Another Reason to ALWAYS Run the Undertray
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From: San Lorenzo, California
Another Reason to ALWAYS Run the Undertray
Two months ago, I had an incident that just provided another reason to always run the undertray...
I had changed my oil earlier in the day and had forgotten to put the undertray back on before lowering the car. I was busy, so I thought I would just put it back on the next day. Well, that night, I was enjoying a spirited drive down a canyon road, came around a corner and there was a huge rock in the middle of my lane. I had no time or room to try to avoid it, so I hit it smack on.
The rock somehow cleared the front lip and then snagged the line that runs between my dual 25-row oil coolers (Rotary Extreme kit). The rock then smashed the hell out of the underside fairing below the tranny and dented the muffler in the midpipe. Unfortunately, I was not able to pull over right away (no place to do so) and had to coast for a minute or two until I found a safe spot. My oil pressure was essentially zero but my "low oil" light didn't come on before I shut the car off. Once I got the car off, I got out and discovered that oil was EVERYWHERE. I got the car towed back to my house the next morning.
Once I finally got the motivation to pull the oil-soaked bumper off and assess the damage, my fears were realized. When the rock snagged the line, it ripped the fittings out of BOTH oil coolers. The passenger side cooler also had some coil damage -- I imagine the impact sent a pressure spike that blew out the cooler. There was oil EVERYWHERE, up in the headlight housings, throughout the entire bumper, all down the underside of the car, on the tires, in the wheelwells, you name it.
Here's some pics:
Bumper off to expose damage
Damaged fittings
Snagged line and an oily mess
Underside fairing smashed to hell
I should have everything back together tomorrow afternoon. I hope that I didn't experience any damage to my 2500-mile old new engine.
Costs so far:
2 new Earl's coolers: $350
new line and fittings: $140
tow: $150
Moral of story -- RUN YOUR UNDERTRAY.
I had changed my oil earlier in the day and had forgotten to put the undertray back on before lowering the car. I was busy, so I thought I would just put it back on the next day. Well, that night, I was enjoying a spirited drive down a canyon road, came around a corner and there was a huge rock in the middle of my lane. I had no time or room to try to avoid it, so I hit it smack on.
The rock somehow cleared the front lip and then snagged the line that runs between my dual 25-row oil coolers (Rotary Extreme kit). The rock then smashed the hell out of the underside fairing below the tranny and dented the muffler in the midpipe. Unfortunately, I was not able to pull over right away (no place to do so) and had to coast for a minute or two until I found a safe spot. My oil pressure was essentially zero but my "low oil" light didn't come on before I shut the car off. Once I got the car off, I got out and discovered that oil was EVERYWHERE. I got the car towed back to my house the next morning.
Once I finally got the motivation to pull the oil-soaked bumper off and assess the damage, my fears were realized. When the rock snagged the line, it ripped the fittings out of BOTH oil coolers. The passenger side cooler also had some coil damage -- I imagine the impact sent a pressure spike that blew out the cooler. There was oil EVERYWHERE, up in the headlight housings, throughout the entire bumper, all down the underside of the car, on the tires, in the wheelwells, you name it.
Here's some pics:
Bumper off to expose damage
Damaged fittings
Snagged line and an oily mess
Underside fairing smashed to hell
I should have everything back together tomorrow afternoon. I hope that I didn't experience any damage to my 2500-mile old new engine.
Costs so far:
2 new Earl's coolers: $350
new line and fittings: $140
tow: $150
Moral of story -- RUN YOUR UNDERTRAY.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,898
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From: Metairie, LA near new orleans
had a rock issue myself...broke part of my new undertray and dintted some other stuff on the way out! If the undertray wouldn't have been there I might have a lot mor damage!
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: South Eastern Mass.
You should get AAA too. Its like $40 a year and its unlimited tows for a gold member. Up to 150 Miles. I once did a 135 mile toe back from New England Drag way.
Conversation with tow guy went something like this...
Guy "Have you tried to jump it?"
Me "Ummm... the differential is dragging on the ground."
Guy "You have got plenty of gas right?"
Me " I don't know maybe we should check it out...I may have pumped in so much the diff is now dragging on the ground."
Me " or it could have been the 8,000RPM launch...HEHE."
Anyways Good luck
Conversation with tow guy went something like this...
Guy "Have you tried to jump it?"
Me "Ummm... the differential is dragging on the ground."
Guy "You have got plenty of gas right?"
Me " I don't know maybe we should check it out...I may have pumped in so much the diff is now dragging on the ground."
Me " or it could have been the 8,000RPM launch...HEHE."
Anyways Good luck
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Thread Starter
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From: San Lorenzo, California
Well, I guess cleaning up oil is better than cleaning up rotting snake....
Oh, here's a picture of the rock in question....I actually drove back with my friend and found it. You can see the black impact marks...
Oh, here's a picture of the rock in question....I actually drove back with my friend and found it. You can see the black impact marks...
Thread Starter
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From: San Lorenzo, California
Originally Posted by Brent 94
This is a stupid question but what do you have your jackstands on?
Thread Starter
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From: San Lorenzo, California
Originally Posted by BlueRex
You pull your undertray when changing your oil?
Originally Posted by rynberg
Oh, here's a picture of the rock in question....I actually drove back with my friend and found it. You can see the black impact marks...
That would have literaly torn the front lip right off my car. Hopefully the damage wont put you back to much, good luck bud.
. it couldve went up and smash through your windsheild and hit your ***** =P
I may have missed it, but I assume the coolers aren't repairable. Where is your insurance at with all this? I know those coolers aren't cheap and sometimes Ins. companies baulk at the aftermarket stuff. I'm glad your alright and were smart enough NOT to end up in a ditch (or worse) over it. But please tell us that your covered.....or your so wealthy you don't care. 