Had my car in for an adjustment to a newly installed serpentine belt (it was squealing briefly on startup). As the mechanic drove the car into the garage, I noticed something hanging down from the underside approximately midway (front-to-back) on the car. Looked similar to those plastic pieces at the front of many vehicles that I see all booger-ed up from pulling over parking blocks, curbs, and such.

I asked them to check out this hanging piece while the car was being worked on.

When they brought the car out after adjusting the belt, the piece was no longer hanging, and I asked the service writer what the story was on that piece.

He told me it was just a splash guard, half of which had been missing. He told the mechanic to reattach it if possible, remove it otherwise.

What is this piece, and should it concern me that it is now either missing or half of it is secured, the other half missing?

I've had the car about three weeks, now, other than the belt, a tire, and brakes, it needed no major work, seems to be running great (50k miles, now).

Thanks.

Caruso