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Replacing the lower window seal on the driver side - called Belt Side Moulding

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mozdzen, Aug 4, 2014.

  1. mozdzen

    mozdzen Active Member

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    Has anyone done this? It looks like the outside seal/rubber split in two and it now sags in the middle and makes a flapping sound when I driver over 50 mph.

    thought the sound was coming from the wheel well, but I think it is the weather stripping.

    Thanks,
    Tom
     
  2. mozdzen

    mozdzen Active Member

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    I believe I found the part number and a previous thread showing how to replace it:

    Driver's window moulding | PriusChat

    The service tech told me that the trick to getting the old clip off is to use a skinny tool with a 90 degree bend at the end. This is used to push on a little level behind the clip which releases the catch.

    I ended up bending the old one severely, but no worries as it was broken anyway.
    The dealer had the best price - $41. Internet sites had it at $41 with an additional $12 of shipping. The thing is quite long - 3 feet or so.

    Turned out to be an easy installation and the horrible flapping noise is gone.
     
    #2 mozdzen, Aug 4, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
  3. Hovik

    Hovik Junior Member

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    Hi Mozdzen,
    The thread you linked to in your second post (with p/n and how to replace) is for a Gen II prius. Was the p/n the same as for your Gen III? I also have a Gen III (2011) and this seal has been failing since the car was about 3 years old. Trying to find the right p/n for my Gen III if you have it and a good source to procure from...

    Thanks in advance.
     
  4. Brian Berman

    Brian Berman Junior Member

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    I did this repair myself this past weekend and have a photo history of the part number to the finished look with the window closed. This is my first time on the site, so I hope I can post these images. Once I got started it took me about 5 minutes per side. The Toyota dealer charged me $65 each and wanted $70 each side to replace them. Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 1.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 1.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 2.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 3.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 4.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 5.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 6.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 7.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 8.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 9.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 10.jpg Prius 2010 Window belt repair - 11.jpg
     
  5. mozdzen

    mozdzen Active Member

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    Sorry - didn't see this until today. It was basically the same. I got my part from the dealership and asked for installation tips. I can't remember what the tip was, but something about bending a clip in the existing molding to make it easier to remove.
     
  6. yingyang

    yingyang Junior Member

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    Anybody have better instructions/video on how to remove window belt?

    ONEPLUS A5010 ?
     
  7. Paul E. Highway

    Paul E. Highway Active Member

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    Insert butter knife about one inch down the window belt (door opening side, not hinge side.) Push in then twist knife, you will get a piece of the window belt to pop up. Grab that piece and gently lift up, it will lift out all the way to the end.

    To install, place new part in corner (hinge side of door), press down then work the length of belt into the channel. Everything will snap into place. Literally 2 minute job. Dealer charging $70 should be ashamed!
     
    yingyang likes this.
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe. Probably their minimum, 1/2 hour charge.

    Thanks for the tips though. (y)
     
  9. Mr. F

    Mr. F Active Member

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    I bought my 2010 used so I never knew how much road noise it was able to isolate when it was brand new. I would find long road trips at 75 mph painful to sit through because of the harsh, constant roar. It wasn't loud enough to drown out conversation or give the impression of something being seriously wrong, but I had to really crank the audio up just to be able to make the words out. The Prius' reputation here or being loud led me to believe that noise isolation had been sacrificed at the altar of fuel efficiency right at the design phase.

    The rubber on all four window belt mouldings had been disintegrating, so I recently replaced all of them (~$19 apiece from Amayama), and it had the unexpected side effect of virtually eliminating road and engine noise. When staying within the ECO range the engine now sounds like a gentle purr. At higher accelerations it still sounds like a purr (just a little higher pitched) instead of the whine I would hear before. I no longer need to blast the audio at 60, about 40 is loud enough for me to hear the muddiest mix clearly.

    This was easily the best money I've spent on non-essential maintenance on this vehicle and has made it positively pleasurable to drive.