short of walking through all the local yards, anyone know where i can get the two shields/guards located uner the motor?

 

$$$ at the dealer, or find a yard that will pull them for you

 

walk through the local yards. best way I've found them. usually you can piece together a set from the cars in the yard. 1-2 off each car, some won't have any, some will be cracked, etc..

They're almost $330 for the set of 4 from the dealer (both sides and bottom), but I picked up 3 of the 4 at a junkyard a few months ago for $15.

 

you can also get some second gen guards to fit. They're not perfect (do leave a few exposed areas and the holes don't line up exactly, but it's better than going without any guards especially with winter coming. I haven't been able to find a junkyeard with a 3rd gen around here to pull from, but 2nd gens are a dime a dozen.

 

ive been going w/o them cuz im not gunna pay the stealership $70 for just one of them. i havnt noticed anything bad, ive been told if i hit a puddle thats too big my belts on my alternator will be loud.... ive driven in the rain since and no problems, but i am planning on getting some before winter

 

it causes other strange problems.. like tearing CV boots every 6 months, engine bay getting full of gunk, which causes a handfull of other problems... which snowballs into a crappy car. leave the shields on there.