2006 - Rear Bumper Removal

Need your help guys! Attempting to install the TPA400 rear parking sensors on my 2006 Prius T-Spirit.

Drilled bumper and installed sensors AOK but cannot fathom how to remove the darn bumper to wire it all up!

The installation document I have shows the fixings that I need to remove but having done so it isn't moving so either I'm missing something or the guide isn't telling the whole story.

I've removed 2 screws at the top, 2 plastic rivets underneath, two screw/bolts either side and three in each wheel well.

Can anyone help me get the bumper off before I give up and admit defeat!

I'd thought bumper removal would be the easy bit!

Below is the page on removal, I can't identify the fixings with the '?' and the bolts in the wheel well don't even appear!

 

Thank you, so it looks to be considerably more difficult than the install guide would suggest!

Appreciate the guide, I'll take another look tomorrow but I've no idea what I'm looking for now I mean what is a stopper/clip/claw?? And where on the image Toyota supply are these 10 clips? Grrrr

 

Further searching here (love this site!) has unveiled this .pdf showing an exploded view of the rear bumper.

Armed with that and your guide I should be good to go so will have another attempt tomorrow!

 

Thanks, it did help. I subscribed to ALLDATAdiy.com just moments ago to get access to the full removal guide as I wanted to be sure what i was up against before I try again and it's now beginning to sense.

It was the claws along the sides that I was confused about. The two claws at the back seem easily disengaged by rotating the bumper from the bottom but how do I release the side ones?

These still cause some concern. There doesn't seem to be much room in the gap between bumper and side panel, am I supposed to be inserting a (tape wrapped) screwdriver into this gap and if so, how do I disengage the claws?

Any help gratefully received failing which I shall apply liberal quantities of protective tape tomorrow and see what I can do!

 

I'm sure it will all be straightforward now I know what I'm dealing with. When we first tried we didn't even know these claws were present as Toyota's less then helpful install document made absolutely no reference to them!

Late now but tomorrow is a new day

Typical though as I'd thought the bumper removal would be the easiest bit. Painting the sensors and drilling the bumper went ahead without incident and the colour match is perfect so it was a shame to have this hiccup but such is life

 

Excellent, thank you. Did you remove the bumper yourself?

If I succeed in getting the bumper cover off I'll make notes and take photos so I can document it for others.

 

Ah ok, I'll be sure to grab photos as I progress assuming I don't get stuck!

 

Quick reply to update the thread.

Managed to remove the bumper. Found a wallpaper scraper was the best tool to release the claws, no-way a screwdriver would do the job without seriously messing up the bumper paint!

Typically, I had installed the Prius mud flaps only a few days previous and these have to come off for the bumper to be removed. I managed to do that with a right-angled screwdriver rather than remove the rear wheels again but it was a real pain to do!

Bumper came off real easy otherwise and the sensors are now installed and the wiring is in the trunk. Just have to finish the connections now but it was such a beautiful day yesterday I chose to hit the beach and leave that for later this week!

I'll create a new thread with images of the removal process should anyone else want to do so.

Thanks to all who posted with advice, appreciated.

 

I didn't take enough photos to fully document removal but it was a lot easier than I had feared.

The hardest part is releasing the side catches where bumper meets rear wing.

I found the easiest solution was to apply copious masking tape and then use a thing wall paper stripper type spatula. Slid into the gap it was easy to release the catches by pressing gently and the bumper corners popped off.

From there on, all that remained was to undo the various screws and plastic retaining clips.

I may need to do it all again anyway as the reversing sensors are playing up, sone day they work fine, another they just emit a long beeeep when reverse is engaged. Not sure if it's damp in the sensors or what