Help Identifying Mysterious Plate in Cowl

[vwdmc16]

Ive just replaced my fuel pump inlet hose and I was finishing up the job by cleaning up the fuel pump access area


http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/vwdmc16/dmc/IMG_0533.jpg


I was poking this hole (yellow arrow, cowl vent water drain?) to remove some debris and out fell this rectangular plate, about 1x3" with 2 M6x1.0 tapped holes. Ive been hearing something rattling around the glove box, maybe this was it.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/vwdmc16/dmc/IMG_0531.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/vwdmc16/dmc/IMG_0529.jpg



Any idea what this plate was for? any importance?

[DMCMW Dave]

It is what the bump stop for the trunk lid screws in to. It was glued to the fiberglass. If the left one falls off it lands on your left shin. If the right one falls off it ends up in the air inlet area for the heater and eventually at the bottom of that drain hole. Someone probably unscrewed the bump stop, lost that, and then used a nut from underneath. You can get to it by removing the heater blower motor.

[DMC5180]

Wonder why it has 2 threaded holes if its for a single bump stop screw.

[vwdmc16]

maybe the plate is used for more than one application elsewhere in the car?