Broke my undercarriage plastic thing

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by footprintx, Jun 8, 2008.

  1. footprintx

    footprintx New Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2008
    38
    1
    0
    Location:
    Riverside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I broke that plastic piece that runs along the front part of the undercarriage of the car, and now it hangs a little down and catches on speed bumps and such. I took it in to my local Toyota Dealer and the dealer said a new plastic piece would cost $345, but he could jerry rig it for $40 and if it didn't work he'd apply that $40 to the cost of the re-do.

    Well, it didn't work, this was a few days ago and as soon as I hit 75 on the freeway, it came down and started dragging.

    Any ideas on what I should do? Is that piece even necessary or will not having it significantly decrease my mpg? Do you think they'd have one on the local pick-a-part? Could I just bolt on a large piece of graphite to the plastic that's still stable down there? It's up near the front and the holes where the clips attach are busted except for one of them.
     
    #1 footprintx, Jun 8, 2008
  2. Neicy

    Neicy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    834
    19
    0
    Location:
    Wakefield, MA.
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    You mean like this, only worse? I got some fender washers but haven't gotten under it to see if it works yet. I think I will duct tape mine before I would put out $345.00 to get it replaced.
     

    Attached Files:

    #2 Neicy, Jun 8, 2008
  3. footprintx

    footprintx New Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2008
    38
    1
    0
    Location:
    Riverside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Yes, exactly! Only ... worse. It used to look like that. Look out, once it starts hanging like that it starts getting caught on everything: speed-bumps, steep-driveways. Should I just duct-tape it?
     
    #3 footprintx, Jun 8, 2008
  4. wchardin

    wchardin Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    2,055
    3
    0
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Did you take it to a Toyota dealer or a different type dealer? I would try and shop around. $345 seems much for that. A local dealer might be able to drill holes and fix it flush to the rest of the undercarriage. Good luck and let us know if you get it fixed.
     
    #4 wchardin, Jun 8, 2008
  5. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2006
    431
    23
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    When I did something similar to my car, I used some epoxy (the two-part putty stuff) to fix it.

    I removed the bolt, kneaded up some putty, and smoothed it over the area, overlapping it over the existing plastic on the top and bottom and smoothing it relatively flat. I pushed the screw through a bit, just enough to make a modest hole. When it dried, I reattached it. Worked perfectly.
     
    #5 Scott_R, Jun 8, 2008
  6. GatorJZ

    GatorJZ Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2008
    285
    17
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Just to make it easier for you, it is called a "splash guard".
     
    #6 GatorJZ, Jun 8, 2008
    Pris likes this.
  7. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    10,664
    567
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    PriusChat Shop, get the alloy undertray. It will cost a little more but is much tougher for next time.
     
    #7 patsparks, Jun 8, 2008
  8. footprintx

    footprintx New Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2008
    38
    1
    0
    Location:
    Riverside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    @patsparks: couldn't seem to find that on PriusChat Shop, by search or browsing. :(
     
    #8 footprintx, Jun 9, 2008
  9. GatorJZ

    GatorJZ Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2008
    285
    17
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Search for BT Tech Skid Plate.
     
    #9 GatorJZ, Jun 9, 2008
  10. Syclone

    Syclone Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2006
    540
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I just had mine replaced. It was 61.00 plus labor ( dealer did it free because one of the mechanics had screwed up a service item). Find another dealer!!
     
    #10 Syclone, Jun 9, 2008
  11. Neicy

    Neicy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    834
    19
    0
    Location:
    Wakefield, MA.
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    #11 Neicy, Jun 9, 2008
  12. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,194
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I also suggest the skid plate...it doesn't hang down like the plastic one and it adds the benefit of added protection to the underside....and is cheaper than the plastic replacement to boot.
     
    #12 efusco, Jun 9, 2008
    kidfried likes this.
  13. ZC1

    ZC1 Junior Prius Owner

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2008
    711
    13
    0
    Location:
    Metro Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    If you have all the pieces, there is an inexpensive but extremely durable solution in two words:

    JB Weld

    It's not only for metal but plastic too. Find it in your autoparts store.

    ZC1
     
    #13 ZC1, Jun 9, 2008
  14. footprintx

    footprintx New Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2008
    38
    1
    0
    Location:
    Riverside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    so ... i have it taped now, and am seriously leaning towards that skid plate, more from a lack of options than anything else. I've read the two reviews about the skid plate, efusco and fboyle2000s.

    i talked to the guy at the Toyota Dealership, and he said he'd install it for me, since his jerry-rig didn't work.

    Has anybody else bought this thing? What do they think? Efusco, once you got more clearance, did that help with the noise (ie: was it the plate reflecting the road noise, or was it the part of yours that was rubbing up against the plate?) is there anything i should tell them to save them some time / incorrect installation?

    thanks for all y'alls advice.
     
    #14 footprintx, Jun 19, 2008
  15. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2005
    15,256
    1,580
    0
    Location:
    off into the sunset
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    $345?! Holy crap. Twist a short sheet-metal screw into it and call it done. Duct tape will work, but only until the first rain.
     
    #15 hyo silver, Jun 19, 2008
    Screaming Red likes this.
  16. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    3,033
    708
    75
    Location:
    Ballamer, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Forget the duct tape. Try Gorilla Tape -- Home Depot has it. Black, opaque,
    very high tack, lots of fibers.

    Just as good as the "300 MPH" mil spec duct tape that a Marine buddy
    "liberated" and gave me some while back.
     
    #16 Rokeby, Jun 19, 2008
  17. Allanwboston

    Allanwboston Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2014
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Wakefield, Ma
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    CF Advance For 04-09 Toyota Prius Rear Exterior Tailgate Liftgate Handle Garnish Non Painted Black NPB 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
    ALSO AVAILABLE PAINT FINISHED TO MATCH VEHICLE
    AMAZON
    [​IMG]
     
    #17 Allanwboston, Feb 16, 2020
  18. eljefino

    eljefino Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2018
    40
    24
    0
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Drill some holes and run zip ties through. You're never going to make $300 back in gas doing this correctly.
     
    #18 eljefino, Feb 17, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)