Title says it all! The missus backed her 2010 prius out the garage but forgot to close the hatch. Spoiler snags the garage door and is now a little loose on the back. Any body have any instructions on removing the spoiler so that I can repair it and replace the broken clips - it's still on there pretty tight, albeit wobbly! Dealer wants $700 to replace it!
You can buy this spoiler online at camelback Toyota for $303 plus free shipping. Maybe a body shop can tighten it for you?
To take it off you need to remove interior panels. Just take your time. There was something weird with the two end pieces, forget exactly what.
Sorry to hear of the mishap! I'm reminded of another recent thread hereabouts where the spoiler broke off as the result of similar accident! ! …again, the thought which immediately went through my mind was how much the $700 (…or whatever) might be better spent on driving lessons, (sorry, I couldn't resist! ) - but, more to the point (…and for future reference) I've noticed that when I close the tail-gate on my 2009 Gen II (touring), I notice how flimsy the spoiler is when used as a means of firmly closing the door, and so I've developed the habit of using the area of the door just above the Toyota badge in the centre.
I'm guilty of dinging ours, at least twice, maybe three times. Always with the car static in the garage, and absent mindedly hit the garage door close button. Usually the garage door derails a bit. It's this arm that makes contact, and I'm getting cagey:
Thanks for the replies. With your help and a google search this afternoon, I was able to get the old spoiler off. Three of the five attachment studs have broken off. Numbers 2 and 4 are there but when I put the spoiler back on, it doesn't lie flat with the rear glass in the center. The dealer said the spoiler would have to be replaced and painted (?) Does anyone know if they come painted black from the factory? I can get it for $300 and if its already painted gloss black, I may go that direction. Otherwise, if I can get the old one to lie flat with the glass, I'll use the 2 studs, two plastic clips on each endand some double sided tape.
Maybe you can buy some of those broken clips? I have never seen it any color other than black, they have to come that way
It's a Chamberland LiftMaster, but I'd think that hardware is pretty much the same on all of 'em. They might be local, not sure. I was steel detailing next door to one of their factories for a while. We weren't connected in any way. It looks to me like it's not painted: solid black plastic with a gloss surface. You could paint it gloss black for a repair of a damaged one tho.
In the interest of domestic peace, "yes honey, it was broken, but it's no big deal. I'll have it repaired soon." Oh, and it has nothing to do with needing "lessons", we all forget things. It's the garage doors fault. It should be higher.
David, you're being chauvinistic. I'm perfectly capable of mangling the spoiler on ours, without any help from my wife. Hit it 3 times now I think.
Got the word from the local Toyota stealer, the spoiler is painted from the factory gloss black. So I ordered it ($298) and will install it when it comes in tomorrow. Thanks for the help and support!
I still think they're blowing smoke, don't really know: that plastic is solid black, gloss surface. Anyhoo...
My girlfriend just did it the same thing to my prius too. Let me know how the install goes. Does the spoiler you order come with the bolts or whatever is used to secure it to the car? I still haven't order the part yet, just gives me excuses to drive my gas guzzlers. I'm probably going order it from Camelback Toyota that JC91006 recommended.
There isn't a warning sound or light in the 2010's? I know this morning the TCH has one. ANNOYING AS HELL. I had a little too much in the trunk to take to the compactor and recycling bins on the other side of the complex. I left the trunk open for the less than 1/2 mile drive. The TCH Beeped non-stop, flashed a triangle at me on the dash, and also kept popping up on the center display a message about trunk open. I remember my 2012 Prius had a warning also? Can anyone confirm. It's not very annoying though. I think it just has something on the display on the dash.
I think it likely that the dealer has been blowing smoke. My experience was that the problem with lying flat was due to distortion in the light weight sheetmetal at the mounting points rather than distortion of the spoiler. With a little care it was not hard for me to correct this. My spoiler was held by metal bolts bonded into the spoiler and by plastic clips. Some of the clips had broken and some bolts had broken away from the spoiler. I picked up replacement plastic clips for a few bucks and epoxy provided solid reattachment of the bolts Once I was done the spoiler felt more solid than it had in years and the car was a little quieter on the road.
I considered cutting out a section and JB-welding the studs back in but ended up just getting a new spoiler. It comes with the end-caps, studs (of course), and the two blue clips on each end. Yes the sheet metal mounting area where the study attach to the hatch were a little distorted so I hammered them flat first and installed the new spoiler. Not quite as study as the original one, but satisfactory nevertheless. The spoiler is grey plastic and is painted black at the factory.