Exhaust / Gas tank Heatshield
Exhaust / Gas tank Heatshield
For the archives - This effects 2003 to 2007 Vibe and Matrix. Under the car, beneath the rear passenger seating area hangs the gas tank and exhaust. Their is a heat shield between them which is held on with four small bolts. Three of them are in the front and screw into the car's body, the single rear screw threads into a plastic block which "clips" onto one of the gas tank straps. This plastic block is prone to failure, the nut may tend to pull out of the plastic block. After this happens the heatshield will rattle and bounce off the exhaust. The plastic fastener is not on the fiche and is no longer available. It has been replaced by a redesigned strap which has the nut welded to the strap and is all steel. The Toyota dealership charged $70 for the part.Installation was easy. Jack up the car or use ramps, etc... Remove the screws for the heatshield. Place a jack and a piece of plywood under the gas tank to support it.Remove the old gas tank strap. (move the heatshield around as necessary)Install the new strap.If you lost the OEM screws for the heat shield, they're all M5X1X10mmIf you have a welder, you could easily weld your own fastener onto the old strap. Be sure to remove the strap first since the tank is plastic and the current from the welder could damage the cars electronics.