Sand and dirt on plastic panels under car

How about getting a couple long strips of flat aluminum, about 2" wide, and find a couple spots under each side of car that are threaded for bolts or screws, drill the aluminum and bolt them on? These would hold up the heavy panels and prevent them from pulling off the car, but it sounds like you won't be able to eliminate the problem of them filling up with sand.

 

I wouldn't do that, could end up a real nightmare, with stuff still getting in, nowhere to go, and lots of holes to start rusting.

Maybe you've got to stop driving along Oregon's beaches, lol?

More seriously, periodically pop a few of the fasteners off and blow out the grit with compressed air? Rinse the grit out of the removed fasteners before reinstalling, to avoid them seizing/breaking in future.

 

Have the same problem, did you figure it out?

 

This is the best way to clean that stuff out...
youtube.com/watch?v=H7XOWoFoBkU

Put a squirt of dish soap across your front spoiler and you're golden.

 

Another person with dirt filled panels...

...not any more!

 

Don't let the title fool ya.. Ain't no stopping this Prius...

 

i went to youtube searching for Prius in Water videos and i saw some folks making it through... but a lot of people getting stuck and sinking too.
one thing I couldnt figure out... it looks like the Prius floats for a little while before it sinks...

 

I admit, I only posted the successful ones... But yea, I saw em' floating too! Made me feel good and then I thought about squirting some spray foam up under the fenders.. not sure, dont wanna mess anything up.. but 4 little blocks under each fender.. it's the right level so as not to capsize on you.. Amphiprius! BAM! Well I just made my millions. So long everybody and good luck!

 

to get back to the OP question... i was wondering if all the original panels are still in place? which panel is the one filling up (front/back)? how is the send entering (i.e. if its the wheel kicking it up, are the fenders properly secured?)

 

I posted about this problem on my '08 twice in the past decade and got no answers whatsoever. On mine, it only happens on the passenger side and only gets bad enough to deal with once every four-five years.

I don't remember my exact method, but IIRC, the front is somewhat detached from the undercarriage, I pry it carefully down and get my shop vac with a long nozzle attachment and shove that in there to vac up what I can. I then reverse it and blow air into the cavity, because what is left is wet and mucky and won't detach.

After mucking about enough with vac and air -- as well as what I can dislodge by hand -- I dry off and clean the edges of the plastic panel that mate to the underbody, as well as the steel that the panel is supposed to rest against.

Get it good and clean by scraping with a plastic scraper and then use acetone. THEN -- once it is good and dry and clean, I run a bead of silicone caulk along the edge of the panel and stick it against the undercarriage, using a couple/three jacks and pieces of wood to assure the panel is being pressed firmly against the underbody so the silicone can cure and get a good bond.

It works pretty well for about four years -- basically, it keeps the gunk from getting in -- getting toehold and causing the panel to sag, which only collects more muck.

You can try searching for my previous posts, but, as I said, they were pretty much ignored.

kris

 

found it... Undercarriage Cleaning | PriusChat

What is this Prius Part? And does it matter?? | PriusChat

man i wondered where all that stuff came from at the car wash...