# What is this thing on my front bumper (and my sister's Prius)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010 "2016-01-02T19:28:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/21 "2016-01-02T22:00:06Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > [Here is a pic](https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipOWXN3NdYBP1FIBIf7hxU_W2vrKlrUOQBeCUW2N). It’s a 2016 Mazda 3. It looks like a tiny door, except as far as I can tell it doesn’t open. Or maybe it’s something to be punched out and replaced with … what? [Here’s another pic of a different model year](https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipOBFlgkjPMJQbHrnZRSF4K5Kn2BwwHpbpgsgJQe) which has the thing on the other side of the front grille. My sister just had her 2006 Prius’s front bumper replaced after a collision, and the replacement has a similar thing. She didn’t notice whether it existed on the original bumper. > > There is not a corresponding hole on the other side of the bumper, so it’s not as if it’s filling in a space where fog lights or some other optional equipment might go. It’s a tow hook cover, they use this when they transport the cars to tie them down. I have been on a car transporter ship and seen the cars tied down via hooks screwed into the spots front and rear. Here are some [pictures](https://goo.gl/photos/C2s9JJC7EvxvbGgp7) I took a previous time this subject came up. After shipment, as part of the PDI process the covers are fitted and the car is delivered. Some (most?) car come equipped with tow hook in with the jack and tire iron. **Mortimus** No they aren’t that expensive, but they have to be painted, so that brings the cost up, probably about $40-50 after paint. **BrotherCadfael** I’ve never seen one with a left hand thread, what kind of car was that? ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/22 "2016-01-02T22:45:09Z")
They aren’t only used for transport, they are used for -you’ll never guess- towing. Most cars that don’t have an actual hook have holes for a screw-in eye bolt and a cover for looks. Some cars have one, some have two. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/23 "2016-01-02T23:39:12Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > They aren’t only used for transport, they are used for -you’ll never guess- towing. Most cars that don’t have an actual hook have holes for a screw-in eye bolt and a cover for looks. Some cars have one, some have two. More correctly they are used for vehicle recovery. You can watch endless videos of idiots trying to pull their vehicles out of snow banks and such and pulling the entire front bumper off. A lot of uni-body cars don’t have easily accessible points that can handle you pulling the full weight of the vehicle, so manufacturers have started putting tow hook mounts to if a car needs to be pulled back to the road there is a point strong enough to handle that. In a lot of cases(especially the off center ones) the tow hooks aren’t actually very good for towing, they are just to get the car out of a ditch. Prius: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYE6MOyyeBk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYE6MOyyeBk) ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/24 "2016-01-03T01:15:57Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > **BrotherCadfael** I’ve never seen one with a left hand thread, what kind of car was that? VW. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/25 "2016-01-03T03:16:19Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Nope. Still wants a log in. > [@davidm](#): > > I already tried it. It wants me to log into a Google account. My guess is that it would have to be your account. Doesn’t ask me for a login. Just says 404. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/26 "2016-01-03T03:55:27Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Doesn’t ask me for a login. Just says 404. I’m logged into a google account, and get a 404. If I log out and try the link, I get a login request. I think the OP needs to get a shareable link - click in the photo. Near the top right, there should be a row of icons. The first one is three dots, connected by two lines. Kinda a lopsided triangle. That’s the share button. If you click on that, one of the options is something like “Get Link.” That should give you a goo.gl link, which should be public. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/27 "2016-01-03T14:00:30Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > More correctly they are used for vehicle recovery. You can watch endless videos of idiots trying to pull their vehicles out of snow banks and such and pulling the entire front bumper off. Saw a couple of guys do just that last winter. They really trashed the car. I winched them out by hooking up to… The trailer hitch :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/28 "2016-01-03T15:01:05Z")
Those are parking sensors. If the car has this feature, it “beeps” to the driver if you are getting close to or about to hit something when parking. [http://auto.marine-news.biz/64905/car-tips/how-to-choose-parking-sensors-for-car/](http://auto.marine-news.biz/64905/car-tips/how-to-choose-parking-sensors-for-car/) [Parking sensor - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_sensor) [http://www.cartransplants.co.uk/used-parts-breaking-vehicles/part-details/Saab-9-3-2003-To-2007-Vector-Sport-Bumper-Rear-Proximity-Sensor/0/6493/](http://www.cartransplants.co.uk/used-parts-breaking-vehicles/part-details/Saab-9-3-2003-To-2007-Vector-Sport-Bumper-Rear-Proximity-Sensor/0/6493/) ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/29 "2016-01-03T15:52:03Z")
It could be except the OP said there was only one. If their pics worked, we’d know for sure but [here](http://booautoparts.com/image/ebay/MAZDA3/MD5-1.jpg) is a pic I found. That’s a tow hook cover. Sensors on the front bumper are kinda rare until you get into more expensive cars. I can’t find parts diagram for a 2016 Mazda 3 because it’s too new but the 2015 doesn’t have them. The OP said their sister’s 2006 Prius has one too and [here](https://parts.olathetoyota.com/parts/2006/Toyota/Prius/Base?siteid=216493&vehicleid=187563&diagram=8545005) is a 2006 Prius diagram showing nothing but a tow hook cover. ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/30 "2016-01-03T17:21:41Z")
As a retired dock worker, I can tell you that this is an attachment area for an eyebolt to attach lashing straps to secure vehicles in the hold of a ship. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/31 "2016-01-03T22:08:32Z")
How do you pop the covers off - just press in and pop out? Is there a catch that needs to be lifted? Can you damage the covers? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/32 "2016-01-04T01:03:12Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > How do you pop the covers off - just press in and pop out? Is there a catch that needs to be lifted? Can you damage the covers? On most cars you kinda pry them out with a screw driver. On the Prius video I linked earlier the cap appears to overlap the grating so you can put your screw driver(or in his case tire iron behind it to pop it out. Yes you can damage the paint, you probably won’t damage the plastic that makes up the structure unless you are particularly reckless. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/33 "2016-01-04T03:00:18Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > How do you pop the covers off - just press in and pop out? Is there a catch that needs to be lifted? Can you damage the covers? Yes, you can damage it. My father did when he pried one off my car wondering what it was. :rolleyes: Now it doesn’t go back on properly. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/34 "2016-01-04T05:02:14Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Those are parking sensors. If the car has this feature, it “beeps” to the driver if you are getting close to or about to hit something when parking. > > [http://auto.marine-news.biz/64905/car-tips/how-to-choose-parking-sensors-for-car/](http://auto.marine-news.biz/64905/car-tips/how-to-choose-parking-sensors-for-car/) > > [Parking sensor - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_sensor) > > [http://www.cartransplants.co.uk/used-parts-breaking-vehicles/part-details/Saab-9-3-2003-To-2007-Vector-Sport-Bumper-Rear-Proximity-Sensor/0/6493/](http://www.cartransplants.co.uk/used-parts-breaking-vehicles/part-details/Saab-9-3-2003-To-2007-Vector-Sport-Bumper-Rear-Proximity-Sensor/0/6493/) Maybe now, but I have a 2010 Prius with one of these just like in the video, and I don’t have a parking sensor. I wondered about towing with this thing, since it is so off center, but they guy in the video notes it is only for recovery, not long-term towing, so that makes sense. Using it to tie down the car makes sense also. Something about my car I didn’t know. Neat. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/35 "2016-01-04T05:51:53Z")
[QUOTE=engineer\_comp\_geek;18983368 Ok, according to a more serious post I googled, it’s for towing. You pop out the panel and insert an eyelet screw, and a tow truck can safely attach a winch to that and tow the car from there.[/QUOTE] yes its for attaching a solid towing hook, common on Japanese cars now. (as I have seen brand new japanese cars a few times in the last few years.) The little wire bracket type tow points below the vehicle are terrible, they aren’t strong enough at first, and then they become damaged. Using the underneath tow points was also silly, as the tow rope would have to touch the bumper bar , and that would cause damage. The gov wanted to be able to tow a vehicle without causing any damage, but how ? Pull the vehicle up a slippery tilt tray… ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/36 "2016-01-04T06:27:28Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > **BrotherCadfael** I’ve never seen one with a left hand thread, what kind of car was that? Cars sold to the Southern Hemisphere use left hand thread so that things don’t unwind as the earth rotates. Similar to the way drains work down south… ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/37 "2016-01-04T16:14:52Z")
Yeah, whatever. Apparently nobody R’sTFM. From my (2014) car’s Owner’s Manual: > [@](#): > > **Tiedown Hooks** > **CAUTION** > Do not use the front and rear > tiedown eyelets for towing the > vehicle. > _**They have been designed only for > securing the vehicle to a transport > vessel during shipping. > Using the eyelets for any other > purpose could result in the vehicle > being damaged.**_ (emphasis mine) > > Tiedown Hooks > > 1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug > wrench from the luggage compartment > (page 7-3). > 2. Wrap a flathead screwdriver or similar > tool with a soft cloth to prevent > damage to a painted bumper, and open > the cap located on the front or rear > bumper. > 3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet > using the lug wrench. > 4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown > eyelet. [https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2014\_CX5\_OM.pdf#mk\_page\_443](https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2014_CX5_OM.pdf#mk_page_443) There are pictures. This is the thing the OP is talking about. Maybe people tend to use them for towing/recovery, but it’s pretty clear that’s not what they’re “supposed” to be for (other than maybe securing it to a truck or flatbed). If someone has a manual that specifically says differently, then great. But “according to a post I Googled” isn’t authoritative. ---
**Author:** ![iceiso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@iceiso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iceiso)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/38 "2016-01-04T17:24:30Z")
Ha, good to know. I’ve only ever noticed them on 4WD cars. I always thought they were for headlight sprays/wipers for an upgraded variant. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/39 "2016-01-04T18:12:10Z")
> [@troub](#): > > Yeah, whatever. Apparently nobody R’sTFM. From my (2014) car’s Owner’s Manual: > > [https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2014\_CX5\_OM.pdf#mk\_page\_443](https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2014_CX5_OM.pdf#mk_page_443) > > There are pictures. This is the thing the OP is talking about. Maybe people tend to use them for towing/recovery, but it’s pretty clear that’s not what they’re “supposed” to be for (other than maybe securing it to a truck or flatbed). If someone has a manual that specifically says differently, then great. But “according to a post I Googled” isn’t authoritative. The Prius Manual mentions them for ‘Emergency Towing’: > [@](#): > > If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be > temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency > towing eyelet. This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads > for short distances at low speeds. > A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The > vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in > good condition. I don’t think any owners manual really goes into how to get a vehicle out of a ditch. They’d rather avoid any responsibility and let the tow truck drivers deal with it. Given the option of leaving your car in a ditch vs having it pulled out be a towing eyelet most people will take their chances. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010/40 "2016-01-04T18:31:36Z")
I think the posters are confusing ultrasonic distance sensors with tow hook covers. Sensors are about the size of a quarter, maybe 4 spaced around the back and also possibly front bumper. Tow hooks screw into a hole under a plastic cover on the bumper about 2" x 4". Some of the older and cheaper-made cars, or higher SUV’s and trucks etc., would have a set of U-hooks below the back bumper about where the license plate is. Basically, there’s nothing solid and obvious to hook onto with unibody cars, so the manufacturers provide a specific point. All my newer, fancier cars (BMW) have had a tow hook. My 2000 323i IIRC had one only on front and back offset midway between the edge and the middle. My latest BMW IIRC has 2 on each bumper, again midway between license plate and edge. The big eye-hook is in the little toolkit. I don’t think I’ve ever used one, I never had to pull out any stumps. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010.md?page=3)