The plastic under cover cracked trying to get.

Tiny
ANONYMOUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 DODGE JOURNEY
  • 68,500 MILES
The plastic under cover cracked trying to get out of the ditch when the roads were slick. The ditch had a good groove in it where I had to rock back and forth trying to get out. Since then I hear my vehicle vibrating under the hood. I noticed a squeaking noise that comes and goes from the fan belt area. Nothing has came up on the dashboard indicating serious engine trouble.
I did get an oil change and the guy told me as long as nothing is leaking you're fine. BUT, the vibrating, rattle is bugging me. I would like to get rid of it and have a nice quiet vehicle again.
I'm thinking something, not so serious, is offline under the hood.
I look forward to your immediate reply. Thank you.
Monday, February 25th, 2013 AT 6:47 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
First you have to understand there are no warning lights related to mechanical damage. In particular, the Engine Computer monitors a lot of sensors and a lot of engine operating conditions. When it detects a problem it will store a diagnostic fault code, then it will turn on the Check Engine light only if that problem could adversely affect emissions. There's over 1000 potential fault codes and about half of them will not cause the light to turn on.

"the guy told me as long as nothing is leaking you're fine"

That is not the kind of reply I would expect from a professional, but I don't know what he found, if anything. Something could be shifted and rubbing on a radiator hose, and it WILL start to leak later. I'd hardly call that "fine". You are right to want to at least identify the cause so you can determine if it will cause trouble later. A lot of plastic shields and liners are held on with plastic rivets. Those rivets will break and relieve stress before those parts will break. All body shops have new rivets. Those shields can vibrate in the wind or from normal engine vibration. If you can't find anything loose or broken, visit a body shop. Those guys are real good at finding hidden damage, and at putting things back the way they are supposed to be.
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Monday, February 25th, 2013 AT 10:29 PM

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