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Replaced broken hatch door "garnish"

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by LewLasher, Sep 27, 2016.

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  1. LewLasher

    LewLasher Member

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    3 other people have reported the failure of the "garnish" piece, which attaches to the hatch door, just below the lower strip of "rear windshield", and which, when closed, is positioned just over the license plate.

    Loose "garnish" (the handle for the hatch back)?! | PriusChat
    Broken hatch door - garnish piece | PriusChat
    Replaced: Liftgate Garnish / hatch door handle | PriusChat

    I broke mine this past January, in a story similar to the 2nd of the 3 previous posts. I grabbed the latch handle to open the hatch, but, instead, the "garnish" piece started to come loose. However, it remained attached (loosely) to the rest of the door for 8 months. Finally, however, just this past Saturday, it detached altogether, and I had to tape it to the door.

    Yesterday (Monday), I stopped at a Toyota parts department (I had been away for the weekend, so this was on my way home, and I told them that I would not be buying anything there, but just asking questions for my own benefit). The helpful parts guy (at an unnamed Toyota dealer) told me that the part was called a "garnish", and told it me that it costs about $325. I asked if it were possible to get a used "garnish." He thought it was unlikely, because, he said, junkyards would probably prefer to keep the garnish attached to the rest of the door, to retain the much greater value of the complete door+garnish assembly. The parts guy also seemed unsurprised by my story. He said something to the effect that "these break a lot."

    I decided to bite the bullet and swallow the (considerable) expense of installing a new garnish. (No matter how many times I keep saying it, it doesn't get any less silly to call this thing a "garnish.") I stopped at my local Toyota dealer about 3 p.m. yesterday, and they were able to order it, so that it arrived by 8 a.m. this morning. I do give Toyota credit for their efficient warehouse + delivery system. $575 later, my hatch door is good as new, at least, as garnished as new. I decided that I should just get this over with as quickly as possible, rather than drive around with my car being held together with tape until I could find a suitable used part. Also, I was not confident that a used garnish, which would have to be separated from its original hatch door, would survive the separation sufficiently intact so that it could be re-attached securely to my hatch door. Moreover, even though last year I ended my previous 20-year habit of having service work done only at Toyota dealers, I decided to go back to the Toyota dealer for this job, both because they were able to order the part so fast and because this seemed to me to be an unusual/peculiar job, where a Toyota specialist might have an advantage over an independent mechanic.

    At any rate, for better or worse, it's fixed now; it's over with. That is the best thing I can say about the experience.
     
    #1 LewLasher, Sep 27, 2016
    bisco likes this.
  2. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Hopefully it's not too late for you to get your dealer to match other dealer's prices, Multiple Toyota dealers sell the part online for $230 - 250.

    The same piece on ours just broke. It came loose about a week ago and a couple of the tabs broke off yesterday as I was opening the hatch after work. Went by my mechanic this morning and he quoted $400 for the new part including installation. Part should be in Friday and I'll drive over Monday for him to install it. In the meantime I'll leave the car in the garage if it rains so the wiring behind the garnish isn't exposed to the weather.

    He said he's seen quite a few broken garnish pieces.
     
    #2 srellim234, Oct 26, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2016
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    $400 is a lot, they are available used for about $100

    SM-N900P ?
     
    #3 JC91006, Oct 26, 2016
  4. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Gosh, how much labor was charged for the garnish replacement. It's a pretty simple job really. Toughest part is removing the screws for the hatch latch assembly. Other than that, very easy.
     
    #4 cyberpriusII, Oct 26, 2016
  5. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Lew indicated $325 for the part; $575 includes installation. Mine is $400 for a new part including installation. That's why I suggested he check about price matching for the new part.

    I'm not much of a DIY guy. I realize it would be a lot cheaper to get a used one and do a self-install but I would probably break tabs attaching it to the car. I'll let my mechanic do it. Not that the odds are high it will break again soon but at least this way it will have a warranty on it for a while.
     
    #5 srellim234, Oct 26, 2016
  6. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    As several of the sexist piggies on this site will tell you -- yes, you Bisco -- if I can do it, anyone can (just kidding btw about the sexist piggies).

    When I first came here, I had trouble swapping out the cabin filter. Thanks to dozens of people who have been very patient -- but even more so to myself for having the courage, I have come a long way. Not trying to sound conceited at all. Still lots of things I would not tackle, but with most of it, if you go slow and easy -- and yell for Uart, Patrick, Bwilson, usnavystgc and about five dozen others (sorry, can't remember all names at the moment, but you all have been great), you can usually get through it.

    most exciting repair moment so far, attaching the negative 12v cable and getting showered with sparks. Most satisfying, knowing I was NOT going to drain the transaxle fluid myself....:LOL:

    So, the real key is knowing YOUR limitations. So, no problem with having it done elsewhere.
     
    #6 cyberpriusII, Oct 26, 2016
    srellim234 likes this.
  7. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    sorry, double post -- not my fault, I swear....
     
    #7 cyberpriusII, Oct 26, 2016
  8. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Nice side benefit to the piece the mechanic got. It included the rubber piece over the hatch switch so I don't have to replace it (the original melted off as has been described in other threads). The new piece also also is constructed with some plastic screws that replace the thing plastic clips that broke on the old one. This should be a little more durable. Total bill was $410.11, installed and out the door.
     
    #8 srellim234, Oct 31, 2016
  9. bpeschka

    bpeschka Junior Member

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    I've had a failing "Garnish" for several months and have just been babying it. Today, I finally went to an all Japanese junkyard in Phoenix who just happened to have one that someone ordered and didn't pickup. It's the wrong color but only cost $75 and the paint on my '07 Prius is trashed from never being garaged. Was lucky because mostly they're still attached to the hatch and they want to sell intact. Found the part number and looked around on Amazon and EBay. The net result for me is:

    Dealer: $320.80 + tax
    Amazon/Ebay: $120 - $220
    Junk: $75

    The part number is 76801-47060 with a suffix that indicates paint color. This is the garnish with the switches/harness for the lock and unlock mechanisms. (Smart Key or whatever it's called)

    I also found 76801-47040 on the actual garnish which I think is for the basic plastic part, which the dealer can't or won't sell youl
     
    #9 bpeschka, Nov 23, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2016
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