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So how sturdy is that plastic plate under the Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Horsefeathers, May 10, 2014.

  1. Horsefeathers

    Horsefeathers Member

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    I straddled a rather large turtle in the middle of the road today. It clunked under my car and made an awful racket. Turtle appeared to be ok-ish. How worried do I need to be about that plastic plate under my Prius? I pulled off to have a look, but all I could tell was that there were no obvious parts hanging out from under it. Should I have it put on a lift for examination or is it likely ok? I am still a Prius newbie and not sure what all that plastic piece that runs underneath the car is protecting, but if it's cracked or broken, I would guess a concern might be water getting where it shouldn't. Help me gauge my worry from probably-nothing to I'd-get-that-looked-at?
     
    #1 Horsefeathers, May 10, 2014
  2. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    The one under the engine? If it's not torn up, it should be fine.
     
    #2 El Dobro, May 10, 2014
  3. Horsefeathers

    Horsefeathers Member

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    I guess I'm trying to gauge the likelihood that anything is torn up and whether or not I need to have it put on a lift for examination or if that plate underneath is super solid and likely to withstand a direct hit from a turtle. I can't really shimmy under there to have a good look, and I wouldn't really even know what I was looking at, anyway. This Prius is still pretty foreign to me in a lot of ways, so I may end up asking a lot of what turns out to be silly questions. Good thing I don't embarrass easily, I reckon.
     
    #3 Horsefeathers, May 10, 2014
  4. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Unless it was this turtle, I wouldn't worry too much.

    [​IMG]
     
    #4 El Dobro, May 10, 2014
    Horsefeathers likes this.
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Gamera!!! :eek: :D

    SCH-I535
     
    #5 xliderider, May 10, 2014
  6. Horsefeathers

    Horsefeathers Member

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    Ha! Well, I reckon it wasn't that critter, so maybe it's ok. It was just awfully loud and clunky under there. Prius sure does sit pretty low.
     
    #6 Horsefeathers, May 10, 2014
  7. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Next time it's on a lift have them check that all the plastic fasteners are still there. The undertray is designed to flex. It's not there as armor, it's there for air control. Have a look at the rear bumper-cover. Pearl had her rear bumper-cover popped out from a "freed" truck tread.

    I'll bet that turtle is sore!
     
    #7 David Beale, May 10, 2014
  8. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    I have to believe it's designed to withstand a fair amount of impact energy... short of Gamera.
     
    #8 KennyGS, May 10, 2014
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  9. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    It's just there for air. I reallt doesn't protect much. The dealers tore my oil change door off. The only problem I noticed with that is we got 12 inches of snow this year and the hole in the panels became a snow shovel and forced snow onto the others panels and it pushed two others off. I fixed them.
     
    #9 adamace1, May 11, 2014
  10. southjerseycraig

    southjerseycraig Active Member

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    My plastic shield developed a hole -- perhaps from when I had to drive through a deep puddle -- and for a while it dragged on the ground. The dealership assured me that there was no problem with leaving the hole alone because there was no electrical equipment above it.
     
    #10 southjerseycraig, May 11, 2014
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