I could use some help!

I drove up on a cement divider at Wal Mart the other day and heard something dragging....I looked under the front of the car and now there is something hanging down.....is there some sort of shield made of heavy plastic under the front of the engine to protect it...some sort of shield or guard that I have pulled away?

It is not dragging on the ground, just touches when I go over a dip.......how is it attached and how do I reattach it.....I hope this makes sense...

I have not been able to find anything about this in the owners quide.

Second question,

there is a canister on the left hand side of the engine......an aluminum tube goes from the front of the engine along the left hand side, past the windshield wiper fluid container to a round cylinder that is not even half full of fluid......my wife notice (what I hope is just condensation) on the outside of the bottle and a puddle of water on the ground on the driveway under this area.....she had the heater on for about an hour drive when she parked the car.....this is the first time we have ever seen this liquid on the ground....is it just condensation or a more serious problem?



What function does this container have? and should it be on the low side?

Thanks for any help you can give us.......oh yea, the heater works great and there is no loss of power or anything......I may be worried about nothing, I hope that is the case.

Thanks again,

Clark

That canister is part of the AC. It'* normal for condensation to form on it when in use. How did you check the level in it? It should be sealed and never opened. Do you have the electronic climate control set on auto or manual HVAC controls?

If you hit a wall, any number of things on the underbody could be bent/broken. You're gonna have to crawl under and take a look and maybe some pics.

Did not hit wall, just parked too close to one of those cement bumpers in the parking lot and must have snagged the it and when I went in reverse it must have pulled loose.

The other canister thing is at the end of that aluminum tube in picture and is transparent like the break fluid canister......and I can see only about 1 1/2 inches of fluid in it!

Thanks again

Clark

After reading more of the 1999 forum I know that this part that has come loose is the splash shield...now I just have to get it put back in place....

Last time I bought one, it was $23. That was 5 years ago though. And for an SSEi (different part than yours).

Attachment is simple with a 10mm socket. Don't be afraid to redneck it if it isn't broken too badly. You'll never see it.

Thanks for the information gentlemen......I have enough "Arkie" blood in me to "Red Neck" it for now!

I checked on that shield this summer from a local GM dealer and was about 40.00. I'm a little confused about that picture of your engine. Is that from a 1999 SE as indicated in your Signature? Sure doesn't look anything like my 99. :?

nope it is a stock pic of a 3800 engine on internet........could not find one on this site with detail of engine.....Grandson has my digital camera......LOL

has anyone posted one with all the visible parts labeled? that would be alot of help!

Thanks for all the info guys.....once again your just the people I need!

Clark

Here is a picture of my engine. Parts aren't all labeled here, but as you describe the location of the container, on my car it is metal and not clear. It is a part of the AC system. I've never seen a clear one as you describe.

Wow Barry that is fantastic......

ok here is your picture but with that plastic canister at the end of the aluminum tube, circled. That is where the fluid is kept.....and just like on a brake fluid canister, you can see the fluid level in this canister....what should be the proper level of fluid in it and should it be wet with condensation...

I know I am new to actually caring for a car......and I am a total newbe! So please have pity of my ignorance and HELP!

I know that at this point I may be crying wolf and there is nothing wrong and this is normal operating procedure for this device.....we were just amazed at how much water was dripping onto our driveway