GR Yaris Another broken grill and more

JohnL

JohnL

Devoted member
Dec 17, 2021
86
122
33
Lincolnshire
Help - This plastic car is becoming expensive

I am about to have my September 21 GRY front grill replaced for a second time. The first time was following a pheasant strike which was unfortunate but at least I understood the reason for the damage. This time it is different. I am not an engineer but I know a number of you folk out there are and I wonder if somebody could offer an explanation.

Brief story all 2023

10 March hit a pheasant whilst travelling at 30 mph. Front grill broken, no other damage.
24 April grill replaced at Toyota dealer IRO £600.
3 June driving along and anti collision radar warning light comes on with message that radar has gone into recalibration mode and cannot recalibrate. Warning does not clear.
26 June take to Toyota to investigate and fix.
Toyota engineers cannot recalibrate radar and discover other damage under bonnet.
the plastic brackets that hold grill are damaged.
one of the headlight brackets is broken. the front plastic part that adjoins the bonnet is pushed back very slightly.
the trim surrounding the Toyota badge is cracked.

The technicians conclusion is that something had impacted the front end and caused the damage which had put the radar out of alignment. Estimate to replace the grill and front badge (can’t just replace the trim surround) and plastic weld the headlight bracket IRO £1000. Another £600 to replace the headlight unit.

There was certainly no impact whilst I was driving the car and no visible external damage to any part of the front of the car excepting the badge trim.

Questions

Is it possible for that amount of damage to be inflicted on a car without the slightest mark to the front or side paintwork or headlight?

Is it possible that when the grill was replaced the first time that something was over tightened or over stressed that later gave was and caused the damage?

Any other ideas?

John
 

Attachments

  • 2CFAD6F5-D034-4C38-84F6-E0ED6FEBFB9D.webp
  • 13C7F6DE-BC7D-4287-9D09-E205CFA28082.webp
  • E034786E-D890-4C4E-A831-4E13BBF0E131.webp
  • 8C06D5EB-D506-44A5-BF5E-EF3DB2F2035B.webp
  • 35669268-41EF-4126-B9C7-ED809A925B44.webp
  • Wow
  • Sad
Reactions: Chris64, Kaxe and GRandemakina
It's quite possible that someone's backed or driven into it gently & squeezed the plastic enough to do this kind of damage with little or no paint damage

I run a bodyshop & have seen this kinda thing many times. Sometimes when they've seen a third party do it & sometimes not
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sturesmyg, Ecsrobin, Onehp and 3 others
chr1s said:
It's quite possible that someone's backed or driven into it gently & squeezed the plastic enough to do this kind of damage with little or no paint damage

I run a bodyshop & have seen this kinda thing many times. Sometimes when they've seen a third party do it & sometimes not
Click to expand...
chr1s: thank you, your expert view much appreciated.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chr1s and Sturesmyg
I am very tempted to get the black mesh grill that can be fitted over our grill - probably more now I have read this post. On a drive this week I thought I had hit a small bird that darted into the front of the car. I even stopped to see if it had hit the grill but it was fine just a few feathers on the side of the bumper and no marks. About £150 for the mesh but it could cushion and spread any small impact and I think it looks nice on GRavy_baby's car. It might be worth it.
 
My two cents: Any of these minor cracks can be repaired (glued). Even the crack at the Toyota badge isn't the reason for malfunction of the radar sensor. The damage most likely is caused by a second event/impact and the misalignment can be caused by that. Anyway no reason to pay for new parts, the old ones can be repaired (ask for an experienced old guy in the workshop, he can do the job because he learned it). The headlight bracket e.g.: Take a Dremel (grinding tool), make a fillet seam and take "HG Power Glue" or a similar product to bond and remove all cracks. Job done (these young "think noting - change parts guys drive me mad).

Bye for now Fred
 
  • Like
Reactions: kiaravanvuuren, MR2rob, GRandemakina and 8 others
If doing the glueing properly, find out what plastic it is, usually there is a stamp that states what it is, e.g. PS, PA12+GF, ABS, PP, HDPE etc. Then go to a specialist store and find a suitable glue. Fatty plastics like PP and PE ideally need a catalyser for proper non brittle cyanoacrylate type glues, while PA12+GF and the like probably works best with an epoxy based glue, which suitable fillers if necessary (e.g. glasfibre strands, aluminium etc.)
And proper surface preparation - clean and degrease with something compatible with the to be used glue, very important.

Glue bonds can work long term but needs to be done properly.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: SckSqzBngBlo, markku, kiaravanvuuren and 3 others
Onehp said:
If doing the glueing properly, find out what plastic it is, usually there is a stamp that states what it is, e.g. PS, PA12+GF, ABS, PP, HDPE etc. Then go to a specialist store and find a suitable glue. Fatty plastics like PP and PE ideally need a catalyser for proper non brittle cyanoacrylate type glues, while PA12+GF and the like probably works best with an epoxy based glue, which suitable fillers if necessary (e.g. glasfibre strands, aluminium etc.)
And proper surface preparation - clean and degrease with something compatible with the to be used glue, very important.

Glue bonds can work long term but needs to be done properly.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice on glue.
The Toyota garage mentioned a plastic weld to fix the headlamp fitting. I was also told that the crack in the badge surround could stop the radar working properly. Because it is made out of special material that the radar can see through and it cannot be bought separately from the Toyota badge a replacement costs over £300.
I am taking it in tomorrow to talk through options.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Onehp
cuddles said:
I am very tempted to get the black mesh grill that can be fitted over our grill - probably more now I have read this post. On a drive this week I thought I had hit a small bird that darted into the front of the car. I even stopped to see if it had hit the grill but it was fine just a few feathers on the side of the bumper and no marks. About £150 for the mesh but it could cushion and spread any small impact and I think it looks nice on GRavy_baby's car. It might be worth it.
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

  • Like
Reactions: Nixkf
JohnL said:
Thank you for the advice on glue.
The Toyota garage mentioned a plastic weld to fix the headlamp fitting. I was also told that the crack in the badge surround could stop the radar working properly. Because it is made out of special material that the radar can see through and it cannot be bought separately from the Toyota badge a replacement costs over £300.
I am taking it in tomorrow to talk through options.
Click to expand...
Great reply about the glues. Thanks
 
I reckon my grille looks finer mesh ? Have spare from roll if Aus steerers want some ! Attached with cable ties ! Not fancy but worked ! No cooling problems noted .
 
  • Like
Reactions: GRandemakina
Late to the party here !

But I'm having a similar issue.
Image below for reference.

I also considered someone bumping into me without damaging anything else, however after seeing your post and a few other owners in South Africa saying they're having the same issue - I have ruled this out.

Took to my local Toyota and they told me it's not a warranty claim - figures !

Looks to be a extremely weak spot and I'm assuming their technicians who service the car are to blame as no one has worked on the bay except them.
Or just bad build quality with daily driving vibrations ?

1.webp
 
  • Wow
Reactions: TheManWithTheStick and GRandemakina
For the record I could not justify (not just financially but morally as well) in replacing a working headlight unit so I had the break glued and not replaced. It has been fine since.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back