Every now and then on starting we get a very loud rattle for a second or so. It also seems to happen when reversing up hill initially or generally under sudden engine load. Had a look and poke around under the car as it sounded like thin metal clanging which I assume would be the heat shield.

Drivers side is fine on the central prop shaft section but the passenger side seems much looser along with numerous tears about 1" in length. Presumably when loading is happening these then vibrate against each other?

Haven't been able to reproduce it reliably stationary so hard to confirm, but what's the best course of action here? Bend the tears apart so they don't join? Cut them wider? Glue it somehow?

Here's an image for reference of the offending area

Click image to enlarge

price up a new shield duckworths?

may find it the economic solution?


or whack some tech screws into the underbody avoiding brake pipes wiring looms etc At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I have had this a couple of times on an FL2 usually as a result of some off road activity. I just bent it back out of the way. Interestingly my daughter had exactly the same on her Renault Megane (which never goes off road!) and also the wife's Peugeot 207. In both of these cases a fixing had come adrift. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

I kept getting exactly as you describe, car went back to dealers a few times to have gravel removed from the heat shield, really annoying design flaw. For some reason the dealer would not replace it, they would just bend it all over the shop making it look a mess. I expect yours is ripped/adjusted for similar reasons.

Aha!

Checking the online service record for our car, it seems there was a mystery service entry 6 months before we bought it which just stated "GRAVEL"

So maybe they did this then, sadly that was 2.5 years ago so I don't think I can argue to case.