Hood Hinge Broke

That indeed might be the way the way to go. Maybe it can be just disconnected at the top and shifted out of the way??

 

If you open front/passenger door there's a single bolt at the top, and under the hood there's several bolts along the seam, and the headlight has one screw connecting there as well. Take all of those out and see how it goes?

Lube all your hinge hinges and pivot points, while you're on a roll. Heads of hinge mounting bolts are good to hit too. I just went around ours, noticed the gas cap filler door hinge was getting sticky.

 

Thanks for the follow up; good to know how this can be done.

 

Awesome! Thanks for the know how and detailed write up. Oddly, my drivers side 2013 head light was dead this morning so went to remove and the plastic cylinder broke off mainly just at the connector orange seal with a little bit above. I picked out what was broken off in the connector with a dental pick and blew out with electronics canned air.

Then, after bagging up the connector and shoving some of the plastic bag in the assembly socket, I went to the yard to get new parts for both my cars and grabbed a whole front end set of light assemblies with bulbs since a 50% sale was going on. Well; I get back home to replace the headlight bulb, open up the hood and snap! The drivers side hood hinge broke. Unbelievable and to boot, the gen 3 prius I got the parts from later when I came back to look at had a guy sawsall'in off the hood at the hinge. Go figure! Though there is one more gen 3 left in the yard plus last I knew 3 at the other related yard with the 50% off sale going on, so will check out and see if I can get the part from tomorrow or locally.

One question, did you drive around with the hood hinge broke?

Seems solid, one I got the hood to latch, though I don't really want to unless I get affirmation that I should be OK to since is about 2hrs on the road to the 50% off sale yard that has the part.

I'm thinking to get back on the road quicker, even if I have to weld the sawsall cut hinge. Mine broke very close to the pivot point, so thinking welding isn't a good idea.

 

Figure I'll note here what I found online regarding replacing for those that like videos:

I'll also post what I observed for more detail where 10mm bolts are used for the four fender bolts (one on the headlight assembly) and four 12mm bolts are used for the hood hinge (x2 - hood and x2 - frame). A regular 12mm socket with an extension can be used with either a 1/4" or 3/8" drive noting that you'll have to pull the fender back more for the larger drive if not apparent.

Situation

My situation due to not lubricating I'm guessing after removing and assessing the stuck.

(Prep for the work on yard car dude cut the hinge with my cut off disc)
Gen3 Prius Transplant Patient Post Op Review - Traumatized Gen3 Prius Hinge Followup Brief Notes - YouTube (Followup detail I didn't find covered elsewhere vlogged so all the rubber part isn't peeled off to access the one fender 10mm bolt mounted to the top of the hinge base)