Normally, replacement motor splash guards don’t come with nuts or bolts, so you’ll need to find them separately to purchase.

Conclusion

By and large, how to solve the plastic piece under car dragging? Overall, you need to check if your screws are loose. Then check the plastic sheet for cracks. Finally, repair and replace with a new one.

We hope this article was useful to you. Thank you for taking the time to read this post!