Rear bumper cover removal

I posted the process with pictures somewhere (search parking sensor). If I come across it, i'll post the link.

Basically there are like 8 screws on the bottom, I think 2 in the wheel well. You use electrical tape to protect the paint (above and below the separating line - a plastic pry tool can then be used), then it unsnaps at the side wheel wells, and flips up from the bottom of the bumper. There's also the black plastic thingy at the hatch that snaps off.

I think the process took me like 4 hours - but I put in parking sensors, wires etc.

If knowledgeable, you should be able to swap it in under an hour....

 

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...tions/69601-very-cool-parking-assist-mod.html Here's the thread - there's the 'official' Toyota guide to rear removal, combined with my pics on page 2... It's really not that hard at all... If I already had to remove it, i'd consider putting in parking sensors - since you're already there....

 

I know I'm very late to this discussion, but can you provide the manufacturer model / name of this parking assist kit or perhaps a link to the chinese or ebay vendor? I've looked on Amazon, etc. and find something that doesn't integrate with the Prius at about twice the price. Thanks.

 

I bought mine on Ebay from a place called "factorykiss".

It's just a generic Chinese kit (like the rear cameras) - but on my silver, it was a perfect match. They aren't designed for a specific car (eg Prius) - but for the most part, the colored ones seem to match pretty well...

Kits (with display) seem to cost around $50 (front and back) - I think I spent like $40 delivered - for 4 rear sensors, a box (that mixes the video distance with the actual rear video), and a speaker for Beeping sounds (didn't use).

Unfortunately, these don't work close up - only to like .5 meters - but that's really not good enough.

On my second 2010, I put in the camera (EBay) with distance lines - it's much more accurate for parking (by far).

Parking sensors are cool - but really kinda useless for close range - and hence pretty much useless in general..........

 

RRolff, thanks for the reply. Now I have lots of questions. Sorry if I annoy.

Searching PriusChat I came across another thread where you talked about this mod. In that thread, you indicated you changed your stock head-unit and put in a camera. And that made sense when I looked at the picture of the thing I found when I followed your recommendation and searched ebay for pip gps. Because in looking at the "wordless" Toyota TPA pdf in the "cool" link, it still wasn't obvious to me how that kit integrated with the stock camera unless you had tech specs and were willing to cut and splice wires. So just to make sure I understand the TPA pdf, does it integrate with the camera? And which picture shows the device's power connection? Do you by chance have a separate doc that shows the routing of the wire from the stock camera?

And now in your second 2010, you put in a different camera? Do you have photo's of that install? But while these kits are certainly inexpensive, it seems too much to expect for them to easily integrate with the stock camera.

Originally I was simply looking for info on how to remove my bumper cover and found this thread. It was coincidental because the reason I wanted to remove it was to see if I could fix the minor dent I put into it when I backed into a tree I couldn't see but a sensor probably would have.

 

OK - lots of questions, I'll try to be more general...

As stated, I would not add parking sensors - no reason.

The kits have a video in (that RCA yellow cable that is common to AV) - the camera video (another yellow RCA cable) goes into this parking 'box', and then there is a yellow RCA outut that goes back to the head unit - it simply goes in-line - and just adds the distance. But that isn't accurate enough to do - unless you like the 'cool' factor.

I have no wiring docs other than what is already published (the docs I put up thanks to others).

If all you are doing is fixing your bumper - there are two thoughts:

1. If you can get at the dent from the back by hand, get a heat gun (DONT OVER HEAT!!!!), warm the area, and bend it back to its correct position.

2. If you need to pull the bumper, use the directions, use a heat gun, and fix it.

Most don't know - this is a simple thing to do. JUST DON'T OVER HEAT - TAKE YOUR TIME! Same on all cars...

If your paint is tweaked - you can actually buy spray-paint pre-mixed for your color code (actual match). You need to prepare the area - research it..... You get the paint, then the clear coat - but you can do a great job - do your research....

I know this because we had someone stop by our house, and say he could fix out Lexus GX470 (messed up in a few spots) - and he threw in my Prius (had a small spot).

That said, he fixed the 470 VERY nicely, sanded, prepped my bumper (was a spot the size of a dime - but he did an area like 4 inches around) - then never showed up to paint it - I have the paint (you need to find specialty paint spots), but haven't done it yet........

Good luck....

 

Ok. And thanks for the advice on the bumper cover. The paint is going to be it's own issue as my color is Blizzard Pearl. The parking sensors would've been an additional issue for that reason as well.

Thanks.