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Rattling spoiler....

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by George W, Oct 24, 2019.

  1. George W

    George W Active Member

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    I am the 3rd owner of a 2008 Touring. After I drove it home the first time I discovered the hatch trim was missing. Returning to the Seller, he installed the trim, but not before I realized I should have tightened the spoiler bolts first. The seller is located an hour's drive away, so I didn't want to return a 2nd time. I

    When I try to pull the trim to access the loose bolts, the Snaps do not want to release, it feels like something is going to break. Given the age of the car, if I pull hard enough to free the trim, which is more likely to fail? Interior trim or the snaps?

    Lastly, which snaps are the correct type for the hatch trim? Going to my local auto parts store, I see kits that contain a variety of plastic snaps, not sure which I should be buying. Thanks.
     
  2. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Are you able to post a photo of the trim you're talking about?
     
  3. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Will post those tomorrow. At work today for the rest of the available daylight hours
     
  4. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Attached is a photo of the Trim that I want to remove to tighten the spoiler. The gif shows the amount of 'wiggle' it has. Very annoying after 1 mile
     

    Attached Files:

  5. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Just grab it along this edge or the same edge on the other side and give it a firm tug. The large rectangular piece will come off just fine. Then you can do the same to the other piece between the large and small glass. If you have a trim tool, the other pieces can be pried on at each mounting point if needed, but they can also be removed with firm pulls..

    Plastic trim.jpg
     
    George W likes this.
  6. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Going to test the waters.....
     
  7. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

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  8. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

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    [​IMG]
    Sorry I didn't take pictures, I've removed mine a number of times, sorry i didn't take pictures. here is the diagram and part #s. Hope it helps. is there a chance the previous owner fabricated a new way to attach it? Perhaps it would be worth a call?
     
  9. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Thank you for these referen ces. After I removed the panels. I saw 2 bolts missing, and a 3rd only finger-tight. Small Wonder it was rattling. The bolts were replaced and then I noticed the trim pieces were missing half of their snaps.

    I also noticed that the two trim pieces look as if they came from 2 different cars. This can be seen from the pictures. I guess the previous owners swapped Parts back and forth, jjust to get by. One of the pieces is Warped enough, even with a fastener, doesn't stay in place.

    At least the spoiler no longer rattles. Thank you, everyone, for your help.

    Note: the trim panels used two different sized snaps. Going to the auto parts store, the larger snaps show to be Nissan brand. Could not find a Toyota equivalent there in that store. Does not give me any warm fuzzy feelings about the previous owner.
     

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    #9 George W, Nov 3, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2019
  10. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

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    I found the green ones on my parts donor a 2006 and the white ones on my 2005, if that is any help. I used the green ones because the white had become brittle.


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