Are the heat shields, on a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder, needed?

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jhunter@huntercomputerinc.com - 12 Oct 2007 14:19 GMT

My local service tech. is telling me that he can remove the exhaust
system heat shields (since they're causing a major rattle). He's
saying that they're only needed for off-road driving (which my wife
never does). He also said that the only other way to fix this rattle
is to replace the entire exhaust system. Advice?

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JimV - 12 Oct 2007 16:09 GMT

> My local service tech. is telling me that he can remove the exhaust
> system heat shields (since they're causing a major rattle). He's
> saying that they're only needed for off-road driving (which my wife
> never does). He also said that the only other way to fix this rattle
> is to replace the entire exhaust system. Advice?

He's right. Just don't park on tall dry grass.

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willshak - 12 Oct 2007 16:19 GMT

on 10/12/2007 9:19 AM jhunter@huntercomputerinc.com said the following:

The service tech is wrong. The shields serve other purposes than just
off-road driving.
To shield the hot pipe so it doesn't start a fire if you park in a pile
of leaves or park off the road in high dry grass.
To shield the exhaust pipe and cat heat from heating the floor of the
vehicle.
Having said that, the shields can be taken off (I took all my PU shields
off to stop the rattles), just remember that they are not there anymore.
I don't know about insurance claims if the car catches on fire from the
exhaust system and the shields were missing.

Signature

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

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D. - 12 Oct 2007 20:28 GMT

hello ,
i used VERY large hose clamps on my
frontier shields and they worked just fine .
Dick

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willshak - 12 Oct 2007 21:22 GMT

on 10/12/2007 3:28 PM D. said the following:

> hello ,
> i used VERY large hose clamps on my
> frontier shields and they worked just fine .
> Dick
>
>

I started with the hose clamps, but as the shields rusted further, I
then had the rattle of the clamps, besides the shields.

Signature

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

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codifus - 14 Oct 2007 16:41 GMT

> on 10/12/2007 9:19 AM jhun...@huntercomputerinc.com said the following:
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> In Hamptonburgh, NY
> To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Just wondering, how can the heat shield prevent starting a fire when
parked on tall grass if the shield is mounted above the cat?

CD

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JimV - 14 Oct 2007 22:25 GMT

> Just wondering, how can the heat shield prevent starting a fire when
> parked on tall grass if the shield is mounted above the cat?
>
> CD

The ones above the cat are to keep the floors cooler and protect them in
the event of extreme temps. If the engine starts to misfire (a lot) the
cat can get very hot. In fact they can actually glow red hot. Of course
you'd have to insist on driving a seriously misfiring engine, but it's
been known to happen.

Most people rip them off and are fine. I guess it all depends on what
level of risk your comfortable with and how deep your pockets are.

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E Z Peaces - 14 Oct 2007 23:41 GMT

>> Just wondering, how can the heat shield prevent starting a fire when
>> parked on tall grass if the shield is mounted above the cat?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Most people rip them off and are fine. I guess it all depends on what
> level of risk your comfortable with and how deep your pockets are.

My sister once parked her old Escort on packed snow in a parking lot.
Within an hour fire destroyed it. I wonder if there was a problem with
the heat shield.

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