:shock: Are you sure it was only a dozen? Sanny, you're assuming quite a bit. I was asking for help in how to remove it; not to be judged BECAUSE I'm removing it. If you must know, I'm planning on modifying the 3rd brake light to flash a few times before going "solid" red with a kit from webelectric.com. I thought that was reason enough.... I've read in this forum of several Prius owners being rearended and was hoping not to have to join that thread. :roll:Sanny said:whatever for? that thing was tweeked about a dozen times in development to get just the right aerodynamics for the car.
I see you are not the only one to jump to conclusions. (I'm not paranoid; people really are out to get me. :lol: ) You're right. I should have said, "how to temporarily remove it". No harm; no foul. Have a good one!Sanny said:I certainly wasn't judging you for wanting to remove it. I couldn't care less if you take your spoiler off. Just pointing out that it is an integral part of the design, and wondering why you want to. Maybe you had some reason that would benefit the forum, as you described in your follow up post. From that post, it doesn't seem that you want to remove it permanently (as I misunderstood from your first post). Be well, spoiler or no spoiler.
Spoilers do decrease drag on the vehicle at any speed that has coherent airflow over them. (Speed varies per vehicle because of individual aerodynamics, so I don't know what speed that is on the Prius.) The effect is negligible, though. (Although, based on the design premise of the Prius, it's probably enough to at least offset the weight of the spoiler itself.)JKnight said:Does it really have a function? I thought spoilers were only useful when you hit 100 mph or so. Just curious.
What's next, oh
yeah, the rear spoiler.
I can only relate you what I
was told by the Chief Engineer. July '99, I'm
standing behind one of the LHD 1S prototypes (6-8
generations of proto from production) with ee, the head
designer and the CE at the Long Lead Press event outside
San Diego. I questioned CE on the fact that I noticed
a rear spoiler add in the recent spec summary. I
didn't want the cost up and didn't think it fit the
image that we were attempting to portray for the car. I
did that purposely with Irwin Lui the designer
present cause the CE would be forced to explain his
rationale rather than just dismissing me with a "marketing
story". And the designers are always so protective of
their design.
Thats when he explained how it helped
to clean up the air flow around and behind the car
contributing to its .29 CD and delivering a few mpg on the
highway test. Because it help move us closer to our
performance targets we take it. Thats the deal as I
experienced it, take it for what its worth....I'll see if I
can dig up some data to support....Now when you see
cars without, they're likely first generation
(12/97-4/00). But I'm pretty sure that all second generation
cars in all markets have rear spoilers - from May '00
on....except for those of you who have chosen to remove
it.....I'ld be real careful about rusting around those holes
or moisture within the deck lid for those of you who
have chosen removal.
You are paranoid. Nobody's out to get you.BMcGraw said:I see you are not the only one to jump to conclusions. (I'm not paranoid; people really are out to get me. :lol: ) You're right. I should have said, "how to temporarily remove it". No harm; no foul. Have a good one!
Yeah DanMan, "been there; done that" - now. I figured it out after staring at the hatch for awhile. Thanks anyway. Unfortunately it appears that there's no way to take off the "Back Door Trim Board" without breaking the little pink clips and in my case actually breaking off two of three pink clip mounting tabs. I had to order a new BDTB from Toyota - only $68.DanMan32 said:Reading your original post again, you can get to the brake light power leads easy enough without removing the spoiler. Just remove the hatch covers.
The spoiler is held by 4 bolts. You have to take the center hatch cover (which means the lower one needs to come off) and you will see the 4 bolts. There are also 2 clips on either end of the spoiler, and I think a clip in the center.