Does Fiesta really need exhaust heat shield?

[Georg von Krapp]

The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

[SteveH]

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

I'd be worrying about the fuel tank location, not the underseal.

[Georg von Krapp]

Post by SteveH

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

I'd be worrying about the fuel tank location, not the underseal.
--
SteveH

The fuel tank (which looks like it's well forward, under the rear seats)
seems to have its own section of heat shield, which isn't rattling around.
The heat shield I'm having a problem with is right at the back, under the
boot, and beside the spare wheel. I don't think proximity to the fuel tank
would be a problem in this case - there seems to be a good distance between
them. I'll double-check it tomorrow, though.

[shazzbat]

Post by Georg von Krapp

Post by SteveH

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

I'd be worrying about the fuel tank location, not the underseal.
--
SteveH

The fuel tank (which looks like it's well forward, under the rear seats)
seems to have its own section of heat shield, which isn't rattling around.
The heat shield I'm having a problem with is right at the back, under the
boot, and beside the spare wheel. I don't think proximity to the fuel tank
would be a problem in this case - there seems to be a good distance
between them. I'll double-check it tomorrow, though.

If there wasn't a valid reason for it being there, the makers would not have
gone to the trouble and expense of having it designed, manufactured and
fitted. Don't forget even if it only cost 10p, that's a lot of money if
you're going to sell a million cars or so, and I think Fiesta must have
reached that milestone a while ago. Also leaving it off would have saved a
few grams of mass, allowing them to claim another 10 metres or so per 100
litres of fuel consumption. So yes, it should be there IMO.

Steve

[Georg von Krapp]

Post by shazzbat

Post by Georg von Krapp

Post by SteveH

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

I'd be worrying about the fuel tank location, not the underseal.
--
SteveH

The fuel tank (which looks like it's well forward, under the rear seats)
seems to have its own section of heat shield, which isn't rattling
around. The heat shield I'm having a problem with is right at the back,
under the boot, and beside the spare wheel. I don't think proximity to
the fuel tank would be a problem in this case - there seems to be a good
distance between them. I'll double-check it tomorrow, though.

If there wasn't a valid reason for it being there, the makers would not
have gone to the trouble and expense of having it designed, manufactured
and fitted. Don't forget even if it only cost 10p, that's a lot of money
if you're going to sell a million cars or so, and I think Fiesta must have
reached that milestone a while ago. Also leaving it off would have saved a
few grams of mass, allowing them to claim another 10 metres or so per 100
litres of fuel consumption. So yes, it should be there IMO.
Steve

Yes, that's the reason I haven't already just got rid of it. It's a compact
design, and things are closer together than they otherwise would have been.
I suppose what I wanted to know is, has anyone here seen a Fiesta where it
had been removed, and what the damage (if any) had been.

[Davey]

On Mon, 1 Apr 2013 01:46:18 +0100

Post by Georg von Krapp

Post by SteveH

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it
wreck the underseal?

I'd be worrying about the fuel tank location, not the underseal.
--
SteveH

The fuel tank (which looks like it's well forward, under the rear
seats) seems to have its own section of heat shield, which isn't
rattling around. The heat shield I'm having a problem with is right
at the back, under the boot, and beside the spare wheel. I don't
think proximity to the fuel tank would be a problem in this case -
there seems to be a good distance between them. I'll double-check it
tomorrow, though.

Is it to keep heat away from the spare wheel? The tyre certainly would
not take kindly to overheating.

[Georg von Krapp]

Post by Davey
On Mon, 1 Apr 2013 01:46:18 +0100

Post by Georg von Krapp

Post by SteveH

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it
wreck the underseal?

I'd be worrying about the fuel tank location, not the underseal.
--
SteveH

The fuel tank (which looks like it's well forward, under the rear
seats) seems to have its own section of heat shield, which isn't
rattling around. The heat shield I'm having a problem with is right
at the back, under the boot, and beside the spare wheel. I don't
think proximity to the fuel tank would be a problem in this case -
there seems to be a good distance between them. I'll double-check it
tomorrow, though.

Is it to keep heat away from the spare wheel? The tyre certainly would
not take kindly to overheating.
--
Davey.

Possibly, but the spare whell is inside, not hanging underneath.

[a***@gmail.com]

The heat shield came off of my fiesta st and the exhaust melted a hole in the fuel tank

[Adrian Caspersz]

Post by a***@gmail.com
The heat shield came off of my fiesta st and the exhaust melted a hole in the fuel tank

thanks for sharing!

[Peter Hill]

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by a***@gmail.com
The heat shield came off of my fiesta st and the exhaust melted a hole in the fuel tank

thanks for sharing!

Only 4 years late to the party!

[Cursitor Doom]

Post by a***@gmail.com
The heat shield came off of my fiesta st and the exhaust melted a hole in the fuel tank

Yeah, those plastic fuel tanks are a real bitch.

[Mrcheerful]

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come
adrift. If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some
big washers on, and they'd stop it flapping around and making an
annoying noise; but they're rusted solid, and look rather fragile.
Or, I could just rip it out. Does it really need the heat shield
there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not there? I can't
imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the underseal?

the nuts undo easily with a 24mm socket or large pliers. IMO it will make
no difference to anything if it is not there, but with the nuts undone it
will be easy to put penny washers on and re-fix it.

[Georg von Krapp]

Post by Mrcheerful

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come
adrift. If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some
big washers on, and they'd stop it flapping around and making an
annoying noise; but they're rusted solid, and look rather fragile.
Or, I could just rip it out. Does it really need the heat shield
there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not there? I can't
imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the underseal?

the nuts undo easily with a 24mm socket or large pliers. IMO it will make
no difference to anything if it is not there, but with the nuts undone it
will be easy to put penny washers on and re-fix it.

I'll get a 24mm socket and try them. I have most sizes, but not that one.
The nuts look a bit flimsy, though. I'm not expecting them to survive.

[Mrcheerful]

Post by Georg von Krapp

Post by Mrcheerful

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come
adrift. If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some
big washers on, and they'd stop it flapping around and making an
annoying noise; but they're rusted solid, and look rather fragile.
Or, I could just rip it out. Does it really need the heat shield
there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not there? I can't
imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the underseal?

the nuts undo easily with a 24mm socket or large pliers. IMO it
will make no difference to anything if it is not there, but with the
nuts undone it will be easy to put penny washers on and re-fix it.

I'll get a 24mm socket and try them. I have most sizes, but not that
one. The nuts look a bit flimsy, though. I'm not expecting them to
survive.

they are stronger than they look and the thread arrangement means they do
not rust hard on to the stud. large pliers would do fine.

[Georg Von Krapp]

Post by Mrcheerful

Post by Georg von Krapp

Post by Mrcheerful

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come
adrift. If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some
big washers on, and they'd stop it flapping around and making an
annoying noise; but they're rusted solid, and look rather fragile.
Or, I could just rip it out. Does it really need the heat shield
there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not there? I can't
imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the underseal?

the nuts undo easily with a 24mm socket or large pliers. IMO it
will make no difference to anything if it is not there, but with the
nuts undone it will be easy to put penny washers on and re-fix it.

I'll get a 24mm socket and try them. I have most sizes, but not that
one. The nuts look a bit flimsy, though. I'm not expecting them to
survive.

they are stronger than they look and the thread arrangement means they do
not rust hard on to the stud. large pliers would do fine.

Finally got round to doing this. And yes, they are stronger than they look.
Quite an odd design for a nut.

[Davey]

On Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:31:19 +0100

Post by Georg Von Krapp

Post by Mrcheerful

Post by Georg von Krapp

Post by Mrcheerful

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has
come adrift. If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd
put some big washers on, and they'd stop it flapping around and
making an annoying noise; but they're rusted solid, and look
rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it really need
the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it
wreck the underseal?

the nuts undo easily with a 24mm socket or large pliers. IMO it
will make no difference to anything if it is not there, but with
the nuts undone it will be easy to put penny washers on and
re-fix it.

I'll get a 24mm socket and try them. I have most sizes, but not
that one. The nuts look a bit flimsy, though. I'm not expecting
them to survive.

they are stronger than they look and the thread arrangement means
they do not rust hard on to the stud. large pliers would do fine.

Finally got round to doing this. And yes, they are stronger than they
look. Quite an odd design for a nut.

There's a joke in there.

[c***@gmail.com]

Hi. Ive got a mk5 fiesta 15 years old now. Just recently i took a trip to york which is an hour and a half from my home and mainly motorway when i got there my bag with my clothes and coat had melted to the boot metal i have taken the carpet out and replaced it with non slip material. But my guess is that my back box got to a certain temperature which in turn transferd the heat to the boot floor and im seriously looking to find a heat shield to put above the back box so this doesnt happen again i would advise not having one. Its there for a reason

[Adrian]

Post by c***@gmail.com
Hi. Ive got a mk5 fiesta 15 years old now. Just recently i took a trip
to york which is an hour and a half from my home and mainly motorway
when i got there my bag with my clothes and coat had melted to the boot
metal i have taken the carpet out and replaced it with non slip
material. But my guess is that my back box got to a certain temperature
which in turn transferd the heat to the boot floor and im seriously
looking to find a heat shield to put above the back box so this doesnt
happen again i would advise not having one. Its there for a reason

There probably would have been a heat shield originally, but it sounds as
if the exhaust is getting way too hot.

Petrol? What sort of temps is the cat getting to...? When was the last
MOT? I'm wondering if an air leak or duff lambda is giving too lean a
mixture, so a much hotter exhaust.

[t***@hotmail.com]

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

Our heat healy under the boot fell off. The temperature inside the boot now gets sky high due to heat transfer from the exhaust back box. For my money its there for a reason so would make sure it stays.

[steve robinson]

Post by t***@hotmail.com

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

Our heat healy under the boot fell off. The temperature inside the boot now gets sky high due to heat transfer from the exhaust back box. For my money its there for a reason so would make sure it stays.

Manufacturers don't do this for no reason .

[p***@gmail.com]

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come adrift.
If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some big washers on,
and they'd stop it flapping around and making an annoying noise; but they're
rusted solid, and look rather fragile. Or, I could just rip it out. Does it
really need the heat shield there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not
there? I can't imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

I took the loose heat shield off my mk iv fiesta 9 years ago. No problems whatsoever.No effect on waxoyl underseal or anything else for that matter. Car is now 18 years old.

[Peter Hill]

Post by p***@gmail.com

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come
adrift. If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some
big washers on, and they'd stop it flapping around and making an
annoying noise; but they're rusted solid, and look rather fragile.
Or, I could just rip it out. Does it really need the heat shield
there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not there? I can't
imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

I took the loose heat shield off my mk iv fiesta 9 years ago. No
problems whatsoever.No effect on waxoyl underseal or anything else
for that matter. Car is now 18 years old.

Why you reply to question asked in 2013?

[Tom G]

Post by Peter Hill

Post by p***@gmail.com

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come
adrift. If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some
big washers on, and they'd stop it flapping around and making an
annoying noise; but they're rusted solid, and look rather fragile.
Or, I could just rip it out. Does it really need the heat shield
there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not there? I can't
imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

I took the loose heat shield off my mk iv fiesta 9 years ago. No
problems whatsoever.No effect on waxoyl underseal or anything else
for that matter. Car is now 18 years old.

Why you reply to question asked in 2013?

Is there a time limit then?

[Fredxxx]

Post by Tom G

Post by Peter Hill

Post by p***@gmail.com

Post by Georg von Krapp
The heat shield between the back box and the car underside has come
adrift. If I could get those strange pressed nuts off, I'd put some
big washers on, and they'd stop it flapping around and making an
annoying noise; but they're rusted solid, and look rather fragile.
Or, I could just rip it out. Does it really need the heat shield
there? Has anyone seen what happens if it's not there? I can't
imagine it gets too hot back there. Or would it wreck the
underseal?

I took the loose heat shield off my mk iv fiesta 9 years ago. No
problems whatsoever.No effect on waxoyl underseal or anything else
for that matter. Car is now 18 years old.

Why you reply to question asked in 2013?

Is there a time limit then?

It is considered netiquette not to reply to a post more than a month or
so old, and to start a new thread.

It gets silly when a message from the 1990's get a reply, especially
when the OP has been long dead and buried! At least Philip added context.

[w***@gmail.com]

I found the answer handy..