I have never looked at the bottom of my car before last night. No need to...
I'm driving up to OK from Houston last night and there's a semi next to me..... all of a sudden there is a huge pile in the middle of the road... a dead coyote (staring at me no less, a bit disconcerting, but already dead). I could avoid it because of the barrier on one side and the semi on the other so I straddled it. It thumped and drug the entire length of the car (quite gross). I stopped and checked out the front and what I could see of the bottom but couldnt' tell if there was a problem or not. No lights came on, no sounds, no engine problems but I admit I'm a bit paranoid. My son said it looked like there were skid plates along the bottom (we didn't have a flashlight and were going by a street light's illumination) but he couldn't tell.

So what should the bottom of my mini look like and what should I look for. Think everything is okay?

 

First I would take it to a power wash and have the bottom thoroughly cleaned before examining the chassis...If you don't see any cables having been dragged loose (O2 sensors) and the exhaust pipe is straight, then you're probably ok...Check the brake lines that run down the length of the chassis for damage...this will require you to have it up on a lift...

 

In the game of rock, paper, scissors, a metal undercarriage beats dead coyote.

I'd look for any dangling wires or lines, especially around the wheels. Still, most things are tucked nicely against the suspension, so I'd think you'd be OK if you stradled Wile E.

Down the center there is an O2 sensor attached near the catalytic converter. Again, it is tucked away nicely (behind part of the heat shield). I'd put the MINI up on jack stands and get under there to check if you are worried.

I'd say you did the right thing to straddle...too many accidents are caused by swerving and then overcorrecting.

 

About 40 years ago, at night, I was driving on I64 between Richmond and Norfolk about 70 mph and straddled a live bobcat with my classic Mini. Its lowest point was the transmission casing/engine sump, about 4" above the ground. The cat rolled and thumped the length of the car; the brakes kept working and the engined didn't die, so I kept going. The next day I got under it, and I found fur hanging of the ends of several bolts but no damage.

 

awww poor kitty.

 

i believe those are doggies...

 

Pottermom, glad nothing was damaged. Growing up in Wyoming we learned early on to never swerve, sounds like you did well. Next time however you should notify Glove whom I believe has a recipe for road-kill coyote; Crusty Coyote Casserole if I'm not mistaken.
Anyway glad you're OK.

 

Go through a touchless wash with the undercarriage option before you look under there! I remember hitting an already "expired" raccoon with my S4 and it was a mess...

 

Just glad to hear you're okay. I hate to straddle anything in the road with my Mini, but there are times when you've got no choice. I hit a large, and I do mean Large, clump of hay on a hwy last night and was soooo lucky that nothing seemed to be destroyed on the car...besides having a ton of hay pushed up into my lower grill and bonnet. I'm STILL picking the junk out! I think it's better than having hit a animal though. Yeck!

 

Timely for me to see this thread, as a similar event happened to my g/f and I last weekend. Just looking around for a place to get my undercariage
pressure washed here in Culver City.

Glad you and your MINI were and are OK pottermom.

 

Nice move on not swerving, I had the samething happen to me in my old Honda Civic, it was quite possibly the nsatest sound I have ever heard when the poor coyotes skull hit something under my car at 70 mph