Engine Undershield

Unread post by **myglaren** » 28 Apr 2010, 06:46

I regret not replacing mine at the weekend. Doing a bit more than 70 last night and there was a big bang and clatter, accompanied by a cloud of black bits in the rear view mirror. Lost the wheel arch liner

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 28 Apr 2010, 07:21

If you've removed/lost the sheild, then it's a good idea to trim back the wheel arch liners so that they don't flap about.

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 28 Apr 2010, 10:17

Before I refitted my undertray I used cable ties to attche the liners to near by body work.

steelcityuk · Unread post by **steelcityuk** » 28 Apr 2010, 11:33

My 2.5 had one as did the Xantia and the C5. However these are nothing compared to the full length undertrays fitted to the A Class. These make for a fast underbody inspection come MOT time. I drilled a few holes in mine to stop water collecting in the low points.

Steve.

dieseldoggy · Unread post by **dieseldoggy** » 03 May 2010, 00:11

you can just replace the bolts back in to holes if you remove tray.then they stay intact. plus if anyone needs one ive a tray for a mk1 zanty

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 04 May 2010, 21:53

Surely they must also give some protection to road spray. Better with protection than without. We know why there is none on our V6s..............heat . They would melt

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 05 May 2010, 13:51

not all Xantias came with an undertray

Doesn’t look like any petrol Xantia has an undertray.

On Citroën’s ‘underbody protection’ page, all the C5 floppy parts are called sound proofing, noise screen and air deflector.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 05 May 2010, 13:58

I think these must have been fitted to improve the image of diesels as the only difference they seem to make is to supress the diesel rattle from outside the car.

rmunns · Unread post by **rmunns** » 07 May 2010, 08:36

When I took off the tray on my 2000 90Hdi I was astonished how clean the engine was. So there is another 'plus', Peter.

falling-out-with-my-car · 10 May 2010, 00:57

Took my SX diesel estate undertray off 40,000 miles ago and threw it away doesnt affect milage or warm up only thing is does effect is how numb your fingers get trying to remove it to get to the underside of the engine in freezing cold winter temperatures.

it doesnt protect your sump from folded parking pillars
in fact the only thing it served a use for is to stopp animals crawling up inside the engine bay in the winter time to keep warm and consequently being cooked in the engine bay because they were far to scarred to jump from a vechicle travelling at 70+ mph.

in fact I wouldnt mind betting that is exactly what it was designed for i bet there is some kind of French creepy crawly that likes sleeping in nice warm engine bays.

regards Nigel.

johnway · Unread post by **johnway** » 12 May 2010, 13:23

Great answers all, many thanks. I have driven the C5 for a few hundred clicks now and have not noticed anything different with the under tray off so will continue without (unless I stumble on a good used one for replacement).
Regards,
John.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 20 Jun 2010, 20:41

myglaren wrote:Mine is in my garden too since I changed the oil/filters last week, was attached with tie-wraps.

I noticed while under the car that the 'hose' from the wheel arch to the airbox seemed to be stuffed with something. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it some form of pre-filter or have I just collected a ton of leaves and muck

I removed my airbox today, partly to investigate the air hose it breathes through, partly with an aim to test the reversing light switch.
The airbox was full of leaves and water:

I drilled a small (1mm) hole in the side and allowed the well to drain a bit - as seen here, It was completely full before drilling the hole.
Removed it and washed it out with the garden hose.

Investigated the feeder hose and it isn't full of socks or leaves, it is just the construction of the hose makes it feel that way, has some kind of lining to it.

Was unable to get the plug off the reversing light switch, bit leary of damaging the connection but did note that the clutch slave is fitted with a bleed nipple:

I presume that the gubbins in the centre of this picture is the ABS pump - looks a likely candidate anyway.

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 21 Jun 2010, 14:18

Hi Steve,

I did look when you wondered back then, but didn’t see any benefit from getting back to say that I got nowhere at trying to find the hidden air intake.
The tube did feel hard with something inside, like a rigid hose inside an outer concertina shroud.

I had the same amount of leaves in the box, but no water, hopefully because the arch liners and floppy air deflectors were always in place.

The gubbins are indeed the ABS pump, with the four pipes screwed into the top visible from in front of the battery.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 21 Jun 2010, 17:47

I have heard several reports of that well being full of water and there were lots of leaves and water in there when I changed the air filter a couple of months ago.

I have also heard of others doing the same mod. I did wonder why they put that well on there with no drain for the water - perhaps it is supposed to be there? But in dry climates it wouldn't last long anyway - I suspect mine was full due to me barging through puddles and floods, been lots of them recently

What happens when it overflows

boristhespie · Unread post by **boristhespie** » 21 Jun 2010, 20:49

How much is an undertray for c5. Mine disintegrated at 70mph. I stopped thinking I had a pucnture then continued to see black shards flying behind me. Then had to change it in a suit in a huge pishing rain storm on a farm track the side of the dual carriageway.

it is sitting in mygarage. Well what's left is.

The other c5 is stuck on with a bit of string.

How mcuh are these?

French Car Forum

Engine Undershield

Thanks everybody !!