I pulled off the splash guard on the front right side of the car (near oil filter) becasue it had cracked and was flapping as I drove. Do I need to replace it? I know for some cars it's needed for airflow to cool certain parts, but it doesn't seem like that for us.

 

Im interested in knowing the answer to this too, I have my splashguards off also. I don't really think it makes that much of a difference.

 

You don't need to replace them, most Maximas don't even have them.

 

I don't know whether most of them have them or not, but mine does. I would suggest getting some from a junkyard and slapping them back on. It's probably not a huge deal, but it does keep some of the road slop off the belts and pulleys, which may help them last longer...just my opinion.

 

U guys ar kidding....right? U defintly need the one on the right.......first splash to the alternator & ur buying a new one.........

 

Then how do you explain the third gens that don't come with flaps? I thought the splash guards are just so you don't kick up dirt and crap to the side panels on your car. I know that in winter when the roads are all salty and dirty and crap, all that stuff gets kicked up onto the sides of the car and leaves long brown streak marks.

Also if one splash kills the alternator then how is it able to be hosed down when the engine is washed and still work? Just curious.

And how do you explain that almost no one here has splash guards on their car?

 

I took mine off about 4 months ago to work on the car and all the bolts busted off inside so I just left them off. No problems with it
about the only thing I would worry about is snow.

 

i do. you guys talking about that plastic piece under the engine bay right? well, nissan put it there for a reason. i wouldnt take it off. it does protect the engine from crap on the road like water and what-not. for example, u ran over road-kill. would you rather hose down that plastic piece of pry dead meat off your engine?

 

jagmax - you're getting confused with mudflaps I think

the splash guards aren't 100% necessary but will help keep things clean and free of debris

 

oops

 

I pulled off the splash guard on the front right side of the car (near oil filter) becasue it had cracked and was flapping as I drove. Do I need to replace it? I know for some cars it's needed for airflow to cool certain parts, but it doesn't seem like that for us.


The inner splash guard I think he is refering to is the one just to the left of the right front wheel.
Very inportant splash guard. Keeps grap away from belts and altenator!!
Spend a few bucks.....Buy one fron Keleb at.......http://www.courtesyparts.com/

 

Currently I dont have the side (somewhat surround axles) Splash Gaurds, or the Bottom (you can see them by looking down past the radiator fans) Splash Gaurds on. I have been meaning to put them back on, but would like to do some suspension work soon so have just neglected to do so.

Last weekend we had some of the worse rain I've seen in a long time up here (2-3 + inches of rain in certian parts of the highway, fastest windshield wiper setting wasnt fast enough, etc). My altenators fine, but I wish I put them on just for peace of mind.

 

mine are off but i want to get them back on sometime. when i do put them on i'm going to drill all new holes and get some nuts and bolts that won't rust like the junk ones nissan used.

 

okay, time to go to the junkyard and spend a few bucks...nissan dealer wanted $50

thanks for the replies

 

If you still have the old shield, you can probably just repair it. I just did some minor repars to mine, and JB Weld epoxy bonds great to the shield material. If it's a large tear (sounds that way if flapping), you can JB weld on metal strip inside that overlaps the crack.

I think those shields are important for shielding components from dirt and contaminants after closely inspecting them. Not just alternator and belts, but they even appear to give CV joints partial shielding against junk spashed up off the road - and winter road salt can really be nasty. I even repainted mine both sides to reduce further deteoriation.

 

repair won't work. during the process of flapping, I guess it rubbed up against my wheel or something becasue it's chewed up a bit. A new used one should be fine for a couple of bucks. Thanks

 

Just to settle this issue once and for all, you do need splash guards. Last week here in New York it rained pretty hard, I went through a puddle around 4inches deep without my guards on and two days later my alternators fried. Only two months after being replaced for the first time.

 

the mechanic took mine off and now my engine bay gets dirty real quick

 

did you buy one of them "lifetime warranty" rebuilds?

 

I actually went to my mechanic to get it done so I really can't say.

 

The warranty I have is a limited lifetime, so I just had to pay for labor.

 

Hehehehehe

 

havent had any splash gaurds on since i did the tranny rebiuld a year ago and dont plan on putting them back on my altenators still fine but i will admit we went through a water filled ditch in my buddys jeep and the water was at the headlights and the jeep has 38's so it was deep and on the way home it died and i think you all know what caused it