Undercarriage Cleaning

priusFTW · 04-20-2007, 10:20 AM

Hello!

Yesterday i put my vehicle up on ramps to check my BT plate install and while it was up I thought i would give the undercarriage a good cleaning with a garden hose. There are two plastic panels, probably about 1/2 foot wide more or less, that run under the front and rear doors on both driver and passenger side. When I tap them with my hands, alot of sand and small pebbles came out, probably from the sanding of our roads in winter. Does anyone know how to give these a good cleaning to get that debris out? It appears there is a locknut washer attached, but I don't want to remove without asking here first. Any thoughts?

bobc · 04-20-2007, 01:28 PM

They do come off rather easily. Be careful with the bolts as they are plastic and I seem to remember that they are not 10mm precisely so, the socket will spin...

It is a losing battle tho. They pack up again with sand after the next snow/rain storm. I have resigned myself to just putting the hoze nozzle in at the end of the panel and a couple of the drain holes to rinse things out. Not too worried about the sand sitting on top of the plastic but more so the salt on the metal that's being covered up.

Maybe I'll look at cutting a couple of holes in the plastic a key places to get the hoze nozzle in there...

Cheers,

**Tideland Prius** · 04-20-2007, 01:37 PM

Another spot you might want to clean is in the rear wheel area. There are two "problem" spots that tend to love sand.

1. If you look forward of the rear wheel, you'll see this plastic thing sticking out perpendicular to the wind flow. In front of it, you'll see a joint (not sure what the parts are). Shoot the water there and you'll see brown water.

2. Inside the rear wheel well towards the rear. (near the mudguards if you have them installed). Shoot water in there and the water will come out the bottom of the rear skirt. If you haven't done so in a while, it'll take a good 15-30 secs before the water turns clear.

Oh and and another is if you look at the rear skirt, you'll see a hole close to the rear wheel. Jet water up there and see how much sand comes out.

priusFTW · 04-20-2007, 02:00 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 20 2007, 01:37 PM) [snapback]426834[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Another spot you might want to clean is in the rear wheel area. There are two "problem" spots that tend to love sand.

1. If you look forward of the rear wheel, you'll see this plastic thing sticking out perpendicular to the wind flow. In front of it, you'll see a joint (not sure what the parts are). Shoot the water there and you'll see brown water.

2. Inside the rear wheel well towards the rear. (near the mudguards if you have them installed). Shoot water in there and the water will come out the bottom of the rear skirt. If you haven't done so in a while, it'll take a good 15-30 secs before the water turns clear.

Oh and and another is if you look at the rear skirt, you'll see a hole close to the rear wheel. Jet water up there and see how much sand comes out.
[/b]

Hey thanks guys for the response, it is greatly appreciated. I love to keep my car looking clean and running great! Kudos!

**Tideland Prius** · 04-20-2007, 02:04 PM

wow... glad to know my post was clear lol. Oh and one more thing. What you're doing to the undercarriage near the doors, do the same for the wheel wells (front and rear). Of course, wear gloves cause there's a lotta crud in there.

priusFTW · 04-20-2007, 03:07 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 20 2007, 02:04 PM) [snapback]426862[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

wow... glad to know my post was clear lol. Oh and one more thing. What you're doing to the undercarriage near the doors, do the same for the wheel wells (front and rear). Of course, wear gloves cause there's a lotta crud in there.
[/b]

Well, I don't know if it is clear, lol, I am picturing it in my mind. Later tonight I will examine the areas you noted to make sure I'm perfectly clear.

**Tideland Prius** · 04-20-2007, 08:15 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusFTW @ Apr 20 2007, 12:07 PM) [snapback]426907[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Well, I don't know if it is clear, lol, I am picturing it in my mind. Later tonight I will examine the areas you noted to make sure I'm perfectly clear.
[/b]

alright, sure!

04-20-2007, 10:20 AM	#1
priusFTW Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: White Mtns New Hampshire Posts: 344 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Hello! Yesterday i put my vehicle up on ramps to check my BT plate install and while it was up I thought i would give the undercarriage a good cleaning with a garden hose. There are two plastic panels, probably about 1/2 foot wide more or less, that run under the front and rear doors on both driver and passenger side. When I tap them with my hands, alot of sand and small pebbles came out, probably from the sanding of our roads in winter. Does anyone know how to give these a good cleaning to get that debris out? It appears there is a locknut washer attached, but I don't want to remove without asking here first. Any thoughts? __________________ Mods thus far: Tinted Back and Rear Windows 35%. (guaranteed for life, professionally installed) BT Plate Venuture Shield Clear Bra (guranteed for life, professionally installed) Replaced OEM tires with Nokian WR's 44/42 inflation Replaced Mats with all weather Prius Mats VAIS TECH SLI Install for Ipod Harness Fix Engine Block Heater (done professionally by Wayne aka FireEngineer) Replaced stock speakers with Infinity Kappa 60.7cs front 62.7i rear; installed dynamat all doors My avg MPG = 54 2007 Silver Metallic aka "Silver Bullet" took delivery Dec 29, 2006 "NOBODY'S OFF THE HOOK" - Rufus Wainwright from the album "Release the Stars"

04-20-2007, 01:37 PM	#3
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	Another spot you might want to clean is in the rear wheel area. There are two "problem" spots that tend to love sand. 1. If you look forward of the rear wheel, you'll see this plastic thing sticking out perpendicular to the wind flow. In front of it, you'll see a joint (not sure what the parts are). Shoot the water there and you'll see brown water. 2. Inside the rear wheel well towards the rear. (near the mudguards if you have them installed). Shoot water in there and the water will come out the bottom of the rear skirt. If you haven't done so in a while, it'll take a good 15-30 secs before the water turns clear. Oh and and another is if you look at the rear skirt, you'll see a hole close to the rear wheel. Jet water up there and see how much sand comes out. __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package 25/10/04 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Kit 2008 Deep Black smart fortwo passion coupé - sold (6.1L/100km) 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Technology Package 29/08/09 All-Weather Mats, Homemade Console Pads, LED lighting "Ask an Expert" on Facebook I am not employed by Toyota, and the opinions expressed by me as a Prius Expert are not those of Toyota.

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04-20-2007, 01:28 PM	#2
bobc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Durham, NH Posts: 360 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	They do come off rather easily. Be careful with the bolts as they are plastic and I seem to remember that they are not 10mm precisely so, the socket will spin... It is a losing battle tho. They pack up again with sand after the next snow/rain storm. I have resigned myself to just putting the hoze nozzle in at the end of the panel and a couple of the drain holes to rinse things out. Not too worried about the sand sitting on top of the plastic but more so the salt on the metal that's being covered up. Maybe I'll look at cutting a couple of holes in the plastic a key places to get the hoze nozzle in there... Cheers,

04-20-2007, 02:04 PM	#5
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	wow... glad to know my post was clear lol. Oh and one more thing. What you're doing to the undercarriage near the doors, do the same for the wheel wells (front and rear). Of course, wear gloves cause there's a lotta crud in there.