Damm it, what should be a 5 minute job is going to be a lot longer and harder now. Could take it to a specialist, but annoying that just a couple of bolts are going to be this painful
And found that somebody else had the same problem on Reddit; also a Toyota Aqua so guessing they all have this 'feature'
Japanese vehicles do not use posi drive screws its a number 3 phillips standard Japanese 6mm bolt
johnn,
Jul 12, 9:37pm
1/4 the price but it aint going to do the job
gph1961,
Jul 12, 10:09pm
dont be grumpy,leave that to me
budgel,
Jul 12, 11:28pm
Pozi drive have diagonal markings on the head adjacent to the slots. I think Trouser is right, it is a JIS.
pauldw,
Jul 13, 12:06am
Is it possible to undo the screws holding the head unit to the bracket? That seems to be the approach someone on priuschat forum took when they couldn't undo the bracket.
mrfxit,
Jul 13, 1:31am
It can be amazing what you can do right, with the wrong tools. In any case, that tool kit link I posted is pretty damn cheap & even more so considering how many are in it.
mrfxit,
Jul 13, 1:32am
Sometimes a plate like that can be moved along with the screw just to get it loose enough to turn by other means
kazbanz,
Jul 13, 2:06am
What you have there is the radio version of a locknut on a car wheel. its not torx or inhex or any kind of standard socket. each one is unique If you are very lucky you will find something that looks like a short 1/4 drive socket. 5mm hex on one end .the other is the "male' end to the screw heads female. it will be in a little plastic bag with a 5mm allen key. If not then you MIGHT be lucky if you try a flat blade screwdriver with a very small blade. fitting it into the slot you work your way round till you have purchase enough to start the screw loosening. Its designed to be difficult to remove except with the correct tool. Once removed it looks like any other radio screw. either replace it or if you don't have one then slot it with a hacksaw. I've also had success using a "snake eye" socket. two points that if you are lucky clip onto the slot and start the screw loosening I currently have about 50 of the sockets and no two the same
Lethhand is phillips and righthand is pozidrive, OP's top screw looks like the lefthand one.
bill1451,
Jul 13, 4:39am
poster 24 is about as close as you,ll get guys, but at the end of the day, if you have a dremel with a right angle drive maybe, just maybe you can grind a couple of flats on the side and then some mini vise grips.
bill1451,
Jul 13, 4:41am
good luck with that in a recess and all, might be ok in the workshop vice but generally those screws are as hard as f. (see my last post)
I could undo every last one of them with a decent pair of side cutters.
gblack,
Jul 13, 5:30am
Been looking at it again today with a bit more light. Kaz is right and looks like they all seem a bit different when I find them online. I have 4 lobs. others seem to have 5 or more
Would be a bastard to use a dremal as would involve metal grinding inside the dash. Meets filings inside plastic dash and wiring seems like bad idea. More tempted to just try and use a largish drill and once the bolts are out, replace the bolts with something larger diameter.
Would be difficult to get tools deep inside the dash, so might have to disassemble more dash. Or more likely take it to somebody who might have the right tools. Other suggestion from somebody was to weld or super glue a standard socket on to turn them.
I can see the head unit is only held with couple of screws (Phillips head from what I know of screw heads), to the brackets, so looking at that but tricky to get screwdriver in and I can't see if any more screws behind the brackets.
Want to know who the bastard was that thought these bolts were a good idea. Crim's would just pry the brackets out and make a mess anyway
Since the public registrations are closed, you must have an invite from a current member to be able to register and post in this thread.
Have an account? Login here.