Anyone know how to remove roof handles?

There aren't bolts. There are little clips made of spring steel, once you have the plastic covering off, you can just squeeze the clip ends together and it pops right out. Reinstalling it is even faster, if the clips are in the handle already, you just push it up to the roof, click, done (no doubt why they like them in the factory).

Getting the little plastic cover out, for access to squeeze the clip ends, without leaving visible gouges, is a PITA. There are some pictures in the Repair Manual that help a little.

 

Here's the "grip assembly" info:

 

The missing words are something like "to prevent them from being all gouged up in permanent unsightly ways by your errant pry tool".

If you find a way to do that, post here, you'll win PriusChat.

 

I wonder too, why they don't call them by their technical name: the Oh Shit Handles...

 

You might contact a couple of (local) vandals? (…as Mr. Zimmerman might advise)

 

Had to give it a try:

Used a paint can opener tool, hooked under the lower edge:



In position. The screw driver pushed into a small opening on the left side was not needed, ineffective. Just an easy tug with paint can tool and it popped up:



With the cover off:


Push down on the upper tang of the metal clip and it releases, can be pulled towards you.

And the inside of the cover, you can see the small hooks on the sides:


Not sure of the purpose of the little J-shaped tail at the bottom, to prevent rattles, or keep something slightly tensioned?