Anyone know what this is?

[Silentnoise713]

I notice this thing hanging out from the hole in the bottom engine tray cover yesterday. I haven't put the car on jacks to remove the tray cover to look but since the piece has come off completely, I wouldn't be able to notice what is missing anyway (not familiar with the engine bay/layout). Anyone familiar with this? It has an aluminum feel, sorta of like the fins of a radiator. Perhaps a seal/gasket/liner that goes somewhere? All else if fine with the car. I suppose it could be debris that I picked up from the road but I'm usually careful not to go over stuff on the road. Also, the way how it was hanging out of the hole (a good amount of it was inserted upwards into the engine bay), I don't think it was road debris. I had to give it a good yank (b/c of angel it was stuck and I didn't have reach) to pull the rest out. Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[lomatic]

My guess would be fins from an AC condenser. Seems to thin to be part of a radiator. And judging by where it is, I would also say it's debris from the road. But I would check your's just to see. It should be pretty obvious.

 

[thaxman]

Going with road debris. +1 its probably a condensor fin, but SOMEONE ELSE'S, not yours. Seen any accidents lately?

 

[skyhawk]

Going with road debris. +1 its probably a condensor fin, but SOMEONE ELSE'S, not yours. Seen any accidents lately?

I agree. I just did an oil change today, and I looked for similar part from under engine after the black plastic cover was removed. Could not find anything similar to the one in picture.

 

[Silentnoise713]

I agree. I just did an oil change today, and I looked for similar part from under engine after the black plastic cover was removed. Could not find anything similar to the one in picture.

Thanks skyhawk for keeping an eye out for this. (hippy) It just seem strange how the piece was sticking outward towards the front. If it was sticking out backwards, I could understand.

I am due for my 1st maintenance (30K) in about 1K miles. Will be my first time taking a thorough look see of the undercarriage.

 

[markuszoom5]

Definitely not yours.

Thanks skyhawk for keeping an eye out for this. (hippy) It just seem strange how the piece was sticking outward towards the front. If it was sticking out backwards, I could understand.

I am due for my 1st maintenance (30K) in about 1K miles. Will be my first time taking a thorough look see of the undercarriage.

I once had a Jetta 2006 and I was in Ikea NJ when I started hearing a weird noise like a whoosh every time I accelerated. I did not know what it was until some guy at a parking lot said hey dude you have a branch stuck underneath. The way it was stuck was unbelievable. It was like somebody jammed it up really good. It took me 15 min to get it out. So yea chance dealt a weird card and made the piece of metal get stuck under your car. You would be surprised what forces are at play whey you are going 60mph.