Engine belly pan, got one?

[jchasp59]

Anyone have a pic of Sonic belly pan? Here's pic of my Sonic undercarriage, built in Feb 2012, apparantly w/o belly pan:

The GM part number is: 95016301. It's a 'Air deflector/Underbody Cover'. It was discontinued from the Cruze (and the Sonic built after 01/2012) because oil change techs were changing the oil without removing this part and not cleaning up spilled oil. Customers were complaining of oil leaks. Also, brake fluid was overfilled and spilled, which caused a fire. So, GM recalled the Cruze to remove this part, and discontinued it on the Sonic. The Sonic was designed and EPA certified with this part in place. My Sonic was built in 03/2012. I bought and installed this part. With this part installed, my car is quieter and much more stable on the highway (especially when passing/being passed by large vehicles). Also, my A/C is a measured 4 to 6 degrees colder! Which probably means better airflow through the radiator and A/C (and probably the intercooler, too.) I only installed the part two weeks ago, so I haven't had time to notice any improvement in mpg, but the improved stablity at highway speeds and operation of my A/C during record heat is definitely worth the $72 and 10 minutes it took me to install this part.

 

[lambertsonic]

my sonic was built in august 2011 , i like the belly pan

 

[oldertech]

Thanks for this great info. Mystery solved. I had read that there had been 30 fires.

 

[sonic84cp]

The GM part number is: 95016301. It's a 'Air deflector/Underbody Cover'. It was discontinued from the Cruze (and the Sonic built after 01/2012) because oil change techs were changing the oil without removing this part and not cleaning up spilled oil. Customers were complaining of oil leaks. Also, brake fluid was overfilled and spilled, which caused a fire. So, GM recalled the Cruze to remove this part, and discontinued it on the Sonic. The Sonic was designed and EPA certified with this part in place. My Sonic was built in 03/2012. I bought and installed this part. With this part installed, my car is quieter and much more stable on the highway (especially when passing/being passed by large vehicles). Also, my A/C is a measured 4 to 6 degrees colder! Which probably means better airflow through the radiator and A/C (and probably the intercooler, too.) I only installed the part two weeks ago, so I haven't had time to notice any improvement in mpg, but the improved stablity at highway speeds and operation of my A/C during record heat is definitely worth the $72 and 10 minutes it took me to install this part.

Did the hardware come with it when you bought it? And are all the colored cicles modifications you did to the pan before install?

 

[oldertech]

I can answer that since I have a pan from new. The circles represent the original mounting holes. That pic was from the original oil change thread last year. But I, too would be curious if the hardware is included. If not... hardware store!

 

[jchasp59]

Did the hardware come with it when you bought it? And are all the colored cicles modifications you did to the pan before install?

I didn't modify the part before installation. The fasteners are separate, but cheap.
That pic came from a post on this site regarding how to change the oil. The circles and red square on the belly pan was part of the explanation. Noticed that mine didn't have this belly pan. Did some research, bought and installed the part. Glad I did. Improved the highway handling of my car, and it's quieter, too. The person that posted the pic originally was going to cut out the red square to make oil changes easier, but I'm gonna leave mine as is.

 

[jchasp59]

I didn't modify the part before installation. The fasteners are separate, but cheap.
That pic came from a post on this site regarding how to change the oil. The circles and red square on the belly pan was part of the explanation. Noticed that mine didn't have this belly pan. Did some research, bought and installed the part. Glad I did. Improved the highway handling of my car, and it's quieter, too. The person that posted the pic originally was going to cut out the red square to make oil changes easier, but I'm gonna leave mine as is.

Sorry to take so long to answer. Seems that my posts get moved around. Makes them difficult to follow up on.

 

[J T]

I don't have one on mine and I'm a little concerned. I lost the pan on my Mazda3 several years ago and in the winter my engine compartment would often get stuffed solid with snow. Here in west Michigan we tend to a get a lot of lake effect snow, which means occasionally having to drive on unplowed roads...which means a lot of snow gets forced up into the engine compartment. I hope the same issue doesn't happen with the Sonic in deep snow.

 

[Eric Smit]

I don't have one on mine and I'm a little concerned. I lost the pan on my Mazda3 several years ago and in the winter my engine compartment would often get stuffed solid with snow. Here in west Michigan we tend to a get a lot of lake effect snow, which means occasionally having to drive on unplowed roads...which means a lot of snow gets forced up into the engine compartment. I hope the same issue doesn't happen with the Sonic in deep snow.

That's sounds like a reasonable concern.


-Eric Smit

 

[J T]

That's sounds like a reasonable concern.

And after making my post, I scrolled up to see that a part # had been posted. GMpartsdirect.com currently has it listed for $60.76.

 

[JTSONIC]

Mine came with out the belly button... if it did come with one, it would reside in the attic with the headrests.

 

[Eric Smit]

Belly button. Teehee.


-Eric Smit

 

[jchasp59]

Just took my Sonic in for A/C Service. I made sure I removed the air deflector/underbody cover before I went to the dealership, and replaced it after returning home (a 5 minute job). I've read that dealerships are removing, and not returning, this part. If your car came with one, you bought it when you bought the car and they should at least return it to you if they remove it. Also, the service writer said that my A/C wasn't working because the Freon was low, but the paperwork says, "Perfomance Check, Ok now" with no units for the 'added' Freon or labor for the warranty claim (unlike for the two other problems, stuck seat belt height adjuster and parking brake cable adjustment, in which 1.0 hours/ea, and parts were claimed.)
Can tell no difference in my A/C, but my parking brake works well, now.
Will go to a different stealership, next time!

 

[Chrish051873]

so is this the same part that they are removing from the cruze in this recall that is going on now ? will it fit the sonic does anyone know, i do a great deal of highway miles and could use any additional MPG i can get.

thanks
Chris

 

[SSpeckerwood]

they make one for the sonic, not sure if its the same for the cruze.

however it will add around 1mpg from what i'm told. at $70 for the part, for me its not worth the money spent to save that little amount of fuel.

especially if it causes fires.

 

[CyberGreyTURBOZ]

I am way behind on this whole thread...i had heard about the recall for the pan fires a while back from the lazy oil changes. I also am not surprised about the dealers taking the pans off and not returning, but they are suppose to cut the pan and put it back on.(Recall official fix) I will be taking mine off before it goes in for anything so they do not try anything shady(Removal or cutting it up). My sonic like many others did not come with the pan and my twin brothers did. I took my car in shortly after i noticed it and they put one on with out me having to ask. I would have complained because i was being pushed all over the freeway when passing trucks and from cross winds when going through a clear area. The first month or so I owned my sonic it was a pain to drive because we had a very windy spring this year. Ever since i got it put on i feel it is more stable in the wind, but still needs work. Lowering springs are soon to come and hopefully will get the car where i want it to be.

 

[jchasp59]

And after making my post, I scrolled up to see that a part # had been posted. GMpartsdirect.com currently has it listed for $60.76.

That's great! When I first looked on that site, it was listed at $99.98, then dropped to $72. Glad that the price is coming down on this part, and that I installed it on my Sonic 1.4L!

 

[ungawd]

I'm assuming this is correct, but it's showing the category as Front Fender Seal. If it's the correct part#, the price has dropped down even further to $61.19 for those interested. Does anyone happen to know the part# for the fastener/hardware set?

95016301 - COVER

GM PART # 95016301
CATEGORY: Front Fender Seal
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00

List Price: $99.98
Price: $61.19
You Save: $38.79 (39%)
DESCRIPTION: COVER

 

[sx sonic]

Good stuff, widh I would have looked around more before buying, mine cost one hundred dolla :/

 

[cndctrdj]

this could be my first mod