Do I have to replace the metal panel under my lower dash. What is it for?
Had to take apart the under-dash on my 2000 Toyota Solara, like a Camry, and under the plastic is a pressed steel panel (I can go measure the thickness, but I can't flex it with my hands.) whose only purpose afaict is to hold the OBDII connector, unless it reinforces the whole car from beniding or creaknig.
20 years ago when all he other streets were ice-free already, I slid on black ice (that was shaded by trees, I guess) on the inside of a curve and went headlong into the oncoming car. He wasn't hurt and neither was I except for a sore knee, that needed ice and a day's rest. But I noticed the plastic lower dash panel was broken, on the same side of the steering wheel as the aching knee.. I was wearing the standard 3-point lapbelt and shoulder belt, and it's obvious I slid under them and my knee hit the panel and broke it.It was plastic, but if it were steel, it probably would have broken my kneecap, or worse. Why does this car have a metal panel under the plastic and what will I lose by not replacing it? Thanks.
(The seat belts are a little better now. This car has a pretensioner which, if it works, will take the slack out of the belt in a head-on collision, which is supposed to lessen sliding under the belt, and the next collision will probably be entirely different anyhow, but I don't see much point to metal plate in the first place.)