Cracked Underbody

Gall1987

Gall1987

Gall1987

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1 Jan 2009
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441
I have just been checking to see if my car has an oil leak and just before I jacked it up I have noticed that the underbody is slighty cracked near the edge by the Driver's door.

It has not gone right through and it looks as though it has been jacked up incorrectly.

Could this cause any problems or will it be ok to leave it?
 
From what I can gather from the pics, that certainly looks very dodgy. Steel wouldn't crack like that from dodgy jacking it would just buckle in. Get it welded up at very least, personally I'd not want to keep that car.
 
Here on the pictures on Flickr. So hopefully a little clearer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44132408@N06/

It went straight through an MOT a few months ago and I've always gone to the same garage. They're normally great and didn't mention anything, so it couldn't of been then.

I did go over a huge pot hole a few weeks ago and thought that I'd at least buckled the alloy but I couldn't see any damage. Could this of caused it?

Would welding be enough to sort it?
 
Looks like a stress fracture, almost exactly like you get in aluminium when it starts to split, how very odd, are you sure this is actually the metal and not a stick on sound deadening underseal panel?
 
If you weld it up it will more than likely break even easier with the Heat Affected zone becoming a lot more brittle.

Quite out of focus but looks like a significant crack.

Not good!
 
Firestar_3x said:
Looks like a stress fracture, almost exactly like you get in aluminium when it starts to split, how very odd, are you sure this is actually the metal and not a stick on sound deadening underseal panel?
Click to expand...

It doesn't seem like it's steel. It doesn't feel hard enough to be steel.

Do you think that this will get worse over time if left? Ideally I want to try and fix it or at least stop it getting worse.

It's not a particularly old car so I was shocked when I saw it. I don't really want to take it a garage and get ripped off, so any advise beforehand which be much appreciated.
 
Odds are is simply a stick on sound deadening panel, can you peel the edge away with your fingernails?

If it is a sound deadening panel simply fill the gap with some under body spray after checking the metal underneath hasn't split.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Odds are is simply a stick on sound deadening panel, can you peel the edge away with your fingernails?

If it is a sound deadening panel simply fill the gap with some under body spray after checking the metal underneath hasn't split.
Click to expand...

You can peal away the black on the outside but it's quite tough. It looks like white/clear hard plastic that's split. It doesn't seem like metal, just really hard plastic. It the metal underneth there?

Would you say it's still safe to drive until I get it sorted?

Something like Hammerite Underbody?
 
I'd say its simply a panel thats protecting the metal underneath, clearly if it was metal you couldn't move it with your fingers, the only thing you need to watch out for now is the metal will be exposed to the elements, you need to underseal it, never used hammerite underbody so i don't know how good it is.

Car is safe to drive, only danger is to the metal underneath getting soaked with water and starting to rust.

Its also a job you can do yourself, no need to pay someone to do this.

*Edit: i would however be looking to see why its split like that.
 
I'll get it undersealed as soon as possible. It doesn't look as though any metal is actually exposed as the plastic is still together and not fully split so I don't think it'll be to bad. Although some water may get in.

It might even be possible to push the two bits of plastic back together before coating with underseal.

Slighty relieved now as it doesn't seem as bad!
 
I would do one last thing, if possible go inside the car and lift the carpet over the cracked area and check its 100% not cracked underneath.

But yes if that was split metal then its not a good sign at all!
 
what car is it? did you buy it from a private sale (if so is it hpi clear?) if you got it from a dealership, take it back to them or the MOT centre.

do you use the car for towing?
 
cm1179 said:
what car is it? did you buy it from a private sale (if so is it hpi clear?) if you got it from a dealership, take it back to them or the MOT centre.

do you use the car for towing?
Click to expand...

It's a 54 reg Focus. It was a private but well established Garage and I've owned it a few years now.

It's passed MOT's a 2 different garages so should be ok. We did get it HPI checked before we brought it and that came back clear. (I don't think I'd buy a car over 1k without doing that).

I think it's down to the pot hole that I went over a few weeks back as it was huge! I only really paid much attention to the wheels as I thought it was them and it was also wet at the time.

I've lifted the carpet up and the metal looks fine (thank god!), so it must just be the outer plastic panel?

I've given it a coat of Hammerite and I'll give it another coat before I drive it tomorrow.

I think I've been rather lucky! I thought the worst when I first saw it.
 
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