mp3 heat shield

[bigbillsfan]

i was looking at my engine today and i noticed something that i never saw before. the heat shield that goes over the exsaust(spelling?) manifold has 3 bolts holding the top on, well mine is missing one of these bolts the far left one. you can see a mark on the heat shield like there was one in there at one time but it was removed, and i didn't do it. i just recently had my oil changed at the dealer, is there any reason they would have removed it? does anyone else with mp3 have this bolt missing? i know it's not a big deal but it is wierd.

 

[bigbillsfan]

sorry i meant the far right bolt.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Big Bill, for some reason, which mystifies us all, that bolt comes lose and falls out of MOST all Protege's.....not jus the MP3, but the P-5's and the others as well....many many people have experienced this. Just get you a new one and put it in and tighten in up, then check it from time to time.

 

[bigbillsfan]

really? that's wierd i've only got 10K on my mp3, when does it usually work its way loose?

 

[MP3-Owner]

Mine only had about 6,000 miles on it when I noticed my bolt was missing.
It is very wierd that this is happening....Very Wierd Indeed!

 

[LittleRedWagon5]

Heat Sheild

My heat sheild has a small crack in it where the left upper bolt is. It's a hairline crack and is only a 1/16 of an inch long but it's still a crack. I was gonna get the damn thing polished but now I think not.

 

[scott42]

Mine was missing after about 300 miles ...the others were loose, sounded like s***, all loose and what not...:bs:
crappy QC at build if you ask me.

 

[Sir Nuke]

well mine is missing....and its been missing for a while....I think the first time I noticed it missing was when I changed my oil at 3000 miles....so who knows when it fell out.....the others are not loose.....and my wifes P-5 still has all of them.....go figure.

 

[Kooldino]

I gotta go check mine during lunch

 

[Sir Nuke]

was at our meet two weekends ago and this subject came up....and mp3girly goes and opens her hood and guess what....hers was missing too.......seems to be fairly common.

 

[ARD MP5]

Yup mine was gone too. Plus I get this annoying little rattle from where the damn sunroof control switches are. The car has subtle issues that's for sure. Like the engine ticking and all these other little noises.

It's a lease and a commuter for me. I expect to get what you pay for.

Rishie