Plastic Piece Dragging Under Your Car?
You’re driving your car and suddenly you hear the sound of plastic pieces dragging under your car. Read on to learn how to identify the problem, assess its severity, and determine the best course of action to get back on the road safely.
Identify the source of the grinding sound
If you hear the sound of plastic pieces being dragged under your car, you should first find the source of the sound. It could be one of the many plastic parts underneath, and some vehicles have more of them than others. The most common are:
Underbody Protection – These plastic panels protect the underside of your car from road debris and improve aerodynamics. If they become loose or damaged, they can drag on the ground and even make a whistling noise as air passes over them while you’re driving.
Bumper Covers – The plastic covers on your front and rear bumpers can come off and drag on the road.
Wheel Arch or Fender Liners – These plastic liners fit into the wheel wells and protect the fenders from dirt kicked up by your tires. If they become damaged or loose, they can make a squeaking noise. To find out what’s causing the grinding noise, you’ll need to look under the car. People who own vehicles with high ground clearance, like pickup trucks or SUVs, will find this much easier than those in sporty vehicles with a lower ride height. Here’s how to stay safe:
Find a level place to park your car, like a driveway or parking lot.
Engage the parking brake while you inspect to keep your car from rolling side-to-side. Lie on the floor and use a flashlight to look for any hanging plastic pieces or damage. Be sure to check the front and rear bumpers, wheel arches and center of the vehicle.
Determine the Severity
Once you’ve identified the source of the grinding noise, you’ll need to assess how serious the problem actually is. There are two main categories of problems: minor and major.
Minor Problems
Less serious problems are those that don’t pose an immediate threat to the safety or performance of your vehicle. However, they may cause inconvenience or embarrassment to you, your passengers and those around you while you’re driving. For small, non-critical plastic parts, if something like a fender or skid plate is sagging slightly but not touching the ground (unless going over a speed bump or something), you may not need to address it right away.
If the rubbed part is not affecting your steering or braking and there is no risk of it coming off completely, you may be able to continue driving carefully until you have a chance to fix the problem.
Serious Issues
If a serious issue occurs, it should be addressed immediately as it may no longer be safe to continue driving the vehicle.
For larger plastic parts, if the vehicle drags on the ground, such as a critical part of a bumper cover or skid plate, it could damage other components or pose a danger to other vehicles on the road.
If the worn part comes off completely, you may lose control of your vehicle or obstruct other motorists, causing an accident. If it’s a minor issue, a temporary solution may be able to fix it. However, if it’s a major issue, don’t drive your car until the problem is fixed.
Temporary Solutions for Minor Issues
If you’ve determined that the dragging plastic part is more of a nuisance than anything, there are a few temporary solutions you can try to secure the part and minimize further damage.
Secure it with cable ties or tape
A quick and easy solution is to use a cable tie or tape to secure the loose plastic piece to a sturdy part of the chassis. If done correctly, this will prevent the piece from dragging on the floor and potentially causing further damage. Please note that this is only a temporary solution and the problem component will need to be properly reinstalled or (if damaged) replaced.
Remove the part
In some cases, you may only need to completely remove the damaged plastic part if it is not essential to the functionality or safety of your vehicle.
For example, if a small section of a fender liner has come loose and is dragging, you may be able to cut away the damaged section without affecting the effectiveness of the entire panel (tin snips work well). However, some plastic parts may play a more important role than you think, so be careful when removing parts.
Remember: Even if you are able to temporarily solve the problem and stop the grinding, it is still a good idea to take your car to a mechanic to have it inspected and even repaired properly. The engineers who built your car put that piece of plastic there for a reason.
Fix Serious Problems
If you determine that the abrasive plastic part is very serious, you should address it immediately.
Don’t Drive Anymore
Do not continue driving if the friction of the plastic part is causing serious damage or endangering your ability to safely control the vehicle. Continuing to drive with a serious problem could lead to an accident, injury, or serious damage to vehicle parts.
Call a Tow Truck
If it is unsafe to drive (for example, if the bumper is dragging), it is best to have the vehicle towed to a qualified mechanic or repair facility. Many car insurance policies include roadside assistance and towing coverage. Check with your provider to see if this applies to you. If not, you may need to arrange for a private tow truck to transport your vehicle.
Repair or Replace the Damaged Component
Once your vehicle is at the shop or dealership, a professional technician will assess the damage and recommend the appropriate course of action. In most cases, this will involve replacing the damaged plastic component, although repair may be possible in some cases.
Depending on the extent of the damage and the specific part involved, this repair could be relatively simple and inexpensive, or it may require more extensive work.
