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

Undercarriage/engine cover dropped!!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by H.S., Aug 6, 2018.

  1. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hello fellow priusers,

    as you know the prius' front is fairly low and los angeles as a city has alot of bumpy street ramps specially around stop signs.

    Yesterday i was driving back from the desert and suddenly when i change lanes i hear a scraping sound. i pull over to the side of the freeway and i see the front part of the undercarriage that covers the engine part, scrapping against the pavement sticking down and a couple of bolts barely holding on.

    i tried with pliars and what not to take it off in 110 degree weather and didnt work, part of it was already torn. So i went to walmart and got a steelcutter type scissors and cut the dragging part since there was no place that was open where i was in the desert that sunday.

    I was wondering where is a recommended and cheap place in the LA area i can get the part and have them install it? just the first front rubber bottom part behind the bumper. how much does it usually cost and where is a good place to get it done at?
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Probably item #6 here:

    Splash Shields for 2015 Toyota Prius | Toyota Parts

    Currently unavailable, but if I recall correctly around $200.Google the part number for amazon/ebay offerings:

    51410-12105

    For next time, zip-tie it, whatever it takes to keep it from dragging: that thing is expensive. The one you have may still be repairable.

    More info regarding both the panel and fastener part numbers, in the attached:
     

    Attached Files:

  3. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    even though i cut the dragging part out i kept it with me, is that possible to mold it back on? i doubt it. the part alone without labor is 200? does anyone drive without it being on?
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    That'd be your judgement call. The strongest repair I think would be to add some rigid plastic strips that bridge the cut/tear pop-rivet it all together, maybe with some two-part epoxy in the interface. Putting the extra strips both sides would be most secure.

    I don't want to rub your nose in it, but: the last thing you want to do when things are hanging is start snipping, all those dang parts are expensive. If you throw in the towel, google the part number and you'll find aftermarket clone parts, they don't have the insulation pieces, and they're maybe rough at the edges, but they'll probable work. They're around $60 US.
     
  5. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    i personally wouldnt know how to do it myself, and the car is extremely low to be able to reach that far in. i didnt have a choice in the middle of the desert on a sunday, nothing was open, there was barely any network and when my leg touched the pavement the hairs on my legs burned. the car would scrape when i hit the brakes. i tried tucking and holding it in place but it kept falling back down. what else can i do?

    i called a place, they estimated 170 bucks. id love to hear if you know of a place in the LA area that can fix this or replace this at a descent price if you know of any?
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2012
    1,555
    659
    0
    Location:
    Central MO
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    II
    just go without it
     
    Mendel Leisk and scona like this.
  7. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    wouldnt that be dangeorus? something can get hit the engine or something ?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Your first hurdle I think is to get the car safely raised for a decent appraisal. The simplest/cheapest way if you've not got any equipment now would be a pair of ramps. You'd also need a 10 mm ratchet wrench with say a 3" extension, and a flat blade screwdriver to pry out the plastic fasteners. Study the PDF I posted for more info, there's two main plastic fasteners types holding the panel to the car, and a third "internal" type. Plus 1/2 dozen bolts, all the same.

    To get a pro to do this might get expensive.

    Running it up on ramps and taking it off carefully, would be a good first action.
     
  9. milkman44

    milkman44 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2011
    591
    386
    0
    Location:
    Ky
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
  10. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2012
    1,555
    659
    0
    Location:
    Central MO
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    II
    no danger in riding without aerodynamic plastics
     
    Grit and Raytheeagle like this.
  11. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Search at a pick n pull and you’ll find one;).

    It is just and aerodynamic part and not structural. It’s a splash shield, so it avoids liquid intrusion.

    I’ve been riding without the oil drain door for over 150 k miles now. No worse for the wear(y).
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Flying with the bomb bay doors permanently open. :whistle:

    Thanks to dealership oil changes early on?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    They made sure I didn’t have it after the 2 “free” ones:cool:.

    Now changing the oil is a breeze;).

    No real excess dirt either and detecting a leak after a change is easy too(y).
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  14. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  15. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    what if something gets caught under the car? no danger there with that panel missing?
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Ah...

    The front piece tends to snag on concrete curbs and wheel stops. Wheel stops are worst because the piece tends to go up AND over, then snags coming back off. Poor design.

    The OEM version of that is available through Amazon US, part number:

    7685147030

    For $137.

    It is held on by a combo of screws and bolts (all 10 mm socket size) and one plastic fastener at the centre.

    The key to preserving that one is to avoid pulling fully into parking spots.

    FWIW, ours has been in "surgery" a couple of times now, sports lots of two-part epoxy and Fiberglas mesh.
     
  17. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    i took my car to the mechanic, he said the parts missing and need replacement after he called the toytoa dealership without getting an exact item # for the exact model for 2015 prius is called UNDER CARRIAGE FRONT LINER and RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER FENDER LINER. are those the proper names for those items? i am trying to order them online as those two parts quoted by the dealer at $280 .
     

    Attached Files:

  18. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    help? bump
     
  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Have tried a salvage yard?

    Try hp motors up in nor cal. That’s the main thing they salvage is Prii.

    Should be much better on pricing.
     
  20. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    93
    19
    0
    Location:
    Venice, ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    to me
    to me the right part is confusing to figure out, there is so many various OEM and catalogues that give me front bumper options with various numbers. i am not sure which one EXACTLY to buy/???

    is it - 76851-47030 Front Bumper ?

    or
    53113-47040 Lower Shield ?

    i am lost!