OK, I have tried to search for it but cant find it. What exactly does the rubber mat under neath the engine do?

 

never heard of a rubber mat under the engine.....

Heard of plastic or metal shields below the engine bay and things but never heard of a rubber mat.

 

the rubber mat is a splash guard for your alternater and the front of your motor,if its ripped and comeing off,just get rid or it.I don't have one anymore,you'll be fine with out it.

 

its a mud/debris/crap guard. it is there to is something is bounced up on the road its will be deflected out of the engine bay. if its your daily driver leave it it also helps with wind resistance. i know it hangs down and likes to get caught on things!

 

X2!!

 

no mine is still perfectly intact, but when i work on the engine it just gets in the way and every time i try to take it off i start to rip it so i didn't know if i could just rip it off or what. i might end up making one out of metal so i can bolt in on and off as i please.

 

It does have a function. Your alternator is very low on the engine. People that take them off get back on the forum some time later and complain their alternator stopped working. It is there, especially off road to keep that from happening.

 

It is there to deflect water away from the engine, mainly belts and pulleys. Heavy splashes of water will make belts slip. Like when you drive through a large puddle along the road. I had a Jetta and took the one off of it, anytime I drove through a puddle on the pass side while turning my power steering would slip making it hard to turn for a few seconds.

 

so what you think of making a heavy duty one out of metal and making it to where i could bolt it on and off.

 

Great idea. Just don't make it too large unless you vent the hood. You want your engine compartment to breath for cooling.

 

Ya it would probably be a exact cut out of the stock mat... or better! just have to figure out how to mount it up

 

I've had mine out for 2-3 years now & have had no problems at all...

 

mine was hanging down and ripped so I removed it but I wanted to still have a guard so I did a little fab with some thin sheet metal. I made a cardboard template that I still have if you want it. It comprised of one large piece and several smaller that all screwed together and wrap up behind the alternator, It wont stop stumps and boulders but water mud and rocks yes

 

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