Anyone else being driven mad at motorway speeds by the incessant rustling of these thin plastic cubes molded onto the inside top face of the plastic sump guard?  Mine had some gravel in the gaps between the"cuby doobries" which made the car sound like the engine was about to come up through the top of the bonnet.  A quick pit stop revealed all was ok and it was the sump guard plastic causing the noise.  Gravel emptied out after removing and cleaning the guard but the damned thing still rustles from about 60mph and gets louder at 70.  An obvious cure would be to (over a few hours!) cut the bleedin' things off.  I'm not sure what they do...are they there to help trap oil drips from a fast escape or to break up air flow or what?  Don't remember this issue with my 2004 VRS at all (current one is a 2007 VRS).

I ripped mine off, its either sound deadening or insulation I would say.

I just run the plastic guard now, as it keeps the engine bay cleaner

I ripped mine off, its either sound deadening or insulation I would say.

I just run the plastic guard now, as it keeps the engine bay cleaner

 

When you say "...ripped mine off" do you mean just the plastic cubes, but kept the plastic guard in place?  That's what I'm thinking of doing myself.

I'm pretty sure the purpose of the plastic cubes is sound deadening, which is quite ironic considering you are getting noise from them

It's a joke. If they'd been better made, there wouldn't be a problem but they're crisp packet thin so crinkle up and rustle just as M-way speeds are reached.  Out with the Stanley knife it is then.  I can fit some sound deadening if needed by other means.

Edited 18 August, 201411 yr by SEVrs

No under tray on mine, would like one to keep engine bay cleaner but it got broken when I got stuck in snow once :(

I had to take my under tray off yesterday at a service station on the m5.

I was travelling back to Nottingham from Plymouth and I could hear an irritating noise all of a sudden (more so the quicker I go) and thought it was something to do with my tyre at first but the missus said she could feel something under her feet on the floor so I thought under tray.

 

I pulled in at a service station and seen it was hanging down and scraping on the floor. Yes it was one of those times when you don't have tools handy so thankfully the petrol station had some torx bits I was able to borrow. I was tempted to chuck the under tray in the bin but I ended up bringing it back.

Just seen pattern under trays without the silly plastic squares on evilbay for a reasonable price:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A1-SEAT-IBIZA-SKODA-FABIA-VW-POLO-FOX-ENGINE-COVER-UNDERTRAY-150204-/111302975081?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3AFabia&hash=item19ea2c9e69

 

Could be worth replacing the standard one with one of these.

I have removed my plastic undertray and will not be refitting it, it makes no difference to MPG, performance or noise, I suspect it's there to make life awkward for DIY servicing and to catch any oil seepage.

I have removed my plastic undertray and will not be refitting it, it makes no difference to MPG, performance or noise, I suspect it's there to make life awkward for DIY servicing and to catch any oil seepage.

 

My thoughts exactly.  I would like to keep one on (a plain one without the plastic cubes) just to keep the worst of road spray from the underside of the engine compartment.

When you say "...ripped mine off" do you mean just the plastic cubes, but kept the plastic guard in place?  That's what I'm thinking of doing myself.

 

Yeah that

 

Deffo keeps the under bonnet area cleaner

My thoughts exactly.  I would like to keep one on (a plain one without the plastic cubes) just to keep the worst of road spray from the underside of the engine compartment.

 

Why bother, the engine is waterproof, wouldn't be much bloody use if it wasn't! Mine is petrol and it still doesn't care about having an undertray.

I would bother though because I don't want winter road grime plastering things like the alternator, etc.  Under trays are a good idea to keep the crud from the engine compartment.  I hate seeing neglected, corroded casings and peripherals because of no under tray.  A personal thing, but they serve a good purpose  .

MPI models don't even have them, just a narrow plastic shelf type thing near the front. Makes it a damn sight easier to change the oil. Having said that - if there was meant to be one fitted I would want it on.