Rear Spoiler coming loose

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jim Biggs @ Jun 27 2007, 11:14 PM) [snapback]469196[/snapback]</div>

Is everything secure in the bin under the deck?

 

If you are sure it's the spoiler and not another rattle, getting to its bolts is not that difficult.

The large plastic panel on the interior of the hatch just push-clips to the metal of the hatch. Carefully pry it loose, starting at the lower, outer corners, and you can pull it off. You may have to yank with some force. There is one clip in the very center of the panel that is difficult to remove and impossible to reach in to pop the clip; you may break the attachment point, but it won't damage looks or functionality. Once you have the main panel off you can easily remove side panels if necessary. You can figure out which bolts extend in to the hatch frame from the spoiler and tighten them with a 10mm socket.

If you see any leak stains on the inside, make sure you tighten enough in that area to stop future leaks. Better, loosen the bolts, remove the spoiler, put a dab of silicone caulk around the holes, and reinstall the spoiler.

I don't know what model you have, but since you joined in 2004, I suspect it may be a 2004 car. This may be a good time to prophylactically replace the license plate lights.

Reassembly involves popping the plastic connectors back into the holes they pulled out of.

 

Could you take it in for warranty repair?

 

Check your rear license plate, too. Mine was rattling around for a while (and scratched through the paint, too :angry: )

EDIT: Sorry, you said loud metal noise. Nevermind.

 

There are 4 bolts and 3 clips? How do the clips work? Is there anyway to make the thing more rigid? This is the one thing that bugs me about the prius, esp the touring one is extra huge and bouncy.

 

I don't think the noise is the spoiler, but after messing with mine, the clips/snaps on the outside corners do more to hold it secure then the bolts, You can easily tell if you have a clip problem, which I don't think you do, the spoiler will be much higher then the body side panel. The snaps/clips are rivited to the car, and the spoiler just snaps on. The bolts then secure it. I suspect as previously noted you have something loose in your spare tire hole.

 

my spoiler is very loose and I can see that the plastic clips on the spoiler that attaches to the trunk are busted. Can this be part of the warranty ?

 

I don't know if it's the cause but it's best not to use the spoiler to close the hatch. I find myself putting my hand up to the spoiler but trying hard to make using the hand hold in the inside of the hatch a habit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Aug 19 2007, 04:44 AM) [snapback]498603[/snapback]</div>

The easiest way to close the car is to start by pulling down with inside handle and then lightly pushing against either the Toyota emblem in the center of the hatch or the license plate. It's amazing how much leverage there is using the emblem.

 

I just pull the inside handle and let go of it and the hatch closes on it's own momentum. Try it.

 

I have a similar issue. And I know for a fact that it's my spoiler. How do I know? Because I tried to back out of my garage with the trunk up. Woops. You'd think that seeing the top of the garage in my rear camera would have stopped me, but I was multi-tasking at the time.

If the snaps/clips are rivited to the car, I'm assuming that this will be a very difficult issue to fix. Am I right? Can I just get new snaps/clips and snap it back in place without having to worry about welding something?

 

Glad you mentioned that. I'm super careful not to use the spoiler to close the hatch. I tug on the interior handle then put my palm on the emblem. No problems! I cringe everytime I see one of my son's friends use the spoiler as a handle!

 

Luckily for me the Dealer did not mount my framed license plate. I placed 2 rubber "bumpers" in the 2 recessed dimples under the plate area on the hatch using 3M trim tape. Pushing on the license plate when closing the hatch is our normal routine. With the bumpers under the plate no plate to paint contact is possible. These bumpers should be a standard item for EVERY Prius to have under the plate. Home Depot has similar bumpers in the cabinet hardware section.

 

I have a factory spoiler for a 2010 prius for sale. There's two small (less than an inch) scratches on it. I'm selling it for $250. Let me know if your intrested.