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Lost my eye cap for my 2017 Prius left side (passenger side) front bumper

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by TinyTim, Jul 16, 2021.

  1. TinyTim

    TinyTim Active Member

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    I noticed my ambient outdoor temperature was slow to cool. I thought a fuse was bad. I was inspecting the front of the car and noticed the front eye on the front of the car was missing. I thought for a second that someone may have stolen it at a parking lot. Then I thought it may have fallen out in the car wash awhile back.

    I am having trouble with the correct side on the parts sites. It lists RH and LH but doesn't list driver side or passenger side or which way you are looking at the car from outside looking at the bumper or from the drivers seat.

    The other problem is painting it. It appears that it comes in solid black plastic. Does it have brackets and should I use touch up paint to paint the plastic piece when I get it. Are there any clips or does the piece snap into place?

    If anybody else has had this problem, feel free to chime in.

    Here are a couple of links. Again it's the passenger side front bumper eye on a 2017 Prius Two.
    https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-tow-eye-cap-5212847906

    2017 Toyota Prius Tow Eye Cap (Right, Front). BUMPER, Body, Interior - 5212747907 - Genuine Toyota Part
     
  2. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Won't help for the one you lost, but I glued mine on for security, knowing how tedious they are to replace.

    There is no bracket. It just snaps on with plastic tabs.

    I'd just paint it with spray touch up paint and hope for the best.
     
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  3. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    My 2016 Prius lost one when a lower panel dropped and the increased air flow at highway speed pushed it out. I asked my dealer to replace it and found that painting it was expensive, but the dealer body shop happened to have a Prius with the same color scheduled for paint and they added my part to that job for free.

    JeffD
     
  4. TinyTim

    TinyTim Active Member

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    I pulled the drivers side eye cap off. That model is considered a Left Hand. Part # 52128-47050

    The correct one appears to be the link I had above. Part # 5212747907. Even the description shows the wrong one in their schematic images showing a right side part and not a left hand part. I don't want to screw this up. I want a genuine Toyota Part because it comes with the plastic hanging strap. Not rocket science here.
     
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  5. TinyTim

    TinyTim Active Member

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    Ok, I ordered the correct eye cap and another stick of touch up paint. I am trying to decide if I should get the LH eye and have the set without any paint. The fog light covers are black non painted plastic. Right now the plan is to paint the new eye with blue crush metallic paint. I will see how it looks on my Prius without paint first. Will update the thread once I get the parts.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    You’re talking about the the tow hook socket covers right?

    B27FCB61-8516-45DD-8516-4E662CE8AE5C.jpeg
     
  7. TinyTim

    TinyTim Active Member

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    Yes. If you look at the fog lights in the picture. Mine has black plastic covers without paint on them. I will pop it on and see how it looks. Then ask for 2nd opinions from others. My Prius is the crushed blue color so the plastic blends in well.
     
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  8. Tyfly

    Tyfly Member

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    I glued mine too. I lost one and it was a pain to replace and paint.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    3rd gen covers were hard to pry off. 4th gens, for whatever reason (feedback?) seem to be much looser; there’s been more than one report here, of them coming off, like in car washes for example. And then they tend to stay gone.
     
  10. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    What is the method of popping them off to apply some type of adhesive?
     
  11. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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  12. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Or just reach underneath and behind the bumper to push it out from the back.

    JeffD
     
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  13. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    Thank you both.
     
  14. Reypac24

    Reypac24 Junior Member

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    What exactly is behind these covers?
     
  15. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    A towing hook
     
  16. Colorado Boo

    Colorado Boo Active Member

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    And now we all need to go check our tow hook covers and see if they are loose and need gluing!!
     
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  17. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    One side; nothing.

    The other side; a threaded socket into which a "towing eye" is screwed into.
     
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  18. Colorado Boo

    Colorado Boo Active Member

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    Yep and the towing eye is in the truck next to the spare tire.

    So I checked my wife's 2017 and both were very lose so they got a little bit of super glue on the top-tab part (not the whole thing) but in my 2021 those things are tighter than a ducks' butt so I left them alone...couldn't even get the pry tool in there and I didn't want to force it and scratch the paint.
     
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I’d be more inclined to use something like small dabs of silicone caulk: tenacious but more forgiving, IF you’d ever need to remove. I appreciate that’s a long shot, lol.
     
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  20. TinyTim

    TinyTim Active Member

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    To update the thread. I put the new eye on. A perfect fit. I have a new touch up paint stick. I have yet to find the courage to paint it. I have paint thinner if things go bad. I also have taken it through the car wash several times. I check after each wash to make sure the eyes are still in place. I have been getting my car washed on the automatic washes since it was new. I guess losing one of the eyes was just bad luck.

    My outdoor ambient temperature is fast and responsive again with the new eye in place.