Loose Exhaust Heat Shield

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BrianEWilliams - 13 Jun 2005 16:00 GMT

I have a 1996 Infiniti I30. I just noticed there is a part hanging
down from underneath. Talking to my garage, they say it's probably the
exhaust heat shield. The driver's side portion of this part is hanging
down, and it is still attached on the passenger side.

Can I just pull this part off and not replace it?

Here is a picture I just took:

http://tinyurl.com/cgne3

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Richard Tomkins - 13 Jun 2005 21:50 GMT

The heat shield is there for a reason. No manufacturer adds parts to a car
just because it increases the cost.

There is a heat shield between the catalytic converter and the floor of the
car and a second between the catalytic converter and the ground.

The first heat shield prevents your carpet from overheating and catching on
fire which leads to a real mess because the car burns up.

The second heat shield prevents the grass you park over from catching on
fire which leads to a real mess because the car burns up.

Get it replaced.

rtt

> I have a 1996 Infiniti I30. I just noticed there is a part hanging
> down from underneath. Talking to my garage, they say it's probably the
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cgne3

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BrianEWilliams - 14 Jun 2005 00:24 GMT

Thanks for the reply. I haven't driven the car since I noticed the
problem earlier today, but the heat shield must have been loose for
6-12 months. That is how long I have heard a funny sound when hitting
bumps. Never thought much of it till now.

Had the car in for inspection a few months back, and they missed this,
although I don't think I mentioned the sound.

If the upper heat shield is intact, and I don't park on flammable
surfaces, maybe there is no hurry to fix this. I bent the heat shield
up from where it was hanging down, and I might use a piece of bare wire
to hold it in place for now.

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Filipp Stepanov - 14 Jun 2005 04:53 GMT

The heat shield is indeed ok, it does not need to be replaced. What's not ok
is the mount on the catalytic converter, to which the heat shield is
attached. It must have rusted out, as it did on my car. Replacing the cat is
expensive, so you may want to consider not parking your car over anything
flammable - grass, cardboard, etc.

>I have a 1996 Infiniti I30. I just noticed there is a part hanging
> down from underneath. Talking to my garage, they say it's probably the
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cgne3

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njmodi - 14 Jun 2005 05:17 GMT

My catalytic converter heat shield mounts rusted off to the point of
breaking several years ago. The dealer actually just pulled the
heatshields off when I was in for some work (I had mentioned a rattle).
Here in the snow-belt, the dealers see that happening all the time and
it just doesn't make sense to replace the catalytic converter (my car
was only 5 yrs old at the time).

Cheers.
Nirav
96 Max GLE, 117k

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