2009 Skid Plate--Is This Right?

I purchased my 2009 Toyota Tacoma used from a dealer. I noticed a noise coming from maybe the skid plate when I go over our curb. I had a look, and took this picture. Is this what the skid plate is supposed to look like? It seems unsecured on the driver side, and too low. Many thanks from a new Taco owner and my first post!

 

Yes and no

 

Thats the OEM skid plate. The front looks good; get under it and look at the back of the plate. Pull on it a little to see if its loose.

 

Have you tried tugging on the skid plate or pushing it upwards to see if it moves? Based on that pic it definitely looks to me a like a bolt or three have fallen out or loosened up. If you get under it it should be pretty obvious which bolts hold it in place and/or are missing.

It looks to me like your skid plate is hanging on the hooks that are there to help aid in assembly and catch the skid if the bolts come loose. When all the bolts are snugged up the skid should not be hanging on the hook I circled in red. That said, it's always possible the skid is just deformed.

Your truck:



What it should look like:

 

Thank you, clenkeit. That's very helpful. I sent the pic to a local respected Toyota repair shop. They replied that "they all have that bend to them." I will get under there and dig around.

 

^What he said.

There are four bolts that secure the skid plate. Check to make sure they're all in place and not loose. If all checks good with the bolts then it appears that maybe you have a deformed skid plate.

 

No, it shouldn't be hanging on the hooks like that.

 

I took a pic of mine. There are 2 bolts in the front. You have to get under to see them.

 

i took mine off

 

Hadn’t thought of that. Why did you remove it?

 

looks like it could use some paint, I just updated to the toyota aluminum skid plate as mine was completely rusted through (09 Tacoma)
my old one had a rattle too as the metal was so thin it vibrated, very annoying

 

planning to get the TRD plate but then never bought it. its not necessary IMO unless offroading. looks cool with nothing. maybe will still buy the TRD plate yet idk.

 

I got under there, and the front bolt drivers side is stripped, so that side is being supported by the hook. See this thread for identical problem, and various solutions.

The plate is also somewhat deformed, but I pushed it mostly back into place. I think that fixing the bolt will get it the rest of the way.

So based on the advice in that thread, I will re-drill the hole to 7/16, chase it with M8x1.25, and re-bolt with M8x1.25x25 body bolt. Never done this before.

 

I would very loosely call that a "skid plate". It is actually called an engine under cover or splash guard to keep road debris/water away from the engine. The same goes for the factory TRD front "skid plate".
OP- Does the frame have any major rust issues?

 

No, they don't: Mine sits in place like it's supposed to: nothing is hanging and the hooks aren't contributing anything to the job of suspending it. I can't believe they could say that with a straight face. At least you learned where never to take it for repairs. I wouldn't let them inflate a tire after that.

 

Oem skids should always be removed, just like the front hanging crossmember