I need to track down an oil leak - but before I do that, I need to figure out how to remove the plastic cover underneath the engine area. I can remove all the screws holding it in place, but can't seem to be able to figure out how to remove the cover from the truck. Any ideas? Is there any downside to just permanently cutting it off?

Truck is an 2004 D2.

 

I thought by 2004 LR had changed to a flimsy metal shield that was more obtrusive than the cheaper plastic one I removed from my 2000. I removed the metal shield from a guy's 2004 the other month. I had to jack the vehicle up from the frame to drop the suspension to get it finagled around the oil pan and front axle.

 

I just yanked mine real hard a couple of time, then threw it away

 

I had to pop off the sway bar then pull it out.

I say pull off, but what I mean is drop that solid steel brick wall on my face, then pull the plate out cursing loudly.

 

Got mine out with a sawzall.

 

I just broke mine to bits and pulled it out piece by piece. Much easier to access things now.

 

Are you guys all serious? I'd love to get mine out of the way. But doesn't it serve some sort of purpose?

 

I seem to recall it reduces road noise, prevents crap from flying up into the lower workings, and the like. That said, you have to split a steering joint to remove it(per the RAVE).

I looked into it when attempting to get at the drain plugs for the block when working on coolant, but ended up just siphoning enough out to do what I needed(replace the expansion tank).

 

I managed to remove it this way as well. Bent it pretty bad to slide it out. I had no intention of reusing it, since I put in a non compatible offroad bumper, but even with all the yanking and bending, the thing came out intact and bent itself back into original shape, so it could totally be reused if I wanted to.

 

rip it off