So was driving along today and heard an odd sound like metal rattling. I stopped but could not see what it was. No warning lights on the car at all. Went a few more miles and this piece of metal fell off from under the engine.

 

Part number is 5Q0 407 720 A.  If I google search I find this -  where the part is part number 9.

 

Would love to know peoples thoughts. I have contacted the dealer about getting the car booked in but wondering if I should drive the car to the dealer or call the recovery.

It’s a heat shield for the inboard CV joint (gearbox end) it looks like it bolts on using the bolts that hold the joint on... personally I would not be driving it with two bolts missing, the other 4 bolts may well also be lose meaning the driveshaft will have a mind of it’s own and cause lots of damage.

 

Of course the other 4 bolts may well be tight and it will be OK, but I wouldn’t take the chance.

Edited 7 May, 20179 yr by Gizmo68

Item 4 in that picture is what holds the driveshaft on, item 10 is holding the shield. No issue to drive it.

What Wino says. 

 

I wouldn't expect it to be rotating with the driveshaft. 

Not sure why I thought a heat shield would rotate anyway   

 

 

Thanks for the comments all. So OK to drive to the dealer.

 

I guess the bolts just vibrated loose or broke off. Anybody hear of a part like this coming off before?

Car is going into the dealers on Wednesday, so I will keep you all updated with what that say. I do plan to drive the car in dealer said it should be OK (and thread here gave me confidence it is OK)

 

I am still in hope it was just the bolts that came undone and no further damage has been done. Possibly I am being over optimistic???

 

How many miles do you have on the car? Seems ridiculous to see parts just unscrew themselves. Did you have any sort of servicing around the gearbox?

7 hours ago, ionelmc said:

How many miles do you have on the car? Seems ridiculous to see parts just unscrew themselves. Did you have any sort of servicing around the gearbox?

 

Car has done a little over 2,500 miles. I have had no servicing or any work done to the car, the car is only 4 months old.

Unsettling news. Ask the dealer to tighten all the screws in the car. It may seem like a ridiculous request but if that temp shield falls off so easy only god knows what's next.

Car went in today and have it back now. They have rescrewed the heat shield back on, and torqued it up. Thier assesment is either bolts were not tight from the factory, or a bolt failed.

 

They provided a video of them reviewing the underside of the car and no damage has been done.

 

Not great that it happened but the dealer was excellent.