Glorious Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Hi Neobahn! I was driving to work this morning on the Motorway when I heard a nasty rattle like something was hanging off or scraping then suddenly it stopped and i saw something fly off the car onto the lane behind me (so obviously can't retrieve it on a busy motorway) - this all happened in the space of 5-7 seconds so couldn't do much about it. I thought it may have been one of the steel wheel caps but these are all intact, I think it may have just been the heat shield as this has been rattling when starting the engine cold but with no way to get it to a garage during the day is this the most likely cause. It is still driving perfectly, I can't be fully sure it was even from my vehicle - just that it flew out of the back of it after a few seconds. Kinda worried now, so gonna have to try and get it home on the quiet roads tonight then find out what it is/was. Am i right in thinking it could have just been the heat shield falling from the exhaust though as it may have corroded over the years. Car is a 1998 S Reg Nissan Micra Ally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhapimp Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 forgive my ignorance in auto lingo, but it's probably that thing under your bumper and engine that fell off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Ride Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 have you inspected the exhaust in full, this is the most comon part that falls off a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltecXP Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 have you inspected the exhaust in full, this is the most comon part that falls off a car. If it was the exhaust he would hear it instantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamLC Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Could be the heat shield? They get caught on speed humps and often fall off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Ride Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 If it was the exhaust he would hear it instantly. that depends on the location on the exhast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeChipshop Member Posted November 16, 2009 Member Share Posted November 16, 2009 Often quite large pieces of exhaust can fall off without any audible change in sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rohdekill Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 It's probably the poor chap you hit when driving home drunk last night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WatTwo Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Yeah, most likely part of the exhaust, or heat shield, probably one under the gas tank. Just get under and inspect it good, since it just fell off you should be able to see where it was at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomoko Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 It would probably be a good idea to take the car somewhere and have it inspected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious Posted November 16, 2009 Author Share Posted November 16, 2009 Well we've had a look and the heat shield is still attached to the car from what we can see, there has been no change in the way it drives or any audible change. Difficult to look at the whole thing in the dark, but I can't see anything that's different/missing at the moment. I'll get it checked asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kombolcha Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 let us know what fell off if you find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acnpt Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Perhaps give the AA or RAC a ring, if your with them and you've got home start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argote Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Can you still see your muffler? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGM Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 my first thought would be heat shield.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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