# Underbody damage. Is this a big deal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 19, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058 "2019-09-19T01:46:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Strawberryfields1123\_157599](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Strawberryfields1123\_157599](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Strawberryfields1123_157599)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/1 "2019-09-19T01:46:29Z")
Hi, So I accidentally drove up on the barrier in front of a parking spot (ugh) and scraped the bottom of my car. There’s a hole/crack on the plastic on the underbody (under the driver’s seat). Is this the belly pan? The splash shield? Anyway, is this a big problem? Can I do an at-home fix? Keep in mind I’m not very handy. Thanks so much. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/d/3/d34cf7e0a47b2724c07173ec290f4ad426903058.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/2 "2019-09-19T01:55:51Z")
Plastic? Don’t worry about it. Tester ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/3 "2019-09-19T02:08:33Z")
Doing nothing seems a pretty good approach. I’d probably apply some metal-foil adhesive tape to the area to keep road water from spashling into that hole and causing some sort of problem, but I doubt that would be effective or necessary. But it wouldn’t hurt either. ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/4 "2019-09-19T02:31:49Z")
I would use ‘marine’ quality silicon sealer. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/5 "2019-09-19T02:35:02Z")
It is wonderful to see someone with so much concern and attention to detail. So many come in with my engine is blown because it ran out of oil and the warranty won’t cover it etc. ---
**Author:** ![Strawberryfields1123\_157599](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Strawberryfields1123\_157599](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Strawberryfields1123_157599)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/6 "2019-09-19T02:40:01Z")
Yes - tape is exactly the kind of dummy-proof remedy I need. Is metal foil the best? Because I was considering duct tape (don’t judge haha) ---
**Author:** ![Strawberryfields1123\_157599](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Strawberryfields1123\_157599](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Strawberryfields1123_157599)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/7 "2019-09-19T02:41:12Z")
Thanks! Like a type of caulking? ---
**Author:** ![Strawberryfields1123\_157599](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Strawberryfields1123\_157599](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Strawberryfields1123_157599)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/8 "2019-09-19T02:42:34Z")
I’m going to take that as a compliment! I’m also very anal retentive and fun at parties. Haha. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/9 "2019-09-19T02:44:14Z")
> [@Strawberryfields1123\_157599](#): > > Is metal foil the best? Metal foil tape usually withstands heat better than duct tape. But duct tape would probably work too. ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 3:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/10 "2019-09-19T03:52:13Z")
Yes it is a high quality waterproof caulking, ---
**Author:** ![monkarl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@monkarl](https://community.cartalk.com/u/monkarl)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 9:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/12 "2019-09-19T09:47:40Z")
I recommend PC-7 epoxy. It is tough and long-lasting. ---
**Author:** ![Ben-T\_Spanner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Ben-T\_Spanner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ben-T_Spanner)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/13 "2019-09-19T13:27:13Z")
Perfect use for Gorilla Tape. Doing nothing won’t cause a problem, but Gorilla tape will give you piece of mind. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/underbody-damage-is-this-a-big-deal/149058/14 "2019-09-19T14:45:40Z")
It’s not going to tear like that unless it hit something above it. So I would certainly inspect whatever is above it before just leaving it like it is…I wouldn’t even put tape on it…