I am needing to remove the overhead/ceiling trim for the rear center seat belt. I have pried and pulled but have yet to determine how to get it to turn loose. At the risk of damaging the headliner, I have NOT just pulled till something gives way. I am sure there is a correct way to remove this piece. So far I have not found this info after an hour of searching. Your help would be appreciated. Thanks!
My educated guess is the headliner has to come down at least partially to remove that trim. I would further speculate the trim may be glued or screwed on to the headliner from the back using two interlocking pieces. If the purpose is to work on the seat belt tensioner, then the headliner has to come down, at least the rear part. You could subscribe to the Toyota Information System website for a $20 weekend and search for headliner removal and it "might" tell you. But if it's part of the headliner assembly it won't. It appears the black tensioner part is separate and is probably securely bolted to the roof. See pic that shows another rear belt. To get to this level of disassembly requires taking off a series of rear hatch panels as they interlock on top of each other, starting at the bottom. Another option would be to check with an auto upholstery shop that does headliners. They might know for sure. This picture comes from a pdf I put together a few years ago detailing steps to change the satellite antenna base.
RJ, Thank you so much for the prompt and informative reply. Sincerely appreciated. I may have to pull the headliner down as you suggested. Basically what I am trying to do is to access a hard mount area for an overhead rack. I thought this would be simple...but obviously it is not. Thanks again!
Before you take the headliner down, consider going to a Toyota parts counter and ask for that trim piece. If Its available, they should have an assembly drawing showing any screws or push on tabs. This can give you useful information one way or the other. On another note, this video shows a roof rack that does not require holes in the roof.
RJ, Visiting the parts counter may be my best option at this point. The overhead rack I am wanting to install is inside the vehicle, not outside. I am building a metal frame rack in the left rear for installing a 12 volt compressor driven refrigerator. Being able to provide a little support from overhead will help in this project plus will allow me to install an overhead (inside) storage rack. Thanks again for the suggestions and info...appreciated!
There is a solution, I know it's been years. I came here with a similar problem. I have a 2013 Prius V. This afternoon I discovered there is a way to take the trim piece for the rear center seat belt retractor in the ceiling out. Go with me on this. There are two 'flanges' that need to be pushed in to be released which in turn releases the trim. Looking from above with 12 toward the front of the car a clock would point to these two flanges roughly from the 4 and the 8. The flanges are on the sides and the centers of the flanges are 1.25 inches from the rear straight edge of the trim. I was able to get some space between the headliner and the trim with various putty knives and screw drivers. Once the flanges were both pushed in I was able to pull the back of the trim, meaning the part toward the back of the car, down. Then by pulling the trim toward the back of the car the front part of the trim simply released. I hope this helps somebody.
