Ok I am going to start from the begining. I have/had a Ztec heat should that goes just in front of the engine block (I am sure someone on here knows what I am talking about). So I was driving along (not to fast or anything, about 55 MPH) and I hear a noise starting from the engine bay then moving back as I continue to drive. I check my rear view mirror and I noticed my heatshield laying on the ground as I am continuning to drive by. Well I go back to get the heat shield and it looks like it has been sheared/strained off right near the 90 degree bend in the mount. I was thinking to myself what the hell could of caused it to break off (yes break off not come loose). I still dont know how it broke off but... I have a K&N FIPK gen 2 and right ofter VTEC I would notice a virbration that would last for about 200 RPMS or as, as I accelerate (I know other people on here have also had this vibration). Now that the heat is gone I have not notice a vibration when VTEC engages (knock on wood) so I am thinking that somehow that vibration that I had came from my heat shield being stressed right has VTEC engages. I could be wrong. I am very curious if anyone has had this happen before and if the people who have a virbation noise when vtec engages have a heat sheild mounted. If someone knows what the tq is on the bolts that mount the heat shield please let me know. I still need to remove the broken off piece of metal that use to hold the heat shield in place and I don't know what to tq the bolts to when I am done. I also feel very lucky that none of my belts were cut when it broke off. I am not trying to say anything bad about the Ztec heat shield and I think it is a great heat shield. I wish I could get another one because it really does help with heat soke but I am not sure if nick still makes them... Any advice would be great. Thanks

 

Only thing I noticed is that it sits kinda close to the drive pulleys. If it vibrated hard enough, it could get in the way of the belt and get yanked off really easy. I'd inspect your belt to make sure it wasn't damaged. If you see any marks on it, that might have been the cause. Could just be a bad bracket though too.

 

Well I checked the belts and pullies and I did not notice any damage, also I had the heat shield on for around 25,000 miles so I think if it was a bad mount it would of broken a long time ago.

 

I took some pictures if anyone wants to see them. I don't know how to post or host them so if someone could help me out that would be great! Thanks.

 

upload your pics to imageshack.us

 

http://img107.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc027695cg.jpg

http://img457.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc027745dn.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc027733fx.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc027726vy.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc027711om.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc027681ab.jpg

As you can tell here are some links to the pictures. Let me know what you guys think. Also I need to know the tq on the two bolts in the last pictures. Odviously I am going to take off the broken piece and I'll have to retorque those bolts. Does anyone know of Nick still makes these heat shields and/or where I can get a simular one? It really did help with heat soak...

 

Bump...

 

Someone else here recently experienced the same problem as you have. Their bracket also failed. I believe that he was compensated with a replacement without a hitch. Rick's has taken over with supplying the shield now. Inquire about a replacement and they will probably make you a happy camper. The bracket should not fail.

 

I did not know they still made them. I guess I'll try giving rick a call but if anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks

 

They're not on Rick's site anymore,but you can get a similar one from Spugen,made of PC aluminum.