Celica hatch handle, any opinions/options?

[FlowMax]

Hi guyz,
I'll explain my problem:
The hatch handle plastic, where there is the ''CELICA'' written on it as broke on mine and water infiltrates the plastic and burnt my licence plate bulbs. So then i'll bought new licence plate white leds bulbs and a new celica hatch handle (found in a scrap). The problem is that the new hatch handle as several scratched, so i was planning to wrap it into vinyls instead of making it paint again. I was thinking about a nice carbon fiber vinyl (really looks like real) but i figured out that the vinyl was too stiff to make 90degrees angles to wrap it. So i was thinking to wrap it into a flat black vinyl. Otherwise, i see another option: make a real celica hatch handle insert in real CF.

So, what you, guys, would do ? Flat black vinyl? Carbon Fiber? Any other options?? Also, important thing, i have a liquid silver celica, so it need to fit with the color of the car.
I also saw into installations write-up that larryd has the same thing i would like to, in real CF (or it really seems to, if not) and was wondering how to purchase it, and how much would it cost, any ideas??

So thanks guys for your tips and advice!

[vegeta4ss]

there is an ebay seller for the hatch handle made of raw carbon fiber. Try to find one of them based in N. America though because I hear they fit better. I think they are like 80 bucks.

I would advise against vinyl wrapping on that part. With the recessed letters and curves it would take some skill to get it correct without wrinkles. Vinyl fades out too and that part will get a lot of sun because nothing can really shade it (unless you have a huge wing or something)

You should sand down and repaint your spare from the junkyard. Or, use it temporarily while you fix your original one that is broken. The handles have a gasket that runs across the top and down the edges to block out water, in addition those tag lights should have large plastic covers to prevent water leaking in. All of the bolts slide in and out, and it's made of ABS plastic so even if it broke down the middle it can be repaired. If such a lengthy repair needs to take place you can fill in the "CELICA" letters and make the job much quicker.

good luck!

[FlowMax]

there is an ebay seller for the hatch handle made of raw carbon fiber. Try to find one of them based in N. America though because I hear they fit better. I think they are like 80 bucks.

I would advise against vinyl wrapping on that part. With the recessed letters and curves it would take some skill to get it correct without wrinkles. Vinyl fades out too and that part will get a lot of sun because nothing can really shade it (unless you have a huge wing or something)

You should sand down and repaint your spare from the junkyard. Or, use it temporarily while you fix your original one that is broken. The handles have a gasket that runs across the top and down the edges to block out water, in addition those tag lights should have large plastic covers to prevent water leaking in. All of the bolts slide in and out, and it's made of ABS plastic so even if it broke down the middle it can be repaired. If such a lengthy repair needs to take place you can fill in the "CELICA" letters and make the job much quicker.

good luck!

1- I've just take a look on ebay, and yesterday on several CF website (carbincraft and many more, i finaly found nothing on those...) and i found that on ebay:
-http://cgi.ebay.ca/Carbon-Fiber-Trunk-Lid-Decoration-Toyota-Celica-00-05_W0QQitemZ270433983236QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_ Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ef71f1b04&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1215%7C 293%3A1%7C294%3A50
-http://cgi.ebay.ca/Carbon-Fiber-Trunk-Lid-Decoration-Toyota-Celica-00-05_W0QQitemZ270433983236QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_ Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ef71f1b04&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1215%7C 293%3A1%7C294%3A50
As you see, they are tooooooo much expensive... I've already put in 50bucks for the scratched piece.... :S I've send a pm to larryd, lets see what will happened!

Second thing, it's not a problem for the wrapping. I know someone who can wrap anything you want lol. He told me the same thing: the recessed letter problem. Than, i would only cut around the letter to let the CELICA word appear in grey (stock tone: liquid silver) And if it fades out, i'll just pay another 30bucks to get it wrapped again!:gap:

I'm still thinking of just make it paint again, it would be about 50bucks. Plus the initial price (50$), it still less than the original one at toyota (120$, not painted yet). But i'm thinking also about flat black vinyl as i said, i think it would look pretty nice but i want to make sure it won't look RICER. What would be your opinion about this??

[vegeta4ss]

1- I've just take a look on ebay, and yesterday on several CF website (carbincraft and many more, i finaly found nothing on those...) and i found that on ebay:
-http://cgi.ebay.ca/Carbon-Fiber-Trunk-Lid-Decoration-Toyota-Celica-00-05_W0QQitemZ270433983236QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_ Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ef71f1b04&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1215%7C 293%3A1%7C294%3A50
-http://cgi.ebay.ca/Carbon-Fiber-Trunk-Lid-Decoration-Toyota-Celica-00-05_W0QQitemZ270433983236QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_ Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ef71f1b04&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1215%7C 293%3A1%7C294%3A50
As you see, they are tooooooo much expensive... I've already put in 50bucks for the scratched piece.... :S I've send a pm to larryd, lets see what will happened!


These are the specific ones I mentioned that do not fit well. They look good, but they won't fit. The only seller that makes some that fit properly are based out of the USA. They rarely have ebay auctions, but sometimes those parts are for sale on here in the classifieds area. It took me over a year before I found the correct one. They are not cheap.


Second thing, it's not a problem for the wrapping. I know someone who can wrap anything you want lol. He told me the same thing: the recessed letter problem. Than, i would only cut around the letter to let the CELICA word appear in grey (stock tone: liquid silver) And if it fades out, i'll just pay another 30bucks to get it wrapped again!:gap:

I am not a big fan of vinyl. Even if it comes out looking good when it fades in a couple of years and you have to pay to get it fixed again you will have spent almost the same amount as it would cost to repaint it.


I'm still thinking of just make it paint again, it would be about 50bucks. Plus the initial price (50$), it still less than the original one at toyota (120$, not painted yet). But i'm thinking also about flat black vinyl as i said, i think it would look pretty nice but i want to make sure it won't look RICER. What would be your opinion about this??
You can order the hatch handle from Toyota in any color, or primered. It cost me $68 in 2003 to buy one, I ordered red (#3p0). You should have just done this because the junkyard charged you quite a bit for a used handle that is not the correct color you need. I do not understand why your toyota dealer would tell you $120.

Here is one for $63 http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getJointLocator&siteid=840&chapter=&Sectionids=0,4486&groupid=2724&subgroupid=9789&componentid=75625&make=34&model=Celica&year=2002&graphicID=8514470&callout=4&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=2 but it comes in black.

I suggest to just paint it. It will hold up the longest and look the best. Carbon or flat black hatch handles only look good if the car has a lot of other carbon parts.

[FlowMax]

Hum... I think i'll abandon the wrap vinyl for the moment. As you said, it'll fades out a year or two later. And for carbon parts, it's a bit expensive and i'm trying the best as i can to keep the liquid silver concept on my car: platinium window tint+ mags with chrome lip and stainless finish (DAI

[guateracer1]

how do you unistall that piece because i got my carbon fiber one in the mail the other day but i have no idea how ot tak eout help thanks

[trdmsprts27]

remove the plastice cover on the inside of the hatch, there is 4 bolts that hold it into place.

[guateracer1]

ok thanks man appreciate it big time

[guateracer1]

i took out the plastic but there was plastic screw that wa son the right two scres on the lft side that hold the key hole other scre that hold the license plates lights have no idea what your talking about four screwes could you show me a pic if it is not to much of a hassle for you thank you very much appreciated

[Ddragon]

Yeah, you remove those metal bolts to remove the hatch handle. The plastic piece on your right when you're facing the inside of the hatch is only there to hold that side in more securely. In total on mine there were 5 metal bolts to remove: the 2 for the keyhole, the 2 by the automated lock inside, and the far right one.

Here's one of my photos from a previous thread where I was helping someone out who needed to change their license plate bulbs. Don't mind the red text:
http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/medium/Trunk_latch00.jpg

I hope this helps from what you were talking about.

[Ddragon]

Here's a few more pics I came across in my gallery:

These are the 2 center screws:
http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/medium/Trunk_latch01.jpg

This is the far right screw (look right next to the paper surrounding the wires):
http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/medium/Trunk_latch03.jpg

[guateracer1]

Very Helpful thank you very much now i kno what to do and it wont mess anything up right if i take out those screws right?