I broke it - should I replace it?

[MobyDisco]

While changing my second flat tyre in 3 months I broke the plastic "splashguard" (at least, I think that's what it is?) that sits under the car in front of the spare tyre.

(I had the suspension up high while I was changing the wheel, as per the manual. After I'd removed the flat tyre I put it under the rear of the car ready to be winched forward. But unfortunately it was sitting a little too far forward or the winch. When I lowered the suspension, that plastic piece that sits across the car, just in front of the rear wheel, ended up on top of the rear wheel instead of in front of it. It's now cracked in a couple of places.)

Do you think I need to replace it? Or is that splashguard relatively unimportant in the scheme of things?

I'd appreciate your advice, thanks.

[FifiLámour]

Hey Moby Disco, you forgot to mention we are planning a beach drive this weekend. Might it be necessary to replace this thing that's broken to protect whatever it's covering from sand???

(Sorry buys, not making much sense as I don't know what anything is called :blush:)

[Tote]

I believe it's a heatshield to reflect heat from the exhausts away from the spare. Mine's been broken in the middle for 12 months since we took the tyre out from the carrier to go to Fraser but the two supports at the side keep it in place ok.

Regards,
Tote

[rmp]

Broken or not it'll still do the job. To repair just get some heat-resistant material, Purple Pig have some good stuff.

Also, get FFL to replace the spare until such time as you get a spare wheel carrier!

Speaking of which topical avatar this time FFL, what will be next I wonder?

[Hooroo]

G'day Moby.
The first thing I did when I got my first D3 in '05 was remove the bits I didn't need (so I could pop them back on when I sold it).
That included your bit. Not having it has never been an issue (and I do a fair bit in sand and mud).
My two bobs worth? I suggest you repair it and pop it back on when you sell it one day. Hang it in the garage as your trophy of a fun day out

[MobyDisco]

Thanks guys. I'm so bummed that I broke the durn thing right at the end of my first D3 roadside wheel replacement, which had otherwise been going so well :(

[rmp]

Take heart, MobyD, many people have broken much more than that on their first wheel-change attempt if it happens to be the rear LHS wheel ;-)

[FifiLámour]

Well this is a relief to wake up and read! Thanks everyone :D

Except this:

Also, get FFL to replace the spare until such time as you get a spare wheel carrier!

Speaking of which topical avatar this time FFL, what will be next I wonder?

RMP are you trying to upset the delicate equilibrium of our marriage? :p I will find a new avatar today, just for you, OK ;).

It WAS the rear LHS wheel! :o

[rmp]

Well it's good you didn't jack up using the compressor then, as that is considerably more painful than breaking an insignificant plastic guard. I've met at least three D3 owners who has discovered this the hard way.

See, there's always a bright side.

[WhiteD3]

My heat shield guards are broken and worn down to the level of the exhaust pipes. No drama in that:D

[rmp]

Well, no apparent drama but often in these cases it's not a question of an immediate failure but over time a problem building up. Excess heat is the best way to ruin a tyre and exposure to a hot exhaust is just that. What happens is that the tyre's oils are dried up and that reduces its flexibility.

Spares mounted on the rear door also have this problem through constant exposure to harsh sunlight and not being used, which is why wheel covers are useful. I must admit I don't use them but I go through tyres quickly enough that I don't have the same spare on my door for years on end.

[FifiLámour]

Hooroo - out of interest...were there any other bits you removed? If so, what were they?

White D3 - Phew!

RMP - you are right, LOL. I think we've had to fix something on this car every month since we got it. But I still love it (and it has always been our fault).

Is it possible to be in love with your car I wonder? I can't wait to go on the beach now. It has openned up a whole new world for us! I wish we had got the D3 right back when we started talking about it, but then, jobs were shakey etc so we held off.

I *heart* my D3! :D Sorry, off topic :blush:.

ETA: Interesting last post RMP. And a very good point.

[WhiteD3]

Hooroo - out of interest...were there any other bits you removed? If so, what were they?

The black plastic guard hiding the front recovery point and the cover in the bumper hiding the rear recovery point.

If you get bogged you do not want to be looking for 50c pieces for the screws, then digging under the car trying to get the front cover off.

And if you bottom out the front (as I did on my beach entry on my first sand drive at Bribie) it'll fall off anyway!

[Jesse B]

If you get bogged you do not want to be looking for 50c pieces for the screws, then digging under the car trying to get the front cover off.


I'll second that - when I got the D4 bogged in a black mud hole the first time I took it into the bush I had a quick look for the front recovery point (in the vain hope someone would turn up to haul me out) - and it would have been real down 'n dirty stuff to get to it. As it was I managed to crawl out via a collection of branches stuffed under dug-out wheels. But it did make me think it would be wise to remove these plates before it happens again.

Which reminds me - I'd better go do it, before I forget again!:blush:

[DiscoSaffa]

Is it possible to be in love with your car I wonder? I can't wait to go on the beach now. It has openned up a whole new world for us! I wish we had got the D3 right back when we started talking about it, but then, jobs were shakey etc so we held off.

I *heart* my D3! :D Sorry, off topic :blush:.

Off topic maybe...... but with a D3, or for that matter, any Land Rover, it is most definately possible to love your car....... *sigh*

Just glad I am not the only one...... I swear poor Safari Barbie (SWMBO) thinks I am mad.......

[jonesfam]

I was out quietly washing the Discovery on Sunday with baby wash when SWMBO comes out, looks at me & says "I'm over your affair!"
Don't know what she was on about?
:p
Jonesfam

[FifiLámour]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/08/933.jpg

Mwah ha ha you two.

[DiscoSaffa]

MobyDisco….. sincere apologies for taking this thread so far off topic……. :wasntme:

But Jonesfam, what brand of baby wash do you use? :confused:

I also reckon there is an opportunity here for the setting up of a support group for all the Land Rover widows out there……

[rmp]

MobyDisco….. sincere apologies for taking this thread so far off topic……. :wasntme:

But Jonesfam, what brand of baby wash do you use? :confused:

I also reckon there is an opportunity here for the setting up of a support group for all the Land Rover widows out there……

!!! I think a support group is needed for people who refer to cleaning a car as "baby wash".

There are distinct lack of women in the D3/D4 zone, although in AULRO wider the women make up a disproportionate number of posts for their relatively small numbers. I'll leave the analysis of that little fact to others.

Meguiars (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/www.meguiars.com.au)make the best CARwash products available to non-pros.

[DiscoSaffa]

!!! I think a support group is needed for people who refer to cleaning a car as "baby wash". Naaaaahhhhh we are beyond help! :D


There are distinct lack of women in the D3/D4 zone, Could this be because we try and keep our wives seperate from our mistresses...... :angel:


Meguiars (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/www.meguiars.com.au)make the best CARwash products available to non-pros. Ditto to that! They also make the best of all the trim detailers IMHO...... keeps the black plastic looking new and is not greasy.....

[FifiLámour]

Could this be because we try and keep our wives seperate from our mistresses...... :angel:

DiscoSaffa you are being very cheeky this morning.

[Nomad9]

Hi Moby,
Same same, when I bought mine the guard had been damaged, cracked at both attachment points. When I fitted the rear wheel carrier I took it off and replaced it with a metal plate. I have a quite talented sheet metal worked at my place of work he made a new one only out of 1.6 mm sheet. I painted it and put some rubber coating stone chip paint on it to finish the job off.
I only put the shield back on again because the transfer pump for my long range tank is at the front of the tank and could get hit by gravel / stones etc. The downside for this I suspect is that the plate would have acted like a huge snow plough when I was down the to the sills in sand at the weekend. Can't win all the time I suppose.....

[DiscoSaffa]

DiscoSaffa you are being very cheeky this morning.

DiscoSaffa hangs his head in shame......... :wasntme:

[Jesse B]

DiscoSaffa hangs his head in shame......... :wasntme:

Yeah, right...

Apart from being very amusing, the somewhat off-topic slant of this thread has been quite a relief to me. Being in a wife-free zone at present, I am able to enjoy my new 'relationship' with the D4 without guilt - and now in the very clear knowledge that I am far from alone in my affliction! Not that I've quite reached the baby wash stage yet (sorry Jonesfam!) - I suppose these things all take a little time... ;)

[DiscoSaffa]

I suppose these things all take a little time... ;)

Less than you would think.......

Welcome to the club, I will get Safari Barbie to contact your wife with support group details........ If only I could remember her real name......

[rmp]

Less than you would think.......

Welcome to the club, I will get Safari Barbie to contact your wife with support group details........ If only I could remember her real name......

Does a photograph help?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[WhiteD3]

This is all getting very strange:eek: Just happened to have a Barbie nearby RMP?


Does a photograph help?

http://www.mydollydearest.com/ebaypics/barbiesafari.JPG

[rmp]

This is all getting very strange:eek: Just happened to have a Barbie nearby RMP?

Actually I do, but she's busy and wouldn't pose for a photo so I used that one instead.

[DiscoSaffa]

Does a photograph help?



and the genuine article too!

[jonesfam]

I really do use J&J soap free baby wash to wash the car.
After that I dry her & buff her with a couple of old nappies.
Then I just stand there - & look at her, for a while, a fair while. OK A long time!
:D
I do NOT leer as SWMBO reckons.

But I may be about to have some marital problems, SWMBO wanted to know if she or my mistress was getting the most expensive Valentines present.

As SWMBO does not know how much tyres cost I could lie.:twisted:

Jonesfam
Sorry about the Hi Jack.

[rmp]

After that I dry her & buff her with a couple of old nappies.


hmmm.....

[DiscoSaffa]

I really do use J&J soap free baby wash to wash the car.
I was wondering what brand you used..... :confused:

Then I just stand there - & look at her, for a while, a fair while. OK A long time!
:D


I wonder how much time in our lives we spend just looking at our Landy's....... and leer sounds so..... dirty :o

[ADMIRAL]

I have heard Milton baby bottle cleaner works well to clean plastic water tanks ( helps with that plastic taste too ), but baby shampoo for the car wash. At least the headlights won't shed any tears !

[jonesfam]

Now you all think I'm weird!
Well I am sort of but not as strange as you may think.
Soap free baby wash does not get overly suddsy, does not damage the paint protection, gets the dirt off, minimizes streaking & makes the car smell nice.

J&J brand is used because that is the brand that I sell in the store.

The nappies bring up the gloss without any further additives.

And I wouldn't have bought her if I didn't love the look.

Arn't we all proud of our new Baby.

Living in Doomadgee for - well a long time, is likely to send anyone a bit strange. My boss told 2 prospective employees that I was "Eccentric", I thought that was unfair................. I'm border line insane.:twisted::twisted:
Jonesfam
BTW They took the jobs anyway.