1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

rear license plate light change out

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by tomcat, Mar 4, 2014.

  1. tomcat

    tomcat Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2014
    1
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I own a 2008 that has a burnt out license plate light. The interior hatch panel is one solid piece . No small removable compartment to easily access the light bulb. How does the rear panel detach or come apart so that I can replace the bulb, I do not see a clear way to take off the panel. Appreciate your input
     
    #1 tomcat, Mar 4, 2014
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,470
    8,383
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The rear inner hatch is held together by 11 clips. Start on one corner of the hatch and pull hard downward and the interior piece will just come off. This may hurt your hand a bit as the clips are held on pretty tight. But that's all there is to it, it will feel like it's gonna break, but it really doesn't.

    There are other's that have a picture diagram of this hatch piece you are removing. It's on a few threads if you would like to search.
     
    #2 JC91006, Mar 4, 2014
  3. garglo

    garglo Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    99
    45
    0
    Location:
    Port St Lucie, FL
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I sprayed a little silicone on the clips to make it easier next time.
     
    #3 garglo, Mar 5, 2014
    usnavystgc likes this.
  4. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2011
    3,159
    988
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    There is a panel removal tool that I have that helps with this. If it is very cold out, you may break a clip. Plastic gets brittle when its cold. It is indeed a pain in the butt to take of the whole plastic panel to change the stupid lp illum bulbs but, that is the only way to do it unfortunately.
     
    #4 usnavystgc, Mar 5, 2014
  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,470
    8,383
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Also when replacing these bulbs, don't change out just the burnt one, make sure you do both at the same time......
     
    #5 JC91006, Mar 5, 2014
    usnavystgc likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)