What is this boot flap thing for?

[Steve M.]

As the title suggests, there's two of these things and i've no idea what they are - they're behind the panel on the inside of the boot:

Any ideas?

I've spent a few hours today stripping the rear of my car - all done apart from the passenger side rear - another half hour and it'll be gone. Took it for a test drive just now and was surprised how much you can now hear (well, not overly surprised as I was expecting it, I just wasn't sure what it would sound like) - anyway, this flap is flapping away like mad and actually makes quite a bit of noise. What's it's purpose? I want to get rid of it, or block it up so it doesn't flap and annoy me.

Cheers

 

[Pep]

Think it's just a vent.

 

[McGherkin]

It stops a buildup of pressure when you shut the doors - if they were sealed up the pressure in the car would increase when you shut the door and make your ears pop.

Here they are from the outside.

 

[Tony Hunter]

^^^ The above is spot on the money.

Also if you leave them out, you will get fumes back in the car. So don't throw them away.

 

[Steve M.]

hmmm, interesting. So has everyone who's stripped their car just left them in place and put up with the noise of them flapping? I was sat in my car after my drive just letting the car idle and it sounded like someone was clapping really fast behind me, it'll drive me insane.

What have everyone else done?

 

[Tony Hunter]

We left then in the race car, as we don't want die with the fumes.

Take them out then, doesn't bother me what you do, but you have been told of there purpose, and what could happen if you remove them.

 

[Steve M.]

I wasn't suggesting that I was going to do anything against their purpose after what you guys have said what they are there for. Was just curious if other people had this problem of them being really loud and if they had done anything about it (like an easy fix of making another vent elsewhere or something), that's all.

 

[Tony Hunter]

Afraid you will just have to put up with them flapping. Must admit, our car is so noisy I've never noticed them anyway.

Good lad though for taking said advice.

 

[Steve M.]

I was afraid you'd say that. Next mod = earplugs.

Cheers

 

[benkay]

Seal them shut and make sure you always have a window open when shutting the doors?

 

[MartinR]

I think meganes could do with something like this (they probably have)as my old one used to blow the back window out when the doors were shut!! happened twice so i got shot of it lol.

Windscreen bloke said it was something to do with the air pressure having no where to go and the shape of the rear glass??