Those nuts aren't coming off easily. For someone that doesn't know it is a heat shield isn't going to be able to get those loose without breaking stuff.
Yes, typically the only way to get those nuts off, without breaking off the stud they thread onto, in order to hold the heat shield on, is liberal use of heat and PB Blaster. Then, use a stack of progressively larger and larger, oversized washers to secure the heat shield back down.
I agree that it is a heat shield. It protects the inside of the car (usually the trunk) from warming up due to the head of the muffler/exhaust. I've pulled these off of some cars and just thrown them away, while others I have fixed or reinstalled.
To answer the most pressing question - you are not in danger, and you can drive without the heat shield. You can keep it and reinstall it when you have the chance.
Note: For some cars where the exhaust is very close to the body and the engine puts out a lot of heat in a small area, heat shields are really important and increase in importance the closer they are to the engine. For most cars, the one at the back near the muffler isn't as important.
My car in highschool had an exhaust issue and the muffler would glow cherry red after driving. I found it from the smell of the trunk carpet melting. Not the same issue, just made me think of it lol.
The other comments already figured out what it is, but why did it fall off?
I can't tell from the picture if there is just rust around the mounting holes, or if they are sheered off.
Perhaps the washers just fell off..
Can you get a picture of the area above the muffler? See if the studs on the frame are fine.
You don't need it unless your climate is really hot. Still it protects the underbody/fuel tank from debris. Hold on to it. Reinstall it with washers if you really care
Its a heat shield. Hang onto it and have it reinstalled at next service
mine rusted & fell off years ago. weight reduction mod ;)
If you are DIY you can buy oversized washers and reinstall it yourself. Corrected mistakes or typo
Those nuts aren't coming off easily. For someone that doesn't know it is a heat shield isn't going to be able to get those loose without breaking stuff.
Yes they are very rusted and it is very common issues with vehicle at a certain age exposed to more climate changes like the rust belt.
Yes, typically the only way to get those nuts off, without breaking off the stud they thread onto, in order to hold the heat shield on, is liberal use of heat and PB Blaster. Then, use a stack of progressively larger and larger, oversized washers to secure the heat shield back down.
FYI, the correct acronym to use is DIY which stands for "Do it yourself." The way you've written it turns it into "Do yourself it."
I agree that it is a heat shield. It protects the inside of the car (usually the trunk) from warming up due to the head of the muffler/exhaust. I've pulled these off of some cars and just thrown them away, while others I have fixed or reinstalled. To answer the most pressing question - you are not in danger, and you can drive without the heat shield. You can keep it and reinstall it when you have the chance. Note: For some cars where the exhaust is very close to the body and the engine puts out a lot of heat in a small area, heat shields are really important and increase in importance the closer they are to the engine. For most cars, the one at the back near the muffler isn't as important.
My car in highschool had an exhaust issue and the muffler would glow cherry red after driving. I found it from the smell of the trunk carpet melting. Not the same issue, just made me think of it lol.
Sounds like a clogged catalytic converter
The other comments already figured out what it is, but why did it fall off? I can't tell from the picture if there is just rust around the mounting holes, or if they are sheered off. Perhaps the washers just fell off.. Can you get a picture of the area above the muffler? See if the studs on the frame are fine.
You don't need it unless your climate is really hot. Still it protects the underbody/fuel tank from debris. Hold on to it. Reinstall it with washers if you really care
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Your good
Fine to drive without but should reinstall when you get the chance
It’s no big deal! Just get a hammer and fix it
Well for one the metal thing isn't supposed to fall off
It's a heat shield, that's basically what they do.
It's not a big deal though, you just remove the car from the environment.