Removed Front Underbody Plastic Cover - Good Idea?

[gciccol]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2005 300C. I removed the plastic cover under the radiator that attaches to the front bumper. I'm sure Chrysler put it there for a reason and I'm worried I might damage something with it off.

I took it off because the screws that attach it to the bottom of the bumper do not hold it tight. After a few days it looks like I'm driving down the street with my bottom lip open. The plastic cover has warped a little, which doesn't help the cause.

I fix it constantly and I'm tired of it. So, does anyone know what its real purpose is? Does it protect the electrical system from water?

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks folks.

[Big Daddy D 300C]

I dont have mine on either. So far so good. I'm thinking that it helps keep the engine bay a little cleaner because it would help keep dirt/mud and things like that from slashing up inside. Other than that, I dont think it really serves a purpose. I could be wrong though. Either way, I tossed mine in the garbage.

[gciccol]

Thanks for the quick reply.

You're right, it is a piece of garbage. I'm just concerned because Chrysler wouldn't spend an extra 10 cents if they didn't have to so they must have had some logical reason to include the covers.........I'm thinking protecting the electronics.

I think I'll take a shot and keep it off. Take care.

[Big Daddy D 300C]

No problem. Just think of the other useless crap they put on these cars and the bad decisions the made. Like taking off the strut covers on the later models to save a few bucks. What was that all about?

[GoofyTimL]

The skirt should go "above" the lower lip of the fascia, so if it's hanging down after a little while, I suspect you have it installed incorrectly. The screw/bolts are supposed to go through the lower, rear edge of the fascia and into the metal clips of the skirt so that they should screw down tight... mine do. Haven't had a problem on the 300C with them going loose. On the MSRT I actually had my body shop "stiffen" the fascia to help hold it straighter regardless of whether the skirt was tight or not. The skirt alone wasn't doing it and when you had the right angle the lower surface of the fascia looked warped.

The benefit of having the skirt in place is to force frontal air through the radiator vs. dumping it down below the car from the pressure build up in front of the radiator/car... and it also help direct captured air up to a CAI (if you have one) when you remove only the lower side baffle on the driver's side.

But no, you won't hurt anything by not having it in place... although I would expect some flexing (and possibly flapping) of the lower fascia at speed without the skirt present.