sfprankster's (mis)adventures modding a 2014 Prius Model Three

Thanx!!!


It's the "not for very long" part that rings so true.

 

Another sunny and warm day in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

PlastiDip (mis)adventures continues...

Hybrid Side Badges:
All began by cleaning the badges with a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water, using a microfiber towel and a few cotton swabs. A quick masking of the area, to limit the overspray, and I was ready to go...

I sprayed the PlastiDip white a total of six thin coats and the pearlizer a total of two wet coats. I made sure to change the spray direction(front to to rear, rear to front) with each new coat to get full coverage on all sides of the Hybrid badges. I used a couple of toothpicks to clean up some of the tighter areas, that didn't release while doing the initial peel. Any overspray is easily wiped off with a microfiber towel.



This mod gives the side hybrid badges a slightly subdued look against the Blizzard Pearl, and for me, it's much less obnoxious than the chrome. As an added bonus, it also matches the front and rear Toyota badges I PlastiDipped a while back.




Still have the last two chrome Hybrid badges on the rear hatch to PlastiDip.

 

Auer Automotive

 

Another LED (mis)adventure...

Rear Hatch Cargo LED's:

I received a set of LED's for the rear hatch last October. Been either lazy or intimidated to install them up until today. The weather is still warm and sunny, with a couple of extra hours of free time available, I began the installation process. The instructions are in Japanese and minimalistic, with little in the way of actual help. So you need to be creative with your installation.


Best to begin by removing the interior panels from the hatch and accessing the rear cargo light. There is a small recessed area near the switch to insert a panel tool to remove the light. The hatch LED's come with a wire harness that contains a plug that connects directly to the rear cargo light's plug and splits it into a fused harness for the pair of hatch LED's and a second plug for the stock cargo light. I cheated and only raised the interior panel's edge above the cargo light, to drop the harness down into the area behind the rear cargo light. Running the harness to the rear hatch, I lifted the edge of the roof panel to run the harness to the rubber boot connecting the interior and the hatch area. The roof side of the hach has a plastic insert that can be lifted by releasing several tabs to make running the harness through the boot easier. Wiggle the top part of the boot to remove it from the hatch and insert the LED harness through the boot.


Armed with a bundle of mini zip ties, I let my OCD run free and routed the LED harness along the existing harness.
The LED harness comes as two pieces. This allows you to run the harness through the boot. A plug(included), seen in the lower right of the third thumbnail, has to be attached to the metal pins and connected. Make sure you have the correct polarity, red to red and white to white, before inserting the pins into the plug. After routing the LED harness, drop the small plugs out the pair of rectangular holes, approximately 3" x 4" in size, just to the sides of the center.


Unfortunately the LED's wire harness shipped with a broken/blown fuse, so I used a multimeter to test for voltage at the LED plugs before reinstalling the hatch interior panels. Once reinstalled, the LED's simply plug into the harness and snap into place, using the existing panels that allow access to the License plate light sockets.



Hatch Cargo LED Update:
Replaced the fuse and the rear hatch LED's light the entire cargo area. Much more effecient than the single light on the side. The rear hatch LED"S light independently of the cargo light. The cargo light works with the switch. While the hatch LED's operate with the hatch, on when open and off when closed.

 

Rear hatch cargo LED's:

SHARE STYLE | Rakuten Global Market: TOYOTA PRIUS 30# LED luggagelamp kit fs04gm

I originally posted the link to the LED's in post #27 of this thread.

 

Pulled the trigger and ordered a set of custom Clazzio seat covers for the Faux Five Prius today.

Beige inserts and black body with beige stitching to match my steering wheel cover.

Only a 10-14 week estimate to receive them... ...so it's Happy Birthday to me seat covers...



...gf left me alone for toooooo long today...

...made a Wednesday morning appointment for the 10k service...










...and installation of a set of TRD lowering springs...

 

I have extra credit cards that never leave my office.

The TRD's seem to keep the ride quality consistent with the stock springs, at least spec wise. As long as it passes the gf ride test, it's all good.

I've already heard the "it's too loud" for the speaker I mounted behind the passenger seat last week. Luckily the Pioneer HU allows me to adjust speaker levels independently.




For me, it's just trying to create something that doesn't resemble the everyday soccer mom mobile.

 

Thanx!!!

I have images and the process I used for the rear wiper delete in post #43 of this thread.

The hardest part of it all is getting the LED harness wires through the boot. Not much room to work in the crease with the hatch open.

I originally intended to do the wiper delete, hatch LED's and the 3rd brake flasher module at the same time...

...but, you know how that goes...

Images of the Hatch LED's at night:

 

Freshly washed and a Brazilian waxing...


...ready for a date with Piercey Toyota for a 10k service...

...TRD springs delivered, scheduled to be installed on Wednesday...

 

Going to have them installed at Piercey Toyota in Milpitas.

$525 for the springs and labor.
Then $50 off for a service manager's coupon that's available online.

 

I emailed a customer service rep for the quote a few weeks back, and confirmed yesterday, when I made the appointment. In my quote request, I asked if I would be able to use the coupon and was informed to present it to the Service Advisor at the time of the write-up, to have it applied.

Service Manager Service Discount Coupon
SAVE UP TO $100.00


If your bill is this----------You save this
$50 - $99.99-----------------$5.00
$100 - $199----------------$10.00
$200 - $299----------------$20.00
$300 - $399----------------$30.00
$400 - $499----------------$40.00
$500 - $599----------------$50.00
$600 - $699----------------$60.00
$700 - $799----------------$70.00
$800 - $899----------------$80.00
$900 - $999----------------$90.00
$1000 and up------------$100.00
Limit: Select "Print" and bring printed coupon.
Coupon valid until Feb 28th, 2015