What Is this? Is my truck gonna burn down

Things been rattling like crazy so I pulled it out. Now I'm afraid its gonna cause a fire. Theres two on either side and the one I pulled out was the front driver side. Is it made to dissipate heat or protect from underbody damage?

Am i cool to drive around for a few days til I get it fixed? Can I just leave it off indefinitely?

 

No advice on safety, but it’s definitely a heat shield.

 

If it was rattling around there was a screw loose or gone? Put it back on with it secured in place.

 

Catalytic converter heat shield. I’d put it back ASAP. They get hot.

 

I think they are actually welded on with small spot welds that tend to break off.

 

Don’t quote me on that, I’m a 100%

 

Heat shield. Just don't drive through any fields with tall grass. Your truck should be okay for a few days until you can get it replaced IMO.

 

Take to a muffler shop see if they have bolts that will hold like other side or tack weld it

 

this is my hope. i figured it was a Catalytic converter heat shield but didnt wanna sound like an idiot if i was wrong lol. why are there four?

and it was rattling because 2 of the bolts or whatever hold them on were completely gone (rusted away i assume) and it was split like a hotdog bun and was flopping around. my fear was that i would lose it. it was barely holding on. but now its dark and id rather get to it tomorrow or the next day but i do have places to go so im concerned on starting a truck fire.

but theres much worse riding around i figure

 

whats that gonna run me? $70? lol

 

god i hope my insurance adjuster isnt on here

 

Its secured on with bolts and nuts. The one on the drivers side is next to the fuel lines which is wrapped in that silver foil next to the frame. I would get the shields back on as soon as possible because that cat converter gets hot quickly.

 

looks like bolts were there originally, should i just hit the hardware store....or the muffler shop. looking for cheapest easiest way out. mainly cheapest

 

oh crap thats really not what i like to hear, after pointing that out yeah that doesnt look safe

 

I typically throw new bolts and nuts in for people that come with them rattling. Costs next to nothing and will last long enough. A weld will work too. But will also eventually rust off again

 

i think im just gonna hit the hardware store first thing in the AM. i hope if i bolt it back up the rattling stops

 

Check them all. Once once goes the rest are close. When it’s cold give the shields a little wiggle. Should have no play

 

Now I'm afraid to even drive it. I'll probably steal my brothers 4runner while hes away at college to go to the hardware store tomorrow

 

Your fine to dive it. I have tons of these things come in missing them completely and they have been for years

 

If you off road much those heat shields will likely prevent starting a fire if you park over some longer stuff on the trail.

 

You wanna watch a Tundra burn in flames?

 

Heat shield has been gone on my muffler area for over 2 yrs. I have never had an issue. Although I dont off road in my truck at all. The ones for the converter are still in place thoug .

 

If you have extra bare wire, you can also secure them like twisty ties in place of the fasteners for the time being. Do some extra twists so that you don't loose the heat shields on the road.

 

no, no sir i do not

 

A quick and effective fix for your heat shields is to go get some big hose clamps like 5inch or 6inch wat ever fits sometimes u can add 2 together to make even bigger clamp if needed and clamp the heat shields back onto the car no biggie should cost less than 20 bucks I’m running 2 clamps on my Honda Odyssey now for about 5 years now

 

hose clamps should be easiest and cheapest fix, as others have suggested.

 

good idea ill have to give that a try!

 

zip ties
bolts/nuts
wire
large hose clamps