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Front bumper piece fell off!

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Anastaceyrose, Aug 5, 2016.

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  1. Anastaceyrose

    Anastaceyrose Member

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    image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg I went through a car wash today, and when I pulled into a stall to use the vacuums I noticed that the passenger side bumper insert was gone!!!!!! After choking back tears, I went to one of the employees who nicely went into the car wash and THANK GOODNESS was able to retrieve the piece. Are car washes that dangerous?? What is really weird is that the thin plastic that was supposed to keep it hanging (sort of like the one that keeps the gas cap attached) was broken. Even if the pressure of the car wash popped it out of it's place, I don't believe it could have severed the hang-y plastic. What is the point of these inserts anyway? I have the base model, but I'm pretty sure the higher models don't have lights in that space. Does anybody know what this actual part is called or have any suggestions to take care of it?? Thank you!
     
    #1 Anastaceyrose, Aug 5, 2016
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    glad you got it back! i have lost these on other toyota's just driving, never to be recovered. this is an area where toyota really cheeps out. i would glue it in or something.
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 5, 2016
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  3. Anastaceyrose

    Anastaceyrose Member

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    So it is not just me? Between my windshield, the weird rattling that ended up being a loose but on my shocks and now this, I feel like I got one of the flops!
     
    #3 Anastaceyrose, Aug 5, 2016
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    nah, toyota is much better with the mechancals the the interior and exterior.
     
    #4 bisco, Aug 5, 2016
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  5. Anastaceyrose

    Anastaceyrose Member

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    Thinks for the info. I guess with all the gas money I am saving, a few loose things here and there is manageable
     
    #5 Anastaceyrose, Aug 5, 2016
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  6. jbkendrick

    jbkendrick Active Member

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    Thanks for the warning. I didn't intend to take mine to any car wash, but this just provides further confirmation. Not sure what I'll do in the winter though. J
     
    #6 jbkendrick, Aug 5, 2016
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what is that piece, fog light hole?
     
    #7 bisco, Aug 5, 2016
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  8. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    It's removable so you can screw in the TOWING EYELET.

    Have a look on the page in the handbook "EMERGENCY TOWING PROCEDURE". Or in index under "TOWING".

    (I've never used a car wash - always done it by hand. One of my attempts at exercise.)
     
    #8 alanclarkeau, Aug 5, 2016
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  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Tow hook cover.
     
    #9 xliderider, Aug 5, 2016
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  10. Anastaceyrose

    Anastaceyrose Member

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    Yes that was definitely our last car wash away from home!
     
    #10 Anastaceyrose, Aug 6, 2016
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  11. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Thanks for the warning, and thanks for the nice pictures.

    Has anyone ever had to tow their Prius using that tow-hook connection? How do you remove that little cover? Pry it off with a Screwdriver?
     
    #11 Coast Cruiser, Aug 6, 2016
  12. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Ana, what was wrong with your windshield?
     
    #12 Coast Cruiser, Aug 6, 2016
  13. Anastaceyrose

    Anastaceyrose Member

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    It started cracking one morning after only having it about a month :(
     
    #13 Anastaceyrose, Aug 7, 2016
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it must be code or something, i've never heard of anyone using it.
     
    #14 bisco, Aug 7, 2016
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  15. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    That doesn't sound good - did you get to the bottom of why?
     
    #15 alanclarkeau, Aug 7, 2016
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  16. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Your manual has illustrations on where the towing eyelet is stored in the boot (trunk?) (under "T" in index).

    It says:
    "Remove the eyelet cover using a flathead screwdriver.
    To protect the bodywork, place a rag between the screwdriver and the vehicle body as shown in the illustration    ".

    (Obviously, the alternative is to take it through a high pressure car wash, but TOYOTA doesn't specify that.)
     
    #16 alanclarkeau, Aug 7, 2016
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  17. Dragon Rider

    Dragon Rider Active Member

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    I used a lot of car wash before on my cars. With the prius I was getting a lot water spot by the windshield. I stop going to the car washer a long time ago.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #17 Dragon Rider, Aug 7, 2016
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  18. Anastaceyrose

    Anastaceyrose Member

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    Nope, there is a chip at the very top when the crack originated, I posted pics of it in another thread here.

    Oh! My boyfriend was going to put the piece back in that came off in the car wash and I think the car wash girl fished out the wrong thing :cry::cry: The piece that I have is about 1/3 too small for the area. I'm so sad!
     
    #18 Anastaceyrose, Aug 7, 2016
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  19. mark27lim

    mark27lim Active Member

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    those pieces come off super easily. I just use my fingernail and they pop off with nary any effort. I've almost lost one before. sorry to hear you got the wrong part Ana :(


    iPhone ?
     
    #19 mark27lim, Aug 8, 2016
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  20. randomwalk101

    randomwalk101 DYI'er

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    Don't be sad..just get new boyfriend. Kekeke
     
    #20 randomwalk101, Aug 8, 2016
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