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

Should the rear wheel wells look "unfinished"?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by VoicesInMyHead, May 3, 2011.

  1. VoicesInMyHead

    VoicesInMyHead New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2005
    52
    8
    0
    Location:
    Georgia, US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    folks... fairly new GenIII owner, here.

    Something that's been bothering me is how unfinished the rear wheel wells look. Are there wheel well linings that are missing on my Prius, or is this hollow, barren wheel well normal?
     
  2. stefano5777

    stefano5777 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2011
    380
    47
    6
    Location:
    St. Petersburg Florida
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I think you need to take a deep breath and get your head out of your wheel wells you will be a happier person.:D and to answer your question all my buddies gen III Prius have the same thing so I assume it is a cost cutting issue.
     
  3. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2009
    873
    194
    0
    Location:
    Boulder, CO
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If the inside of the wheel wells are your biggest beef with your Prius you must otherwise be pretty happy with the car.
     
  4. VoicesInMyHead

    VoicesInMyHead New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2005
    52
    8
    0
    Location:
    Georgia, US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Oh, don't get me wrong. LOVE the car. Nothing but praise so far. I was just wanting confirmation that something wasn't missing from it.
     
  5. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    1,181
    420
    0
    Location:
    Whereabouts Unknown
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    ----USA----
    What do your wheel wells look like? Mine have some kind of polycarbonate or plastic linner and undercoat and look as finished as most modern cars. Is the plastic linner missing on yours?
     
  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yes they do look hollow and unfinished. Our 97 Camry was the same way. Our Kia van on the other hand has plastic inserts that finish the wells up nicely. Oh well.
     
  7. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Mine aren't barren, each one has a wheel with tire in it.:D

    Also a liner.

    Can you post a picture? Like Mad Dog said, there should be a liner.
     
  8. VoicesInMyHead

    VoicesInMyHead New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2005
    52
    8
    0
    Location:
    Georgia, US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'll try to get a picture this afternoon. But, there is no liner. Only undercoated metal and large hollow areas.
     
  9. Teakwood

    Teakwood Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2010
    491
    73
    0
    Location:
    New Mexico
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ??????
     
  10. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    924
    123
    11
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    Is there a trunk between them? ;)
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. VoicesInMyHead

    VoicesInMyHead New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2005
    52
    8
    0
    Location:
    Georgia, US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Here is a picture of the rear passenger-side wheelwell. This is looking into the wheelwell towards the front of the car. You can see the tire to the left, the body to the right, and into the wheel well in between. As you can see, it's sheet metal with soundproofing/undercoating on the topmost parts of it, but no linger.

    Is this what it is supposed to look like?
    [​IMG]
     
  12. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    728
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    ^I dont know for sure but I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they're supposed to be like. They're just wheel wells after all.
     
  13. VoicesInMyHead

    VoicesInMyHead New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2005
    52
    8
    0
    Location:
    Georgia, US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It may be... I just haven't had a chance to look for myself on another Prius. Every other car I've ever owned has had plastic liners in there. I thought it odd to not have them.
     
  14. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    That is what they all look like.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,723
    38,253
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Ours have a fibrous liner, held in place here and there with nuts that screw onto studs protruding from the wheel well walls. This on a Canadian Touring (in some ways similar to the US V, has the 17" wheels) model. Might be different for different trim levels, and/or US vs Canadian.
     
  16. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ^ I would like to see a picture of the Mendel. please?
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,723
    38,253
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Well, I hardly know you ;)

    Ok, I'll try to get a pic of the wheel well, LOL.

    Addendum:

    Ok, here's a pic. There's an opening in the lining at the shock, you can see the liner's lower lip just above the wheel top (back end is jacked up a bit), and there's a couple of those nut fasteners visible:

    [​IMG]
     
  18. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    952
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Looks like it's missing the fibrous liner, unless it's only present on the 17"-wheel Prius. Mine has the same thing as Mendel Leisk's.
     
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,723
    38,253
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    In the pic just above I think there's one of the liner fastening studs showing, just at the edge of the tire. Maybe corresponding with the half-in-shadow stud location (to the right of the two readily visible studs) in my pic above. Note my tire is lower due to the backend being raised. The tires were just touching the floor.

    Easy way to resolve (hopefully): drive it to your dealer, and have a look at other 3rd gen Prius on the lot.
     
  20. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks Mendel... could you take a photo in the same position as Voice's (just in front of the rear wheel looking down)?
    If in fact the V's/Touring come with liners, I might just order some for mine.