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The pale underbelly of my Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Ari, Sep 22, 2006.

  1. Ari

    Ari New Member

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    Hello everyone. Tonight I just changed the oil for the first time after a little under 1000 miles just to get all the little metal shavings out (and yes, there were some.)

    - Installed Fram Sure Drain # SD3 in place of standard fill plug
    - Used Wix filter # 51394 - same appearance as the Japanese Honda filter.
    - Filled with 3.75 qt of Castrol GTX 5W-30 Dino oil (will switch to Mobil 1 once 5000 miles are up.)

    I also found the upside down blocking plate and decided to cut it off with a Dremel tool since there was so much space to work under the engine. See this thread for background: (no need to tell me about affecting the warranty - I'm not worried) [​IMG]
    http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=23070&st=0

    Here are even more details:
    http://techno-fandom.org/%7Ehobbit/cars/starthole/

    Now, a question:
    - Some day when I want to use a floor jack instead of ramps, where on earth does one place the jack under the front of the car? I have marked "1", "2", "3" on one of the attached images as potential spots. The owners manual tries to make it clear, but when looking under the car there is no obvious place. There is a squre rubber block offset from the center of the car - is this it? Or should it be somewhere on the bare metal of the car?


    [attachmentid=5106][attachmentid=5107][attachmentid=5108][attachmentid=5109][attachmentid=5111][attachmentid=5108][attachmentid=5110][attachmentid=5113][attachmentid=5114][attachmentid=5115][attachmentid=5116][attachmentid=5114][attachmentid=5117][attachmentid=5117][attachmentid=5118]
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Beryl Octet

    Beryl Octet New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ari @ Sep 22 2006, 11:24 PM) [snapback]323733[/snapback]</div>
    The owner's manual is a bit vague, but it has the lift point as the center of that stamped steel business behind the of the engine towards the center of the car. Not too convenient, as I can barely reach that with my floor jack, and it looks a bit fragile. I just jack up the passenger's side, using the "frame rail", at a point close to where the factory jack would be used to change a tire. I also use a block of wood between the round cup of my floor jack and the "frame", and only lift it up enough to enable me to reach the drain plug a little easier. Jack stands are your friends, too.
     
  3. Beryl Octet

    Beryl Octet New Member

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    I got down and looked under my car this morning. I'd never noticed that little rubber block before, but from looking and checking the manual again, it looks like they are talking about the center of that stamped brace, probably close to number 3 in your picture.
     
  4. prius_fr

    prius_fr New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ari @ Sep 22 2006, 08:24 PM) [snapback]323733[/snapback]</div>
    I have to check that one out. However I don't think cutting the tab out is a good solution. It must be reeinstalled. An alternate would be drilling a little hole in the tab and tie the harness with a plastic tie.
     
  5. Ari

    Ari New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius_fr @ Sep 25 2006, 02:17 PM) [snapback]324802[/snapback]</div>
    ... and why must it be reinstalled?

    So far I haven't seen any convincing evidence that the tab actually serves a purpose. Flipping the plate just gets the tab out of the way.

    I agree that tying back the harness is a good solution. I might do that as well since the harness still rubs against the engine even with the tab gone.
     
  6. prius_fr

    prius_fr New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ari @ Sep 25 2006, 12:40 PM) [snapback]324824[/snapback]</div>
    Oops... I meant should :)
     
  7. BobZ

    BobZ New Member

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    The starter cover to harness issue is one Toyota takes care of. You don't have to do this. They don't cut the tab or reposition the cover. On affected cars they intall two tiny brackets to keep the harness away from the tab.