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Replace Lift Gate DIY?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by WhiteTurtle, Feb 28, 2018.

  1. WhiteTurtle

    WhiteTurtle Junior Member

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    Does anyone have experience or advice on replacing the entire lift gate themselves? I have tried to find info online but have not had any luck. My son backed my Prius into my Jeep and....well...the Jeep won.
     
    #1 WhiteTurtle, Feb 28, 2018
  2. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    You can go to toyotatechinfo.com and rent a 2 day subscription to the factory service manual
    And get your printer ready for a long day.

    I saw your photo in the other post and just buy a bumper on eBay that’s already painted your color for $100.
    It’s crap but it fits. It’s much thinner than the original. Or buy a used bumper and have it painted.
    That’s $200.

    Last time I was at a few junk yards most Prius were stripped by most had there hatch’s.
    Hatches look straight forward unbolt to me. Just need a trailer or pickup to get it home.
    I bet the bone yards will get $500 for one not sure. There robber barons here.

    Try local Craigslist search for Prius parts there’s a few in my area gutting out there parts car.
    Maybe you can hook a bumper and hatch.

    It will take 2 people to get Hatch off and on. Make your kid do every bit of the work including all the bird dogging of parts.. Then he will learn that mistakes are $$$ and time consuming and a real Pia.

    If used hatch wrong color before you install it sand it down And paint it your color.
     
    #2 edthefox5, Feb 28, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2018
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  3. WhiteTurtle

    WhiteTurtle Junior Member

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    edthefox5 Thank You! I have found a salvage yard that says they have several white one's to choose from for about $250, so not too bad on the hatch. I was hoping someone might have been through the removal and installation, and share any tips or tricks...but I will also check out the factory service manual.
    I'll look for the $100 bumper on ebay...had not found a painted one that cheap. Yes, you are correct, I made my son have the conversation with the body shop when it first happened. He was shocked that his carelessness cost our family $3000 in value, however you slice it. I am thankful that his "lesson" took place in our driveway with our vehicles, and not on the highway with possible much graver results, but it still sucks.
     
    #3 WhiteTurtle, Feb 28, 2018
  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    be aware the difference in package options when purchasing a bone yard hatch..

    If you have the rear view camera and SKS key that pack #2 so make sure you get a hatch with a camera in it.
    If you dont have a pack 2 and no camera and no SKS key then any hatch with or without will work. The harness is installed whether or not you have the camera. But if you have a rvc now you will really miss it later if you buy a bone yard hatch without one.

    Just take off the plastic panels on the inside of the hatch and you'll see where all the wires connect up to and goes thru the rubber bellows.
    Then unbolt it at the hinges.

    Ill look at the manual tonight and see if there any uh oh's to look at for.
     
    #4 edthefox5, Feb 28, 2018
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    @WhiteTurtle could you post some pictures? Just curious what the damage looks like, and would the impact have worked it's way back to the hatch mounting hinges, distorted the main body at all?
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Feb 28, 2018
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  6. WhiteTurtle

    WhiteTurtle Junior Member

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    Yes, I have the rear camera and SKS. I'll ask the lady at the yard i have been talking with about the rear camera. I did ask her about difficulty in removal and installation, and she said that they could take my old one off and put theirs on for a few bucks adder....they would get my hatch to part out anyway. I'm sorting out if I want to trust them to do that. They would do it by appointment so I wouldn't leave the car. It seems like a pretty darn good option to me. Looking at about $250 or $275 total for the gate and switch-over. Now I need to ask her if they have a rear bumper (cover).
     
    #6 WhiteTurtle, Mar 1, 2018
  7. WhiteTurtle

    WhiteTurtle Junior Member

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    Hi Mendel, the Jeep bumper came over the bumper "landing" on the Prius and pushed in the hatch at the bottom. The bumper cover is destroyed, the bottom of the hatch is bent in (below the glass), including the latch, and the cross bar that hold the body side of the latch was bent inward. We opened the hatch at the body shop, the hatch sprung out but the cross bar was yielded and did not spring out. The body shop pried the cross bar back out far enough that the hatch opens and closes, and the "open door" icon goes out. The damage does not extend up to the hinges. My thought is to live with the "modified" cross bar, and replace the hatch and the bumper cover. It's not going to be perfect, but it has become the teen driver car and he might be bouncing off more rigid objects. prius.png
     
    #7 WhiteTurtle, Mar 1, 2018
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  8. WhiteTurtle

    WhiteTurtle Junior Member

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    edthefox5, Do you know if it is apparent (by looking at the hatch) if the hatch has the BU camera or not? I'm assuming all of the hatches have a space for it, just want to make sure that they don't put a "dummy" lens in that makes it look like there is one, when indeed there is not. Thanks
     
    #8 WhiteTurtle, Mar 1, 2018
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Its under the whited out part of the picture. Its a small lens. There is never any dummy lens installed. Its either there or not. if you have SKS you have the back up camera.

    I would let them install it.
     
    #9 edthefox5, Mar 1, 2018
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  10. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I looked at my manual and thats one section I am missing the body part. Sorry. Its pretty easy though.

    Just make sure if they install it all the lights work and the rear wiper and you can unlock it and the camera works. if not they have not plugged in all the wires.
     
    #10 edthefox5, Mar 1, 2018
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  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Oh forgot your probably going to need the side clips that hold the bumper on. They have little plastic teeth that break off when you pull the bumper off. I have replaced my bumper twice and broken them every time.
    There little black strips where the bumper meets the quarter panel. When you get the new bumper you will see slots on the side edges. Those slots go over the teeth that break off. There like $15 a piece.

    If the teeth break off when you pull your beat up one off you'll be stuck.
     
    #11 edthefox5, Mar 2, 2018
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