I took the belly pan/skid plate off from under the motor & front axle to better access the tranny cooling lines. Down too came the plastic & foam pad thing and I'm wondering, is it really necessary?

I'd read somewhere that the original intent was to catch leaks & drips so new buyers would have a longer period of new car satisfaction before having to deal with "issues". If this is the ONLY purpose, I think I can handle reality and would gladly deal with leaks as they appear, not months/years later once the diaper fills up. But I don't want to leave it out if it has a mechanical purpose as opposed to a psychological one.

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2005 Liberty CRD, with 135,XXX miles. Rockers, exhaust valves, Provent, EGR block & butterfly delete & V6 air box at 100K

1998 XJ 4.0L, stock with 130,XXX miles

First Jeep: 1962 Willys CJ-3B

Weird, my 05 does not have any such thing above the front skid plate. I also looked to see if Mopar listed anything like that on one of the online illustrated Mopar vendor sites, and it does not show or list anything but a bare metal skid plate.
Maybe someone added that part if your are not the first owner?

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Supporting Vendor and Moderator of LOST
05 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited
Ironman Springs/Bilstein/Shocks
Yeti StgIV Hot Tune
Week's BatteryTray
No FCV/EGR
Samcos/ProVent
SunCoast/Transgo
Carter Intank-pmp
2mic.Sec.Fuel Filter
Flowmaster/NO CAT
V6Airbox/noVH
GM11 Bld.fan/HDClutch
IronrockArms/wwdieselMount
98 Dodge Cummins 24 Valve

My '05 came with one new. It never caused any problem but I took it off when the skid plate was off since it looked like a great place for ice to build up in. Maybe it was intended to cut down on engine noise like the hood liner.

Yes, they were to damp engine noise. Tossed mine the first time I took off the skid plate.

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05CRD: GDE Hot ECU & TCM tunes, Provent, Cat filter, Facet lift pump, TransGo kit, Florida TC, Samcos, stainless brake lines, HDS thermostat, Renegade light bar,
RL super sliders, Bilstein adjustables, Al's Gen 4.5 Arms, 235/85-16 Duratracs, DTT rear, Elocker front, EVIC+TPMS, Turbo timer, McNally pillar gauges, Weeks Stage II kit.

mine had one, it was soaked in oil so I tossed it, but kept the plastic piece that goes into the skid plate. Maybe it was there to insulate the oil for cold start up days...IDK

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05 CRD; Rebuilt top end w/ARP studs, EGR delete, SEGR, 3.7L HD cooling fan, Samco hoses, in tank pump, JBA coil overs & control arms, KK clevis fork, 1/2" cradle drop, 1/4" motor mount lift, WJ rear upper trilink w/WW mount, WJ lower control arms, 4:10 gear, front/rear air lockers, ARB bumper, Rock Lizard sliders/roof rack, Mod T-stat

So youall that tossed them, did it affect the engine noise?

WW, did you get yours new or used?

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2005 Liberty CRD, with 135,XXX miles. Rockers, exhaust valves, Provent, EGR block & butterfly delete & V6 air box at 100K

1998 XJ 4.0L, stock with 130,XXX miles

First Jeep: 1962 Willys CJ-3B

I did not hear anything different in engine noise. Little tractor just chugs right along

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05 CRD; Rebuilt top end w/ARP studs, EGR delete, SEGR, 3.7L HD cooling fan, Samco hoses, in tank pump, JBA coil overs & control arms, KK clevis fork, 1/2" cradle drop, 1/4" motor mount lift, WJ rear upper trilink w/WW mount, WJ lower control arms, 4:10 gear, front/rear air lockers, ARB bumper, Rock Lizard sliders/roof rack, Mod T-stat