Bracket sticks out of rear fender wells

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by sttkailua, Jun 25, 2016.

Page 1 of 3
  1. sttkailua

    sttkailua Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2016
    190
    151
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    2016 Owners,

    Don't know if this was mentioned in earlier posts, but I did a quick walk around, and
    noticed that a bracket on both rear fender wells don't seem to be flush with the fenders, and
    noticeably stick out. See photo attached.

    Can this be loosened and made flush, or is this normal?
    I would assume factory guys at Toyota would have seen and fixed this?

    Thanks,

    stt
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 sttkailua, Jun 25, 2016
    KimPrius3 likes this.
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    59,885
    41,163
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Can you take a pic from the other side, looking to the rear and up? My guess would be fender liner that should be tucked in, has slipped out. Look at the other side of the car for comparison, might help.

    Stuff like this you can take to the dealership, it being so new. But if it's a simple fix it's often more efficient to just sort out yourself, as long as it's not something damaged or missing.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Jun 25, 2016
  3. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2009
    2,173
    1,313
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    It's normal. I have the same.
     
    #3 pakitt, Jun 25, 2016
  4. booke02

    booke02 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    391
    415
    0
    Location:
    Israel
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Another picture would help. Doesn't look normal to me, even if other folk have it too.
     
    #4 booke02, Jun 25, 2016
  5. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2015
    2,254
    2,241
    2
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I agree, it might be a factory miss. Nothing should be sticking out like that.
     
    #5 Montgomery, Jun 25, 2016
  6. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2016
    880
    673
    0
    Location:
    San Juan Capistrano, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    I have it too. I think it's pretty weird they have it sticking out like that, but it isn't noticeable on my black car. I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe it could be a secret for the low drag coefficient.
     
    #6 'LectroFuel, Jun 25, 2016
    pakitt likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    59,885
    41,163
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Pull it out a bit further, trim, then push back in?

    Is it metal or plastic??
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Jun 25, 2016
  8. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2009
    2,173
    1,313
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I will make pics tomorrow and post them.
    It is plastic. Hard plastic. And it is meant to be that way, it is not mounted wrongly.
    Why it has to stick out, I think it might have to do with aerodynamics.
     
    #8 pakitt, Jun 25, 2016
  9. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,045
    7,592
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I've seen it before on other cars - it's on my FORD Fiesta. Is it a mudflap, or an aerodynamic aid?
    20160626_071956.jpg
     
    #9 alanclarkeau, Jun 25, 2016
  10. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,392
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Me too
     
    #10 krmcg, Jun 25, 2016
  11. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    1,396
    1,489
    0
    Location:
    Newark, OH, USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I'd guess that that piece helps keep the flow from the wheels from interfering with the flow along the car?
     
    #11 bhtooefr, Jun 25, 2016
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    59,885
    41,163
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    It's so minuscule, can't see it being an aero aid. I'd suspect it just poor fit. I'd do nothing, at least for a while.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Jun 25, 2016
  13. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2009
    2,173
    1,313
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    It's not a poor fit. It is like that. It is meant to be like that.
    If it were a poor fit, the poor fit would be standard world wide.
     
    #13 pakitt, Jun 25, 2016
  14. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,392
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I think it works to "mend" the body panel seams together
     
    #14 krmcg, Jun 25, 2016
  15. sttkailua

    sttkailua Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2016
    190
    151
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks for the comments.
    In looking at my daughter's 2013 Prius, there is no bracket.???
    Not a big deal for me.
    If it is typical on your 2016's, and even some other brands,
    I'll just not worry about it.

    Now, if wifey says 'shave it down!', I'll take care of it!

    stt
     
    #15 sttkailua, Jun 25, 2016
    Coast Cruiser, alanclarkeau and bisco like this.
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    113,693
    51,735
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what's that round thing in the fender?
     
    #16 bisco, Jun 25, 2016
  17. sttkailua

    sttkailua Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2016
    190
    151
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Side sensor for lane departure, park assist.

    stt
     
    #17 sttkailua, Jun 25, 2016
    bisco likes this.
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    113,693
    51,735
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    ah, an area i am unfamiliar with, thank you.
     
    #18 bisco, Jun 25, 2016
    ETP likes this.
  19. KimPrius3

    KimPrius3 Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2016
    144
    188
    0
    Location:
    East Coast
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Just got my Prius 4 today (need to change my name) Mine is exactly like your picture. I think it must be normal.
     
    #19 KimPrius3, Jun 25, 2016
    ETP likes this.
  20. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    1,396
    1,489
    0
    Location:
    Newark, OH, USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    And, if you feel around in there, this feels like it's an extra piece specifically intended to be there (on both sides).

    Really, it's an aero piece. Sometimes it just takes a little bit to keep some flow attached somewhere
     
    #20 bhtooefr, Jun 26, 2016
    Coast Cruiser and pakitt like this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 3