Why?

what it is?

 

Harmonic balancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Harmonic Balancer smooths torque pulses in the crankshaft. I do not see that having no belts would solve that, so you still need one.

 

Did they just re-use an existing part, rather than create a whole new one?

 

I suspect it is cheaper for Toyota to carry one part number than two part numbers. They certainly use the engine block in many cars.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_ZR_engine

 

How about, why couldn't the OP come up with a more descriptive thread title?

SCH-I535

 

That would be my guess. If they already have a vendor or vendors that create them in mass? Why create a whole new part that needs to be produced? 99.9% of the people are never going to know, or care that The Prius's harmonic balancer is machined to accept a serpentine belt it doesn't even have....

If it works...it works...

 

So you can run a supercharger?

SCH-I535

 

The title is perfect to ensure you read it.
This has been brought up before. Not sure if a search would find it though.

The belt part is there for sure to avoid making another part. The engine in the Prius is used in other Toyotas with some different parts to give a longer stroke/sudo Atkinson cycle. I suspect you would find the part number of the balancer the same as in a Corolla, for example.

 

Thats for the optional front PTO used for supporting Kubota implements including front loader, snowblower, blade, and rotary sweeper.

 

It has grooves 'cause it's in a groovy car.

 

Inertia.
One part. Several cars.
Some of these cars require belts.

Why the wonder?
Now....if you want to wonder about something in a G3-II, ask why there is a photocell on the dash under the smoked plastic cover for a car that lacks automatic headlamps.

 

Are you sure that's not the sun load sensor for the HVAC system?

 

Could be....
After all they probably have a vehicle tilt compensator for the fuel gauge.
A gauge that does not measure the bottom 20-percent of the tank!

 

Ok, I did some checking and couldn't find a sun load sensor, so that should be the light sensor. There's an interior temp sensor under the start button.

 

If its a light sensor, what does it do in the dark?

 

My Prius has a rain sensor. If it determines there is a chance of rain that day, it refuses to leave my garage

Mike

 

It does: If the Prius has no belts. WHY IS THERE A CRANK PULLEY? | PriusChat

 

I like that blower idea

Mike

 

And here I thought it was equipped with a light sensor that wouldn't let it even start unless it detected 15 hours and 30 minutes or more of daylight