ive been hearing this squeaking lately when i let of the clutch in gear(begin accelerating) or when i hit a bump, i actually was about to make an appt with the dealer and then i was driving home today at about 65 (side road) and all the sudden i hear a really loud squeaking comeing from the same location and im thinking great my tranny just went or something, but i could still drive it and i noticed that it kept going after i put it into neutral. so i pulled over and looked under my car, because i figured something must be dragging. i was right. the heat shield to my second cat was hanging from my car like so..



i just drove home (slowly) cuz it was only like 1/2 mile and looked under it again and noticed it was only hanging on by one corner on a tiny piece of metal and so i wiggled it and it fell off. it seems to be only the bottom half of the heat shield, and it wasnt that warm at all (just drove for an hour) so i figured i might not need it. i asked a member on here and he had the same problem, said he didnt do anything and nothing happened. just makin sure it wont have adverse affects on my car, and sharing this entertaining story lol.

here are some more pics

 

Not really necessary IMO, I guess its in there to keep heat from getting out and keeping heat in to get the cat up to temperature so it can do its work, which gets cold start emissions better for when the car is teseted.

 

i was going to ask a similar question today. I just got the exhaust done a week ago and it rattles when pulling out and at about 3500 RPMs. I thought something was very close to the car and hitting it when it would viberate. SO i looked under the car and i think its the heat shead that is right over top of the cat. Because the pipes are way too far away from anything to for them to be hitting. So anyway, does the heat shield above the cat need to be there, or is there anything i can do to it to keep it from vibrating.

Sorry if i jacked the thread, but its such a similar question that i thought it would be a waste to start a new one.

 

If that shield is to the bottom of the cat it can block water to go on the cat. And also keep temp so cat will work more efficient.

 

My old excel, I ripped the heatsheild off compleatly while doing an off road "excursion" while rallying. Drove the car another 50,000 miles with no issues.. just make sure you do not part over anything really flamable and you should be fine.

 

yah thanks guys, um i think with two cats i dont have to worry about emissions being lowered, and in CNY they dont test your exhaust emissions levels, as long as the emissions isnt bad enough to trip the CEL then there is no problem reported to the OBD-II AND i just got inspected, literally, i just got inspected about 2 hours before this haha.

 

It evenly distributes the heat, and protects the surrounding area of your car from the cat's heat. It can also prevent you from lighting grass or leaves on fire when you park.

A cat usually runs at 200-300 degrees, and is 100 degrees hotter on the inlet side, more if you're running rich. There's a reason the cat is surrounded by heat shields, and that your car underbody has one in that location too. I'd get it put back on to keep your cat working optimally.

And I certainly wouldn't remove the one on the underbody. If you've ever had a cat meltdown or know you're running rich, don't even think about it. When a cat has a meltdown it can supposedly get up to 2000 degrees.

 

Thanks........

 

but the second cat is considerably cooler, i didnt think it would get as hot. well how the hell would i get it put back on? just take it to the dealership? would this be covered by warrantey?

 

depending on the miliage on your car.. it might be covered under the cat's warrenty. Federal law states they have to last a certain amount of time. no ifs, ands, or buts.