Protective cap for exposed electrical connections under hood?

The ECU connector cover is a genuine Toyota made part. It's just NOT supplied or available in the USA market.


The ones that are "removable" which I imported from Japan were shipped to me in a box with the red Toyota label on it.

 

Can the ECU cover from eBay be easily removed for when bringing the car to the dealership for service?

I imagine most US dealerships wouldn't know what the heck to do with it since it is not standard equipment.

 

Yes, they are removable, if you buy the removable one. It takes no more than opening the hood, flipping up the gray lever lock and squeezing the two removal locking tabs with your thumb and index finger.

 

How do I know if it's the removable one when searching for one?

 

It will be noted in the description and the title.

 

Keep in mind too that there are more unexposed wires in other places as well. Look to the left of the inverter for example:



I don't think this cover is really needed, if it was, Toyota would include it on the car as mentioned above.

 

The ECU connector cover fits in the place referenced by the red circle...

It is NOT where you placed the RED arrow.


I used 3M fiberglass high temperature heat sealing tape to seal some other thinner wires, where a protector cover is NOT available.


The ECU connector is NOT located where your red arrow is. ALL Gen III's 2010, 2011's 2012's, 2013's and 2014's are located all the way near the fender between the fuse box, the top right ECU in the photo and the pink colored coolant in the coolant tank. That goes for the Prius"v." the Liftback, and the Plug-in.

 

In my experience, what Toyota (USA) considers "really needed" is generally a fair bit less than what I consider "really needed"...

 

Yeah, Toyota has NEVER admitted to the rodent and mouse problem with the Prius.

And, Toyota will gladly sell you a $600 wiring harness, if these thin 24 or 26 gauge wires are damaged by rats or mice chewing on them.

GM tried to save 57 cents on an ignition switch. Now, they are really paying for that recall and the bad PR.


It's like saying, "If God meant man to fly, he would have given him wings."

 

When we bought our used Prius, I made a parts guy show me on another car that none of them had caps on those wires. It just really jumped out at me as being out of place. In my case, it was worth a few bucks for the peace of mind, be it real or imaginary, and for not being annoyed by seeing those wires every time I opened the hood.

 

Since buying my Prius 3 weeks ago, I've noticed a lot of dust accumulating under the hood. It must be all the sand in the highway from the sanitation trucks that had to throw sand and salt during the snow storms. Anyway, I would rather not risk anything getting damaged so I spend $140 and bought all the covers from eBay. And believe me, I'm not the type to spend that much money on these plastic covers. If they were $50 and all they did was make it look "neater"... maybe. But for $140 and a little peace of mind, I bought it.

 

From his new thread, it's simply good insurance;

Wire harness chewed by an animal | PriusChat

 

Another thing to consider is Toyota's vested interest in gains/profits ($$$).

If you were Toyota (US), would you rather provide free plastic covers for every car sold (- profits).

or...

Not provide covers AND if something goes wrong you have to give them money to replace it (+ profits)?

If they're available and standard in Japan and not in North America, you have to wonder, "are they trying to cut corners with us?"

 

I see an eBay listing mentioning Rude person's. Is it really you? A second thought, we can just wrap the exposed wires with the black electrical tape.

Nexus 4 ?

 

NOT allowed to say, here.

I also use 3M fiberglass electrical tape.

 

That would be the correct seller.

SCH-I535

 

God, did, she let the Wright Brothers "fly" at Kittyhawk, NC.

In the aerospace industry, these plastic covers are called connector "BACKSHELLS" and they serve a DUAL purpose: (1) protect the embedded wires when connected and (2) provide a mechanical surface to "pull" upon -- without PULLING on the wires -- when 'disconnecting' the connector from the socket assembly. Never use the "wire" bundle when pulling connectors apart.

 

Yah, I know about aerospace connectors. I still have the Daniels Manufacturing wire crimp set with all of the barrels.

 

Me, too, Hughes Aircraft Company ('82-'85)...GM Hughes Electronics ('85-'97)...Raytheon ('97-'10).

 

An update: good source for the under-hood ECM connector cover (p/n: 82821-76010), was under $5 CDN. Plus $9.90 shipping, but you can soften that blow if you order multiple items. No sales tax or duty for me, with these guys, so far.

Genuine Genuine Toyota 82821-76010 (8282176010) COVER, CONNECTOR - Amayama