Any easy fix for a collapsed driver side door armrest?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by ja7777, Aug 19, 2015.

  1. ja7777

    ja7777 Junior Member

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    Hey guys, just got a used 2010 3rd gen prius a few days ago and found these forums. I am in South Africa where very few people have this car so there is very little second hand part market available. The driver side door armrest is broken a bit, where my elbow goes it pushes the material inside the arm rest/door. Clearly there is a broken tab or something in there. Just wondering if anyone has idea on how to fix it. It is likely a broken tab or something that held it up previously. Thanks.
     
    #1 ja7777, Aug 19, 2015
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    My dealer tried to repair my driver door armrest after it broke similar to yours. Take the door interior panel off. Apparently the armrest attaches to the interior panel by plastic tips or posts. These posts are melted down to attach. They had an auto interior shop re- melt the plastic posts.

    This worked for some time before the plastic posts broke again. The dealer eventually replaced the complete door interior.
     
    #2 jdcollins5, Aug 19, 2015
  3. ja7777

    ja7777 Junior Member

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    Thanks, that was kind of what I was afraid of. Hoping someone might have a diy solution I could try myself rather than going to dealership and paying five hundred bucks. I saw someone posted about how to fix the older model armrest.
    Thanks
     
    #3 ja7777, Aug 20, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2015
  4. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    +1, unfortunately. So I am interested in DIY fix.

    Step one seems to be taking door interior panel off. Any instructions out there (or preferably video) for that?
     
    #4 Johnny Cakes, Nov 18, 2018
  5. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    <crickets> Any instructions for at least getting the panel off so I can look at what is going on?
     
    #5 Johnny Cakes, Dec 17, 2018
  6. bobzchemist

    bobzchemist Active Member

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    #6 bobzchemist, Dec 27, 2018
  7. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    I just fixed mine.

     
    #7 black_jmyntrn, Jan 25, 2021
    Mendel Leisk and dbstoo like this.
  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    It's nice you could SEE what he was doing. Because the audio was too muffled.
    :)

     
    #8 ASRDogman, Jan 25, 2021
  9. durr

    durr New Member

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    That's just his voice....
     
    #9 durr, Jan 25, 2021
  10. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    No, some was, but it is audio. It's muffled.
    For this video, seeing is more important.
     
    #10 ASRDogman, Jan 25, 2021
  11. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    So good video? Just needs better audio?
     
    #11 black_jmyntrn, Jan 27, 2021
  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    You could see what he was doing and just do the same.
    But the audio was muffled...
    But it's a mute point now...

     
    #12 ASRDogman, Jan 27, 2021
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I see what you did there.

    Couldn't hear it though.
     
    #13 ChapmanF, Jan 28, 2021
  14. LongStrider

    LongStrider Junior Member

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    I did similar only used a hot glue gun and the strongest hot glue I could find. This also allowed me to build up some reinforcing layers where they were needed. Did the repair over a year ago and still holding.
     
    #14 LongStrider, Feb 5, 2021
    Steph1972 likes this.
  15. JBM3

    JBM3 New Member

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    I used stainless machine screws and finishing washers with flat washers and nylon nuts on the inside. I think it looks good (it's certainly rock solid) but if I want the hardware to blend in later I can always replace them with black oxide screws.
     

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    #15 JBM3, Mar 15, 2024
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