Part name?

[billingw@comcas]

2000 Avalon. What is the part name and function of the black plastic shield that attaches below the front bumper? That is, the one that scrapes when you enter/leave a drive with a larger-than-normal drop-off? Mine has broken off. Thanks.

[avalonshoe]

thats like an underbody splash gaurd, im not sure what the official name for it is. it serves to protect road dirt and water getting into your engine bay. so when u hit a big puddle, your car won't stall as easily.

i think it also serves as a shroud to channel air into the radiator. mine cracked, but i epoxied it back.

[ChiTDI]

Before they added the "bib", or front splash shield, or "guard" as noted above, GM had tons of electrical problems on their jelly bean shaped vehicles of the late eighties and early nineties. Toyota learned from that. You run part of an electrical loom below the radiator where salt water can lay and you get gremlins...