Cracked plastic under the front end

I've found taking care of the under side of the Prius to effect gas mileage. I do a lot of freeway mileage and above 55 every scratch down under is drag $$$ Don't believe me? Have your mechanic steam clean and wipe it down with a spray wax and check yourself.


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It refer ing to the front lower bumber tray cover? That scraps over driveways and etc, ? It's made of thin soft plastic ! I fabricated 3/16 aluminum skid plate over the existing tray.hopefully that will last a while !

 

I think it's part number 12 here?



SPLASH SHIELDS for 2010 Toyota Prius

Strangely, a couple of parts sites (the above included) I tried don't have this part in stock.

Our's is looking semi-knackered, not too bad. Moderately abraded, a couple of places at edges it's gone right through. I'll maybe take it off preemptively, see what I can do. I have a bumper repair kit, with pre-cleaner, two-part goop and fiberglass mesh:



Bumper Repair Kit | Canadian Tire

 

Might be this (Amazon.com link not happening)?



Toyota part number: TO1228168 (Google this part number)

No comment on US Amazon site, and Canadian site has one negative comment, says it's not compatible. It is third party I'm sure. Hmmm.

All-in-all, it seems a real time eater trying to find this dang part, anyway. Anyone else find it??

Probably better to just cobble what you have back into shape, lol.

 

I find driving with my wife helps. She gives me royal sh#t every time I do it.

 

Good points. Get your car in optimum position, then memorize a few alignment points.

When parallel parking with curb, I kinda like coming in a little too steep, sometimes. That way it's the tire's tread edge that contact first, there's no danger of rim scraping. I can then square-up with one or two back-and-forths.

 

I stop a little short. Even doing so is still less length out the back end of the parking spot than the urban assault vehicles that are all over the lot hanging out well over each edge .

When the wife drives the Prius and I have the "privilege" of riding in the passenger seat, I can tell she is used to driving our 4Runner and has no care for ground clearance.

My usual referencing of this has allowed me to drive to most things and keep the front from experiencing damage. And hasn't led to any nights on the couch.

Awareness to the ground clearance is the key and knowing what to avoid or how to approach helps.

 

Pulled ours off and noted the parts number on it:

toyota 76851-47030-A

Google that, and the US amazon site has the part for $132.71. Amazon Canada has it too, for a mere $398.62.

I'm gonna use bumper repair kit on ours, on the worst spots:



Just holding on by a prayer:



Or maybe start with two part epoxy.

 

An overall pic, for reference:



I ended up using two-part epoxy on ours. One post had very minor blow out, another was pretty chewed:

 

Some folks repair torn bumpers by using an old, hot soldering iron to melt the thermoplastic. Wonder if that would work better than trying to add an epoxy layer? They even sometimes embed a piece of metal screening in the repair to strengthen the weld.

youtube soldering iron bumper repair melt - Google Search

Just be sure to work in a well ventilated area and have a fire extinguisher handy.

 

See you put plastic mesh in to strengthen your epoxy - nice repair - let's see how that does

 

Yeah never though of melting the plastic, good tip.

 

Good info. My test on 250 mile drive cruise control @75 showed clean underside improved gas mileage in my 2005 Prius 3 mpg. Re ran the test many time. Don't neglect your undercarriage


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