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

Hatch handle / pull replacement mounts?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ITGuy1024, Nov 4, 2017.

  1. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    78
    5
    0
    Location:
    York, PA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hey all,

    The pull handle on my Gen II seems to have broken after all these years. It looks like the mounts snapped. Could anyone point me in the right direction on how to replace these and where to get new ones?


    2017-11-04 14.24.50.jpg
     
  2. hchu1

    hchu1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2006
    316
    127
    0
    Location:
    Houston, Tx.
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    That would be the liftgate garnish.

    Look for them on Amazon.
     
  3. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    See Figure 75-04 in the Electronic Parts Catalog to identify the needed replacement parts; the official name for the detached part is the “back door outside garnish.” Once you have ten-digit or twelve-digit part numbers, you can order them from your local dealer or an online seller.

    Toyota’s Repair Manual (available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com) has removal and installation procedures, but there are many other threads on PriusChat about this part that may give you enough information to make a satisfactory repair.
     
  4. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,447
    3,751
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Just to point out that that is NOT a pull handle and should not be used as such, otherwise you will get the result you got.

    It is called a garnish for a reason, it is there solely to finish the look of the hatch.

    The correct method for lifting the hatch is to press the switch up with 2-3 fingers and then at the moment the hatch releases with a thunk, press upwards to lift the hatch. You have 0.5 sec (500 ms) to do this before the latch returns to home and if you haven't managed to lift the hatch up and free of the latch, you need to release the switch and, again, re-engage and then lift. At no time do you apply any pressure on or to the garnish.
     
    srellim234 and WilDavis like this.
  5. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Once you have the part, it's easy to replace. Pop the lower part of the interior plastic trim off and you can access the four screws that hold it in place (10mm socket with extension). Careful you don't drop them into the hatch caverns!! Then there are a few electrical connectors to unplug and, if you have a camera, you'll need to thread it and its grommet through the hole. Transfer lights & camera to the new part and reassemble.
     
    srellim234 and Prodigyplace like this.
  6. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    78
    5
    0
    Location:
    York, PA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I actually only use the switch to pull up on the hatch not the plastic piece around it. Sorry I didn't know the correct terminology for the parts. Regardless I have always pulled up on it the correct way that you mentioned but the garnish still broke free.
     
  7. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    78
    5
    0
    Location:
    York, PA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks!
     
  8. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    78
    5
    0
    Location:
    York, PA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks, I didn't know the correct name for it.
     
  9. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    78
    5
    0
    Location:
    York, PA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thank you very much!
     
  10. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,447
    3,751
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That is good to know, but if that's the case the garnish would not be broken, so there is more to it than it seems.
    Maybe someone else has had a go at it unbeknownst to you.

    Anyway, it is all water under the bridge at this point. Good luck with the repair.
     
  11. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The switch is mounted to the garnish. When you pull on the switch, you're pulling on the garnish with the same force. It's like grabbing a suitcase handle; the case comes with the handle and the hatch comes with the switch. So, lift closer to straight up (not out) just enough to clear the latch mechanism and get it started and then lift the hatch from the bottom lip where you have some aluminum to tug on as well as better leverage. It seems awkward at first, but you adapt.

    Also (and I don't think this has been mentioned yet), weak air struts will make the hatch feel heavier and require more lifting force, so it's a good idea to replace them. Once you've opened the hatch about 6-12" or so, it should rise on its own. In fact, next weekend I need to check and see if my wife's car has one really bad strut or two kind of bad ones and get that fixed.
     
    #11 jerrymildred, Nov 5, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2017
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  12. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    78
    5
    0
    Location:
    York, PA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    That's a really good suggestion. The hatch does feel pretty heavy when I try to open it. I have to push the hatch up it doesn't go up at all on it's own anymore. I'm sure that this probably helped to cause the garnish failure over the years.

    Thanks!
     
  13. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You're welcome. The reason I thought of it was the extreme difference in behavior between my hatch and my wife's. Otherwise, either it sneaks up on you gradually over the years as in your case, or else it's your first one and you don't know it's abnormal.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  14. jessiejosco

    jessiejosco Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    62
    41
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Those things are ridiculously expensive to replace because they are colour keyed, and they come with all the switch hardware even if you don't need it.
    I think Toyota did intend for that to be the door handle, but it is one of the cars design flaws. I try not to use it as a door handle, but I have kids that don't listen and I also forget.

    I just repaired mine, although it had not completely pulled off. There are 2 bolts around the switch that usually break out of the plastic garnish first. I found that those bolts are long enough that you can reattach them deeper on the mounting tab in the garnish. I should have taken a picture when I did it. I used Marine epoxy to reinforce all the mounting points and glue the bolts to the garnish. Has worked great so far . Very solid feeling and I open the door with it.

    When you repair or replace yours be very careful to only gently tighten the nuts. I learned this the hard way, by breaking another tab off the garnish.
     
    SFO likes this.
  15. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    78
    5
    0
    Location:
    York, PA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Good to know thanks very much for the info!