Failing Heat Shield? Here’s what to watch out for.
While most heat shields will last the life of the vehicle, they can still be susceptible to failure. Heat shields wrap around the exhaust manifold; they're designed to direct heat out of the engine the exhaust and protect vulnerable engine components from under the hood and potentially causing damage. With the extreme stress they're under, they can sometimes encounter issues that require service—or even replacement.
Usually, a bad or failing heat shield will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential issue. These might include:
A burning smell coming from the engine.
When the heat shield is damaged, one of the first symptoms is typically excessive heat from the engine bay–heat that can cause peripheral parts to melt. As the heat shield becomes more damaged, it won't properly contain the high temperatures and direct them out through the exhaust, leaving surrounding parts of your engine vulnerable to damage. If the temperature becomes too extreme, it can warp or melt plastic parts of the engine, or cause belts to break. If you start to notice a burning smell coming from your vehicle, or observe that the hood of the engine is too hot to touch, you should make an appointment with your mechanic as soon as possible.Rattling or scraping noises.
A rattling exhaust can be both annoying and nerve-racking. If the heat shield becomes loose or broken, it will begin to vibrate and might produce a rattling sound. It could simply be that the hardware is loose and needs to be tightened up. But if rust or other damage is causing the heat shield to deteriorate your engine is in danger of overheating.Read more about how to fix a rattling exhaust.
If the engine overheats too much, you might even find melted plastic parts under the hood—all because of the failing heat shield.
At V&F
Keeping up with regular maintenance can help to extend the life of your vehicle—and prevent costly repairs in the future. V&F Auto has been serving the Western Mass community since 1988. As a family-owned and operated business, we treat our customers like family. Our auto repair services are backed by an industry-leading 3-year / 36,000-mile warranty on parts and labor—and our team will go above and beyond to meet your needs. Call us at (413)314-2280 or schedule an appointment online.
This article was originally published in May 2020.