Can anyone identify this part on my Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Crsgardner, May 2, 2007.

  1. Crsgardner

    Crsgardner New Member

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    Just noticed this today looking at my new 2007 Prius. It's dead center if you're looking at the car head-on. It caught my attention because it's the lowest part of the car. In other words, if anything were to scrape against the underbody, it'd be the first to get hit.

    I'm not sure what it is or if it's supposed to be that low. It's also off at a slight angle (although I can't tell if that's by design or not). I did get some mild bodywork done the first month I had the car (needed my bumpers redone), but I don't think they banged it.

    Any ideas what this thing is? And if it's supposed to be that low?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 Crsgardner, May 2, 2007
  2. naterprius

    naterprius Senior Member

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    That would be a motor mount. Leave it connected.

    Nate
     
    #2 naterprius, May 2, 2007
  3. Crsgardner

    Crsgardner New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(naterprius @ May 2 2007, 07:17 PM) [snapback]434329[/snapback]</div>
    Ok. Well, I wasn't planning on taking it off. Is it supposed to be the lowest part of the car?
     
    #3 Crsgardner, May 2, 2007
  4. Ghostrider

    Ghostrider New Member

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    Just from the pictures it appears that the 2007 does not have the "lip" that makes adding a nose mask so difficult.
     
    #4 Ghostrider, May 2, 2007
  5. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Just ended up that way. I'd rather smack it instead of the oil pan, suspension.... and any number of other more delicate bits.

    Hey wait! The wheels and tires are lower! :)
     
    #5 darelldd, May 2, 2007
  6. Cheap!

    Cheap! New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 2 2007, 10:24 PM) [snapback]434486[/snapback]</div>
    :lol: :lol: :lol:
     
    #6 Cheap!, May 2, 2007
  7. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    The service manual refers to that as an "engine moving control rod".
    It's a link that prevents the engine from twisting too far in its
    mounts from the countertorque of the wheels; the rubber bushings
    still allow it a little motion regardless for vibration damping.
    .
    If you put the car in Park but without the emergency brake applied
    and open the hood, then push and pull the car back and forth to
    rock it against the parking pawl, you can see the whole engine and
    transaxle move forward and back a little at each extreme. The link
    restricts that motion.
    .
    _H*
     
    #7 hobbit, May 3, 2007
  8. douglas001001

    douglas001001 smug doug

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 2 2007, 10:24 PM) [snapback]434486[/snapback]</div>
    Didn't you forget the "I don't have that/its not needed in my EV" part of your reply?

    :p
     
    #8 douglas001001, May 3, 2007
  9. Crsgardner

    Crsgardner New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 2 2007, 11:24 PM) [snapback]434486[/snapback]</div>
    Well personally, I'd prefer the engine covers near the front were the lowest. Those are easily replaceable pieces of plastic. I've bumped into those things in my 3 months owning the Prius than anything else.
     
    #9 Crsgardner, May 3, 2007
  10. Jack Kelly

    Jack Kelly New Member

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    Hmmm, very observant.
     
    #10 Jack Kelly, May 3, 2007
  11. surfacinglove

    surfacinglove New Member

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    Anyone else notice how low the Prius is to the ground? I've hit the undercarriage a few times in just a month driving around parking lots in the Seattle area and anything with steep and sudden changing grades. Everytime I back out of my friend's driveway, I catch the front plastic lip a little, while dropping down into the street water runoff gutter. It sucks!
     
    #11 surfacinglove, May 3, 2007
  12. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(surfacinglove @ May 3 2007, 04:38 PM) [snapback]435099[/snapback]</div>
    The same thing happens with me whenever I go into a certain parking lot at more than 5 mph. Also, most parking lot curbs are high enough that the bottom scrapes, if I forget to stop before the wheels touch them.
    It's gotten so I end up parking at least 3 ft from those curbs just to avoid that. However, I do occasionally forget. It's almost to the point where I don't cringe anymore.

    Dave M.
     
    #12 dmckinstry, May 4, 2007
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