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

How do you remove the top steering column cover'

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by xs650, Jul 10, 2010.

  1. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    How do you remove the top steering column cover? This is the plastic piece immediately toward the front of the car from the steering wheel. It covers the steering column and is not part of the steering wheel. Part number is 45286-47040-C0 and the parts breakdown doesn't show any fasteners, it probably has some tabs that need to be released, but where?
     
  2. jayvee

    jayvee Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2009
    341
    89
    0
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
  3. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
  4. James Analytic

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2019
    162
    26
    3
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Here's the excerpt:

    First off, I am not a mechanic nor am I qualified in any way to perform auto work. Below is not my advice, but rather a detailed history of what I did. Please use caution with this or any modification, and please do not in any way rely on my information, but rather do your own diligence and proceed at your own risk. Ok, with that understood, I'll start the detailed history of what I did...

    PART II - Disassembling the insides of your brand new car

    1. Safety First! I removed the negative battery terminal of my accessory battery following the instructions in the owner's manual. (Note that disconnecting this terminal will reset some settings in the car and may require the reinitialization of some features. The manual is very detailed in this regard, so review it so you understand what will happen when you disconnect the battery terminal.)

    2. Remove the bottom portion of the steering wheel column cover.

    a. Adjust the steering wheel so it is in the upmost position.

    b. Push the right side of the lower housing in to disengage the two claws.

    c. Do the same for the left side.

    d. At the bottom of the hole for the tilt lever, closest to the passenger side, there is a snap that can be removed with your finger and some downward pressure.

    e. Rotate the steering wheel so that the top of the wheel is facing the drivers side door. You will see a small rectangular hole in the front of the lower housing. Find something that fits in it and push inward to release the claw.

    f. Spin the wheel 180 degrees clockwise and repeat step "e" for the right side.

    g. The cover will come right off exposing the headlight wire harness and the wiper wire harness