XTR Under tray

[Hardnut]

Hello All

After opinions please. 
Car just had Cam belt and aux belt changed, Car did have a metal under tray which i like the idea of as i can go off road at times, while in the country lanes. Had the odd bump from below at times, and number of large puddles. 
Garage took it off saying it broken/damage saying most cars don't have them, which i know. 
What opinions of having one to not having one. 
Thinking if its fine might get it back and fit it back on.

[Gravity]

Without an undertray engines and components are easier to work on. They are often a pain to refit once they have been removed, especially if damaged. Makes you wonder why your garage is reluctant to put your undertray back, doesn't it?

But manufacturers fit undertrays for several reasons - particularly to avoid electrical sensors, plugs/sockets and other connectors getting splashed, wet and corroded. It's very rare that a car breaks down mechanically nowdays - breakdowns are nearly always due to failed electrical components. Protect them as much as you can.

Can you see a downside to refitting your undertray? If not, then refit it. It was there for a purpose, after all.

Gravity

[geoff]

One of the main reasons for manufacturers fitting undertrays is the need to meet noise polution standards.

[Lighty]

There Is no way that an xtr undertray could get damaged that badly, its like an iron road grid & is very sturdy. I would go & get it back, I imagine they are expensive.
Get them to show you what is the issue .

[Iank]

I reckon they sheered the bolts off when removing, and didn’t want the hassle of getting broken bolt or bolts out

[ffrenchie]

If you took the car in with it on it should come back in the same condition. They have left it off for their convenience, go back and tell them you want it refitted. The clips are the most fragile part and need replacing occasionally.

[dumdum]

I reckon they sheered the bolts off when removing, and didn’t want the hassle of getting broken bolt or bolts out

If they did I’d expect a decent garage to say so... but I’d also expect a bill if they were to remedy it as with the best will in the world sometimes bolts snap and it’s not the garages fault if the odd one snaps, they are exposed to road salt and water 24/7, same as if a head bolt shears as you remove it from the block, if it picks up there nothing a mechanic can do about it so I’d expect a bill for that too, sucks but it’s not the garages fault

But I’d also agree with mark, if that understray got damaged (its 2mm plate!) I’ll eat my hat!

[dumdum]

If you took the car in with it on it should come back in the same condition. They have left it off for their convenience, go back and tell them you want it refitted. The clips are the most fragile part and need replacing occasionally.

It’s bolted being a big metal affair, not a plastic clipped up jobby 

[ffrenchie]

If you took the car in with it on it should come back in the same condition. They have left it off for their convenience, go back and tell them you want it refitted. The clips are the most fragile part and need replacing occasionally.

It’s bolted being a big metal affair, not a plastic clipped up jobby 

Even more reason to want it back. Does it have spire nuts in the subframe to hold it or captive nuts and if so no excuse for not refitting ?

[Multispacer]

If you took the car in with it on it should come back in the same condition. They have left it off for their convenience, go back and tell them you want it refitted. The clips are the most fragile part and need replacing occasionally.

It’s bolted being a big metal affair, not a plastic clipped up jobby 

Even more reason to want it back. Does it have spire nuts in the subframe to hold it or captive nuts and if so no excuse for not refitting ?

A mix of both, the captive nuts/clip nuts are attached on the outer edges to parts like the plastic wheel arch connectors plus some larger bolts to the subframe. I found when having to release the wheel arch liners for access that the bolts and clip nuts that attach the metal under tray to the plastic wheel arch liners were all corroded and had to be ground/cut off and then new bolts and clip nuts fitted [with a good amount of anti-seize compound so if they needed to be released in the future it wouldn't be such a pain]

The metal under tray is extremely strong and heavy, so don't know how it would have been damaged. It also has nicely placed cut-outs to get to both the engine oil sump plug and the gearbox oil sump plug which is why it doesn't normally need to be removed.