Hi folks. I have a 2000 Octy SLZ TDi (110) and the damn plastic under tray came off last night, it was scraping along the road nicely. It seems the actual fixings in the plastic on the car are broken, as the try itself is OK.

I undid the only nut left this morning and threw it in the boot - i have a local garage at work looking at it on Monday!

Question is: will it be ok driving it? Or in this rain am i risking alternator damamge? I seem to remember last time i serviced it, the alternator was very close to the bottom of the engine.

None of the older cars used to have splash guards and had alternators fitted

I think the splash guard serves a noise reduction purpose equally as much as splash protection. If you're driving for a short period of time I wouldn't worry about it; but if you're likely to be driving down a dirty farm track or a dirty country lane I wouldn't advise it

I drove my Ibiza TDI without it for 30,000 miles. The service manager at the dealer said that on the Inca vans that were in a lot for oild changes because of the mileage they got thrown away.

They're more of a noise insulation thing.

As others, it's intended as sound insulation, and helps keep the engine bay clean, but there's no actual reason to keep it fitted.

I have had to run without mine on my Fabia and although it can offer a bit of protection it isnt needed strictly. It helps keep the noise down (v slightly) and keep the engine bay cleaner, plus it may offer a bit of protection on normal roads I guess. Also possibly smoothes the underneath of the car vs it not being on, but I doubt it makes enough difference to worry about

Not ran one on the mongrel for about 60,000 miles.

My car never had one!

My car never had one!

I don't think vrs's had them anyway, we just get the little one at the front

The top is for the vrs and the bottom for the derv variety