Help with debadging

[rep308]

The 2008 have holes under the side "Hybrid" badges as well. I was able to stick it right back on. I think the badges look tacky and they are a pain to wax around.

I used a hair drier, goo gone and wood shim as the putty knife to wedge it off. It took less than 5 minutes

[Doc Willie]

I removed the side ones from my '07. I am still learning the best way to fill and paint the TWO holes on each side.

Why remove them? They did not look right and are not Starfleet issue.

[prius729]

Depending on the size of the holes, I'm guessing it can't be that big, get some green vinyl stickers and cover up the holes.

[tkil]

It would be spiffy if you could use the holes to install turn indicators...

[Doc Willie]

Originally Posted by prius729

Depending on the size of the holes, I'm guessing it can't be that big, get some green vinyl stickers and cover up the holes.

Would have worked if I had removed the badges BEFORE I had the stripes put on.

[Steamboatsig]

Why remove badges?

I removed my badges and instantly gained 10 mpg. Plus, my Prius gained 15 hp, easy!

It must have something to do with the aerodynamics/weight ratio frequency thing.

[statultra]

what i would do, is put some fiberglass where the hole is and use glazing filler, if its a small hole, if its kinda big you would have to slap on some filler, i would get some lightweight filler as it will help.

[Doc Willie]

Originally Posted by statultra

what i would do, is put some fiberglass where the hole is and use glazing filler, if its a small hole, if its kinda big you would have to slap on some filler, i would get some lightweight filler as it will help.

I got the filler part. It's getting the courage to grind enough away, including the surrounding (gasp) paint job to be able to prime and paint and have it all come out smooth. This is why one usually has professionals do this stuff.

[Hybrid Effects]

Just get what they call small plastic nails or small hole plugs that is your best option.

[Ct. Ken V]

Hi, all,

In photos of the European or Japanese island Priuses, don't they have side marker lights at that location? That may be what the holes were originally intended for [with any Hybrid/HSD emblem simply re-located within a few inches (if THEY even use them)].

Maybe Toyota decided to stop making 2 kinds of fenders for the production lines [those without holes for the USA/Canada market & those with holes for the rest of the world (if they need them for the lights?)], but as far as replacement crash parts for our '04's & '05's in North America (& anywhere else?), they would still have to provide fenders without holes until 2014.

I've heard that the ultra high tinsel strength steel used in the Prius requires body shops with special weld'g equipment, so if Toyota only provides the fenders with holes as crash parts then they would have to have plugs made of the same material of the right size for those specially equiped body shops to weld in place to mimic a stock hole-less fender for the North American '04 & '05 models.

As an alternative the body shops could just order a pair of Hybrid/HSD emblems to cover the hole(s) on the fender(s), but the insurance companies probably wouldn't want to pay for 2 of the approx $30 emblems to be added to a car they weren't stock on. Yet if the hole-less fenders become unavailable in the future, I think the emblem addition will be a cheaper solution for the insurance than paying the shop to obtain/cut a plug, prep the metal for weld'g, do the weld'g, grind the weld bead flush, & then prime it (a lot of extra work before the color coat).

Of course whether weld'g is necessary instead of plastic body filler (Bondo), would depend on the size of the hole (which nobody has measured & reported yet). I know some of you don't approve of the emblems but I think I would rather have the factory hole covered by an emblem than have a welded plug maybe blister underneath the paint (as I had happen to a welded fender on another car years ago) or a plastic Bondo plug break loose & fall out due to road vibration.

Back to you who already have the holes & want to remove your emblems, see if that parts/accessory site that has the Japanese only parts has the side marker lights that I think I remember seeing. If you're good with electrical wiring you can tie into the regular light'g wiring & set them up as simple side markers or make them into side signals by tying into the signal light cicuits. Just some thoughts, crazy as they may be.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)