Hatch garnish loose only at driver's side edge

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by pasadena_commut, Dec 24, 2024.

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  1. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I usually just poke the latch closed with my finger. Then the hatch can't close and latch (it just goes bonk instead) and then when things are swapped over and I'm ready to close it again, I just touch the latch release switch and the latch pops open and it's ready again to close and latch the hatch.

    Poking it closed to the second click also turns the dome lights off, so they're not draining the battery during the work.
     
    #41 ChapmanF, Jul 17, 2025
  2. Davor

    Davor Junior Member

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    That never would have occurred to me in a million years. Thanks.

    Good point.
     
    #42 Davor, Jul 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
  3. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Me either - since on some cars at least the latch mechanism could squish that finger when it tries to restrain the loop of metal that it "thinks" is there. A large flat blade screwdriver will work, and it won't bleed if the latch hits it hard.

    I keep a carabiner roughly the same size as the hatch latch loop for this purpose. It is also used for restraining the hatch when I have to carry something so long that it sticks out the back of the car, usually lumber. Bungee cords or a bit of rope and the hatch can be kept down while driving. (Obviously this method doesn't work with an object that fills the whole opening.)
     
    #43 pasadena_commut, Jul 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
  4. Davor

    Davor Junior Member

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    With the new struts, I don't worry about it; I just lift it one-handed. TBH it's an ancient car; I rather expect this garnish to outlive it. But if that doesn't happen, now that I know what the garnish replacement entails (re. both cost and effort), it's not that big a deal. If I have to do it again in a few years, c'est la vie. (And I'll spend the few extra bucks on a metal-reinforced garnish, if there is a next time.)

    For Gen2 Prii, I'm coming to think of that garnish as basically a consumable part, rather like tires :-/

    That'd work. Still a pain if you only have one hand free, though.
     
    #44 Davor, Jul 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
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