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Removing Wiper Cowl Cover for Spark Plugs

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Tim_Auckland, Sep 24, 2018.

  1. Tim_Auckland

    Tim_Auckland New Member

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    I have a 2012 Gen 3 right hand drive (face lift model) imported for Japan. I have never had to remove the wiper cowling to remove the spark plug and was wondering if that was because I have a right hand drive or the face lift model.

    For reference I have also removed the EGR cooler and replaced the Air/Fuel sensor (although that was a little tricky) without removing the cowling.

    Any feedback from international members....
     
  2. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    Very interesting to hear that. I am surprised no one posted a comment for this one yet. I would like to know the reason. I have some planned maintenance projects and I need to remove that stupid cover as well.
     
  3. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    It’s probably only the US version, although, I haven’t seen a Japanese right hand drive engine bay to know, can I take a look? :)
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think @Raytheeagle mentioned removing the egr cooler/valve without cowl removal. I get the sense it's doable, but by the end you wished you HAD removed it?

    Regarding the spark plugs: at least on North American spec vehicle, without cowl removal, you can can disconnect the coils, lift them upwards maybe 2 inches, but they bump the underside of the cowl before being sufficiently clear. Doesn't seem to be any way around it.

    And again: cowl removal makes access a lot easier. It is a pain though.
     
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  5. George W

    George W Active Member

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    On my US model, I removed the spark plugs without touching the cowling, butI had to use a 6 inch extension only. Anything shorter or longer wouldn't reach, or couldn't get the socket out. No adapter inbetween the spark plug socket and the extension. just the correctly sized socket and 6" extension.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That's 2nd gen though?
     
  7. Tim_Auckland

    Tim_Auckland New Member

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    I do have to use two 75mm extensions together and disconnect them as I am bringing the spark plug up. The limiting factor is whether you can get the ignition coil out, if there is no clearance for that then that's the end of the discussion.
    [​IMG]
    Wipers the way they were originally designed.
    [​IMG]
     

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    #7 Tim_Auckland, Sep 25, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2018
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I measure 3-1/2", roughly. The grill work above looks a lot different, less area is grill on mine. Or maybe that's a 2012 onward thing?

    IMG_9410.JPG

    The underside of the cowl is some sort of fibrous material, for sound-deadening I suppose. But it doesn't give at all.

    Maybe some significant differences in the cowl:

    IMG_9411.JPG IMG_9412.JPG
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Sep 25, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2018
  9. George W

    George W Active Member

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    yes. I sorry
     
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  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Where's the RHD version of the giant double-jointed wiper wrist?

    -Chap
     
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  11. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Did the egr cooler the first time with the cowl on, and never again;).

    You can barely fit your arm in, let along a wrench or ratchet:eek:.

    For North American Prii, I can’t see a way to do the plugs with cowl removal. But that’s a 15 minute activity, so time well spent :).

    And it opens the access up significantly (y).
     
    #11 Raytheeagle, Sep 25, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2018
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  12. Tim_Auckland

    Tim_Auckland New Member

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    I think the left hand drive wiper hack might have a few things to answer for...LOL
     
  13. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    If you notice, tim brake fluid reservoir is on the left side, probably a different version than our Prius :(
     
  14. Tim_Auckland

    Tim_Auckland New Member

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    The more I think about it I'm sure that the 2010 right hand drive will be the same. The right hand drive will need all sorts of things need to be different. The steering column and the windscreen wipers direction for starters.
     
    #14 Tim_Auckland, Sep 26, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2018
  15. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Does the RHD even have one of the wiper arms double-jointed, the way the LHD does?

    -Chap
     
  16. Tim_Auckland

    Tim_Auckland New Member

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    No not as such. The rest of the mechanism is totally hidden under the cowling. I have had the cowling off and there is a linkage thing that moves both wipers off the one motor. I guess the Japanese designers design for their home market first.
    [​IMG]
     

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    #16 Tim_Auckland, Sep 26, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2018
  17. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Well, there you go. That big wrist on the inboard wiper for the LHD needs a bunch of cowl real estate under it.

    The funky inboard wiper has been a distinctive Prius feature in all the first 3 generations over here, though I see it is gone from Gen 4. The rationale has always been that it allows the inboard wiper to wipe a bigger area of the windshield than it could with a simple circular arc.

    But then, why didn't they use it on the RHD? Why does flipping them left for right suddenly mean wiping a plain circular arc is good enough?

    Do the RHD Gen 1s and Gen 2s have the wrist? I wonder if they just decided to drop it in the RHD markets one generation earlier than they did here.

    -Chap
     
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