No TSB? Starter Plate (but we GOT no starter)

hill · 03-31-2008, 12:51 PM

Took the 2004 Prius in for an oil change & the tech showed me a tab on the starter plate that can possibly gouge into a (wire?) harness/jacket right next to it. The tab IS kinda sharp. I'm going to either file it back and/or double up the jacket.

I'm guessing the engine is used in other model Toyotas that HAVE starters, and so the Prius simply has a plate over the hole where the starter would otherwise be. Maybe you can just take it off and grind it. You can't just turn it over and leave the tab on, even though the plate is a symetric oval shape ... or the sharp areas will be equally close to a high voltage cable jacket.

Maybe they changed the starter plate on later models that most of you folks have, but it's funny I haven't seen a post about this yet ... or a TSB from the factory. No pics yet, but you CAN see pics on PC of the area in question posted for EBH installs. I'll get one up later today when I get home.

Any body? Any body?

nerfer · 03-31-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill

Took the 2004 Prius in for an oil change & the tech showed me a tab on the starter plate that can possibly gouge into a (wire?) harness/jacket right next to it. The tab IS kinda sharp. I'm going to either file it back and/or double up the jacket.

I'm guessing the engine is used in other model Toyotas that HAVE starters, and so the Prius simply has a plate over the hole where the starter would otherwise be. Maybe you can just take it off and grind it. You can't just turn it over and leave the tab on, even though the plate is a symetric oval shape ... or the sharp areas will be equally close to a high voltage cable jacket.

Maybe they changed the starter plate on later models that most of you folks have, but it's funny I haven't seen a post about this yet ... or a TSB from the factory. No pics yet, but you CAN see pics on PC of the area in question posted for EBH installs. I'll get one up later today when I get home.

Any body? Any body?

This is a sore spot that I believe Hobbit has brought up, with pictures. He recommends rotating that plate so the tab isn't pointing that direction. I really should check it out on my car, I just don't crawl around underneath it too often.

richard schumacher · 03-31-2008, 02:10 PM

In Hobbit's photos it sure looks like the plate is designed to fit the other way round, where it would not interfere with the harness, and that it was simply installed wrong.

hill · 03-31-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

In Hobbit's photos it sure looks like the plate is designed to fit the other way round, where it would not interfere with the harness, and that it was simply installed wrong.

Shoot, wishing you'd of posted a link to hobbit's pics, because I don't have time to search for 'em right this moment. But like I said, if you flip it, the sharp tab will be close to the high voltage line, placed about 3" higher up. The tab simply needs to be removed, to do it right, as it's a risk whether flipped or in the original position.

hobbit · 03-31-2008, 05:46 PM

Google for "hobbit" and "prius". It's pretty simple. [and, I'll
admit, rather gratifying...] Here's the starter blockoff-plate
writeup, in any case.
.
_H*

hill · 03-31-2008, 09:05 PM

Ok, back home:

HERE'S MY concern:
hobbit's high voltage cable is what I'd call "moderately" close to the sharp tab, once he turned it over. Skeuwz me if I borrow your pic ~ see the red arrow:

If our starter plate were turned around, it'd be less than HALF his distance between the sharp tab, and the high voltage cable (I'm guessing his is 1.25"-1.5" away) ... perhaps just because of the way the cable sits in its harnesss(es). Any rate, I'm talking about 3/4" close, on our prius. Personally, I'd rather the sharp tab wear through a NON-high voltage cable

In any event, if the dealer won't remedy the problem for free, why not just grind it off once you take it loose, rather than point at another victim? Maybe it's just me, but I don't want no stinkin sharp tab close to EITHER cable.

Seems like the dealer ought to be willing to make it right.

Has anybody tried? Wish I'd have noticed when the Prius was jacked up on stand for our EBH install . . . rather than have the Firestone dude point it out some time later. Sigh

hobbit · 03-31-2008, 09:34 PM

To clarify, the black cable is not a high voltage one. It's a
harness carrying the motor position sensors and a couple of
thermistors. The orange one in the picture [and I can't
imagine why you don't simply point to mine, as opposed to
a diminished-quality copy] is for the A/C compressor.
.
Turning the plate around doesn't really place metal anywhere
dangerously near the A/C harness, but does get it satisfactorily
away from the MG sensor bundle. The picture's sort of got
the wrong perspective to make that clear.
.
_H*

hill · 04-01-2008, 08:02 AM

Actually, that WAS your pic that I posted ... just blown up to show the closeness the the orange cable. NOT high voltage? That's good to know, but I'd of sworn that all the high voltage cables (only) were orange.

Patrick Wong · 04-01-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill

Actually, that WAS your pic that I posted ... just blown up to show the closeness the the orange cable. NOT high voltage? That's good to know, but I'd of sworn that all the high voltage cables (only) were orange.

The orange cable leading to the A/C compressor is a high voltage cable. You are correct, orange signifies high voltage.

It may be that in your car, the clearance between that cable and the starter plate is less than Hobbit's car. Then the best solution would be to grind off the tab if possible.

SyCo · 04-01-2008, 02:18 PM

Hill, have you checked under the car ?

I've rotated the plate on my 2005 and there is no way it would interfere with the HV cable (orange). At least it is much much less at risk than the other way around.

Just go and take a close look by yourself and you'll see. No need of grinding the plate.

03-31-2008, 12:51 PM	#1
hill High Fiber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South OC So Cal & the Flathead Valley MT Posts: 3,887 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 15 Thanked 93 Times in 68 Posts Friends: 12	No TSB? Starter Plate (but we GOT no starter) Took the 2004 Prius in for an oil change & the tech showed me a tab on the starter plate that can possibly gouge into a (wire?) harness/jacket right next to it. The tab IS kinda sharp. I'm going to either file it back and/or double up the jacket. I'm guessing the engine is used in other model Toyotas that HAVE starters, and so the Prius simply has a plate over the hole where the starter would otherwise be. Maybe you can just take it off and grind it. You can't just turn it over and leave the tab on, even though the plate is a symetric oval shape ... or the sharp areas will be equally close to a high voltage cable jacket. Maybe they changed the starter plate on later models that most of you folks have, but it's funny I haven't seen a post about this yet ... or a TSB from the factory. No pics yet, but you CAN see pics on PC of the area in question posted for EBH installs. I'll get one up later today when I get home. Any body? Any body? __________________ I Prius Chat

03-31-2008, 02:10 PM	#3
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,515 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 100 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: No TSB? Starter Plate (but we GOT no starter) In Hobbit's photos it sure looks like the plate is designed to fit the other way round, where it would not interfere with the harness, and that it was simply installed wrong.

03-31-2008, 05:46 PM	#5
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 3,630 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 216 Times in 118 Posts Friends: 0	Re: No TSB? Starter Plate (but we GOT no starter) Google for "hobbit" and "prius". It's pretty simple. [and, I'll admit, rather gratifying...] Here's the starter blockoff-plate writeup, in any case. . _H*

03-31-2008, 09:05 PM	#6
hill High Fiber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South OC So Cal & the Flathead Valley MT Posts: 3,887 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 15 Thanked 93 Times in 68 Posts Friends: 12	Re: No TSB? Starter Plate (but we GOT no starter) Ok, back home: HERE'S MY concern: hobbit's high voltage cable is what I'd call "moderately" close to the sharp tab, once he turned it over. Skeuwz me if I borrow your pic ~ see the red arrow: If our starter plate were turned around, it'd be less than HALF his distance between the sharp tab, and the high voltage cable (I'm guessing his is 1.25"-1.5" away) ... perhaps just because of the way the cable sits in its harnesss(es). Any rate, I'm talking about 3/4" close, on our prius. Personally, I'd rather the sharp tab wear through a NON-high voltage cable In any event, if the dealer won't remedy the problem for free, why not just grind it off once you take it loose, rather than point at another victim? Maybe it's just me, but I don't want no stinkin sharp tab close to EITHER cable. Seems like the dealer ought to be willing to make it right. Has anybody tried? Wish I'd have noticed when the Prius was jacked up on stand for our EBH install . . . rather than have the Firestone dude point it out some time later. Sigh

03-31-2008, 09:34 PM	#7
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 3,630 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 216 Times in 118 Posts Friends: 0	Re: No TSB? Starter Plate (but we GOT no starter) To clarify, the black cable is not a high voltage one. It's a harness carrying the motor position sensors and a couple of thermistors. The orange one in the picture [and I can't imagine why you don't simply point to mine, as opposed to a diminished-quality copy] is for the A/C compressor. . Turning the plate around doesn't really place metal anywhere dangerously near the A/C harness, but does get it satisfactorily away from the MG sensor bundle. The picture's sort of got the wrong perspective to make that clear. . _H* Last edited by hobbit; 03-31-2008 at 09:40 PM.

04-01-2008, 08:02 AM	#8
hill High Fiber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South OC So Cal & the Flathead Valley MT Posts: 3,887 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 15 Thanked 93 Times in 68 Posts Friends: 12	Re: No TSB? Starter Plate (but we GOT no starter) Actually, that WAS your pic that I posted ... just blown up to show the closeness the the orange cable. NOT high voltage? That's good to know, but I'd of sworn that all the high voltage cables (only) were orange.

04-01-2008, 02:18 PM	#10
SyCo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Quebec Posts: 155 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 2	Re: No TSB? Starter Plate (but we GOT no starter) Hill, have you checked under the car ? I've rotated the plate on my 2005 and there is no way it would interfere with the HV cable (orange). At least it is much much less at risk than the other way around. Just go and take a close look by yourself and you'll see. No need of grinding the plate.