Loose Plate Underneath

[BeefOlives]

Recently closed the boot and heard this tinny metal sound from underneath which turns out to be this loose plate between the middle of the car and the exhaust, which has come away from it's bolt. I managed to push it back in place, but I can dislodge it easily. I did a test drive with it dislodged where I could hear something then it stopped. Nothing else seems to be happening.

Pushed it back in, not heard it again so I'm not to worried about this one currently, but interested to know what it is and if i should be concerned and since I've looked any rust concerns?

[NathanC67]

I'm no mechanic, but could it be a heat shield?

[paulhipw]

I also think it is a heat shield, to protect the body work and anything touching the body work from heat. So if you had a wheel in the boot well the tyre would be protected.

I would probably put a metalic spacer between the exhaust and the shield and get some wire or large jubilee clips around it to secure it. I would tend to do a "temporary" repair rather than the expense of replacing it.
The other way is to drill hole in the boot and put a  couple of nuts and bolt with a spacer and fix it in place.

[paulhipw]

I also think it is a heat shield, to protect the body work and anything touching the body work from heat. So if you had a wheel in the boot well the tyre would be protected.

I would probably put a metalic spacer between the exhaust and the shield and get some wire or large jubilee clips around it to secure it. I would tend to do a "temporary" repair rather than the expense of replacing it.
The other way is to drill hole in the boot and put a  couple of nuts and bolt with a spacer and fix it in place.