There seems to be controversy over the rear back box heat shield. Mine fell off a few days ago due to rusted bolts and I just took the full thing off to stop it rattling as it was a Sunday night and I was due to make a long drive early on Monday.

There doesn’t seem to be anything happening at the moment, and I’ve researched online and people have said not replacing/re-attaching it is fine as it’s just added to the car as a requirement.

Do you think it’s worth me getting a new one put on or just leave it off?

Thanks

If it’s just rusted bolts can you not just get some new bolts and reattach it ? Maybe put some over sized washers in if the holes in the shield are now too big ?

I should have said that there’s no remnants of the screws either. There’s just nothing left, it’s all just crumbled away. To remove the heat shield I had to bend it to get it off so I’d need a new one if I was to replace it.

What would you do?

Go without.

Check proximity to other items..

Wiring..fuel lines.. etc

But it may well be it is just keeping heat from a steel panel.

The one on my panda did similar..

After 9 months off the car without issues.. I needed a new rear box.. so while access was 100% I then refitted the heat shield.. penny washers..!!

Charlie