'07 Door Check Assembly Stripped?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cybertlc, Jul 14, 2014.

  1. cybertlc

    cybertlc New Member

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    I noticed that my driver's side door was making an odd noise and decided to investigate.

    It appears the door check assembly (the piece that prevents your door from opening fully) had a loose bolt where it connects to the door frame on the car itself.

    I tried tightening the bolt and it would just keep uncatching like it was stripped. I tried another bolt and it's doing the same thing. Is it stripped on the actual car FRAME?!

    Is there a workaround that you know of to get this bolt to tighten assuming it IS stripped in there somehow??
     
    #1 cybertlc, Jul 14, 2014
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    bigger bolt?
     
    #2 JC91006, Jul 14, 2014
  3. cybertlc

    cybertlc New Member

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    That was my thought....but I don't want to end up screwing it up even more...
     
    #3 cybertlc, Jul 14, 2014
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    if the right bolt won't work because it's stripped, you go bigger and cross your fingers.
     
    #4 JC91006, Jul 14, 2014
  5. cybertlc

    cybertlc New Member

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    Thanks ;) *fingers crossed*
     
    #5 cybertlc, Jul 14, 2014
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I assume that the bolt in question is a machine screw, not a self-tapping screw. If my assumption is correct then the correct repair would utilize the next bolt size (perhaps SAE if the next metric size is too big) and use a tap to cut new threads into the existing hole. Then hopefully the new bolt can be tightened. Good luck.
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, Jul 14, 2014
  7. cybertlc

    cybertlc New Member

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    It's an 8mm hex bolt.....and the next size up is 10mm which is too large for the frame as well as to fit through the hole in the door check assembly. I tried a 3/8'' standard hex bolt which is too large, as is a 10mm metric. If my calculations are correct a 5/16 would actually be a tad bit smaller than an 8mm, so I didn't bother trying that. Thoughts???
     
    #7 cybertlc, Jul 15, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2014
  8. cybertlc

    cybertlc New Member

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    Debating on trying a thread repair kit like this:


    Anyone used this successfully?
     
    #8 cybertlc, Jul 15, 2014
  9. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    This must be why they have that step "Check tightness of nuts and bolts" in the periodic maintenance.
     
    #9 AzWxGuy, Jul 15, 2014
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    If the thread repair kit doesn't help, is it possible to access the hidden side of the door pillar by removing trim under the dashboard? If so, maybe you could use a slightly longer 8 mm hex bolt with a lock washer and nut on the other side.
     
    #10 Patrick Wong, Jul 15, 2014
  11. cybertlc

    cybertlc New Member

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    Just reporting back......the thread repair kit seems to have fixed the issue. Thanks, everyone!
     
    #11 cybertlc, Jul 21, 2014
    koolingit likes this.
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