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

More (mis)adventures caused by OCD...

Swapped the carbon fiber vinyl backgrounds on the front and rear Toyota badges, from black to white, in anticipation of receiving a new set of emblems from Japan...

From black:


To white:


Emblem set ordered(3 week production + shipping time from Japan):




Seat Cover Update:
Status change on my custom seat covers from:

Production-Your custom order has been confirmed with the factory and is being produced. Your order may show production for 6-8 Weeks.

To:

Shipped-Your order has been shipped! An email has been sent with your tracking number. If you did not receive the tracking order email, your tracking number can be found just above the order status on this page.


Whoo Hoo!!!!

They said it could take 10-14 weeks to receive the seat covers when I ordered them on Jan 16...

Estimated delivery on Thursday.

 

More creature comfort (mis)adventures...

Today I received a front row set of custom seat covers I ordered on Jan 16, 2015 from Clazzio. The initial delivery estimate was 10-14 weeks from the order date. To say I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email with the FedEx tracking info a couple of days ago, is an understatement. Total time in production and shipping, less than 4 weeks.


Everything came to a sudden halt when I got the box out to my car and had to open it, to see and touch the new seat covers.

The unboxing:



Once open, the initial thoughts were to jump head first into the installation. Of course, the instructions were packed on top of everything else. Tossing the instructions into the passenger seat, without attempting to open the bag to see if they provided any help or precautions, I started by removing the driver seat headrest and working the headrest cover slowly over the headrest. Once pulled over the headrest, there is a simple two piece connector to hold the cover in place. A straight piece of plastic is sewn into the cover's opening on one edge and slips over and into a "U" shaped piece sewn onto the other edge. A pair of triangular pieces of material have to be inserted under the main portion of the cover to enclose the headrest posts before engaging the closure. After a total of 3-4 minutes, the first step of the installation process had been completed.



Since I wanted to keep the symmetry of the steering wheel cover and seat covers alike, beige in the center and black on the edges, I had to order an extra set of beige headrest covers. As was explained to me when ordering, the headrests were cut at the same time as the body panels and could not be exchanged with another color.

More than likely, I won't have the time to install the seat covers until I finish the work marathon running through next week. Until then, whatever time I do have available, I'll install it slowly, piece by piece, until I finish.


More creature comfort (mis)adventures to be continued tomorrow...







I don't know why, but I have a strange feeling, I'll be ordering bulk material from Clazzio, to change out the cloth inserts on the door panels soon...






Oh how I hate being OCD at times...

 

I warned everyone in the first post of the this thread...

As a side note, if you do enough of the mods in rapid succession, it keeps the gf off balance and always catching up...

Like this one:


Only washed and waxed, but she noticed the tire dressing and asked what was different...



More creature comfort (mis)adventures update...

Second headrest cover installed...


Santa needs to get his elves back from their Caribbean vacation and install these seat covers pronto...

 

Creature comfort (mis)adventures continues...

Today I finished installing a front row set of Clazzio custom beige/black seat covers. Over the course of few days, it took about 1 1/2 hours total time and a bloody knuckle , to complete the installation. Now the front seats match the beige/black interior of my Faux Five Prius. I must say, after driving with the driver seat cover installed since last Tuesday, the seat is much more comfortable than without the cover. There is a small amount(15mm) of memory foam sewn into the Clazzio seat covers that make a world of difference in the comfort level in the lumbar area of my back.

Passenger seat cover installation:

Lower seat cover installation:
It all begins with the removal of the headrest. Depressing a small button on one of the headrest posts releases the headrest from the seat. (See post #144 of this thread for a tutorial on installing the Clazzio headrest covers.) On the bottom rear of the seat, remove the elastic strap holding lower flap and place the strap into the seat pocket to get out of the way.



Locate the bottom seat cover and unbuckle the pair of straps and turn the cover inside out. Align the sewn edge of the cover with the outside edge of the seat. Roll the cover's edges onto the seat bottom and adjust the fit. Begin working the rear flaps of the cover through the seat, until you can grasp the pair of flaps from the rear. Firmly pull the flaps to tighten the lower cover onto the seat bottom.



Begin using the tool supplied with the seat covers, and insert the outside rolled edge of the seat cover, into the plastic seat moulding. I begin from the front edge and work my way towards the rear of the seat. Take your time and make sure you get the entire rolled edge behind the plastic moulding until you have a smooth edge.



Install an "S" hook, supplied with the covers, onto the elastic attached to the edge flap. Secure the pair of straps into the buckles, making sure you route the straps inside of the seat adjuster and around any wiring under the seat, and pull snug. Attach the "S" hook onto the seat bottom and you have finished the lower seat cover installation.




Seat back cover installation:
Locate the seat back cover and turn inside out about 1/2-2/3 of the way. Place the cover over the top of the seat back and slowly work down, rotating from side to side, until the cover is in place. Work the edges downward to get the cover aligned with the seat.



Work the flap between the lower seat and seat back until you can grasp the flaps from the rear of the seat. Firmly pull the flaps to allow enough slack to attach the velcro the upper portion of the seat back cover. Attach a pair of "S" hooks to the elastic straps on the upper flap. Reach under the seat and attach the "S" hooks to secure the lower flap. Using your fingers, or the supplied tool, beginning on the outermost edge, work the seat cover material around the headrest post mounts until seated under the edge. Reinstall the headrest and you have completed the first seat cover installation. Now, rinse and repeat for the driver's side.





Center console cover installation:
The easiest of the Clazzio covers to install. Simply open the center console and slip the elastic straps over the console lid from the front to the rear. Pull the the console cover towards the rear of the lid and secure the rear corners. Once secure, pull the cover towards the front of the console.




Clazzio custom seat covers installed to match the beige/black interior...







More (mis)adventures modding my Faux Five Prius today...

Wrapping up a 3 week marathon at work. I had to take some time off to run home at lunch to take care of the sick gf. While I was there, I got the chance to install a couple of mods, one of which has been sitting in my office since early December.

MGP brake caliper covers:
I chose the flat black version, to go with the white/black exterior theme on my Prius. They are also available in gloss black, red and custom color variations.



This is a very simple mod to install. The most difficult and time consuming part, is the removal/reinstallation of the wheels. Since my neighbor down the mountain has my floor jack and jack stands under his Vette, I had to use a pair of bricks that were laying around as wheel chocks, and the Toyota scissor jack to lift a single wheel at a time.


Pro Tip: Let the brakes cool before attempting to install this mod...


Rear caliper covers:
Beginning in the rear, a pair of clips needs to be inserted into the center slot of the brake caliper, directly above the rotor. Each clip has a small stud facing outward. A pair of welded tabs on the caliper cover, sets onto the studs and are secured with a pair of 3/8" lock nuts. Once secured to the caliper, make sure you check for enough clearance between the clip and the outer edge of the brake rotor before reinstalling the wheel. For the clearance between the cover and the wheel, MGP recommends a minimum of a 16" wheel. As you can see in the last thumbnail image below, 17" wheels give more then enough clearance. Now rinse and repeat with the other rear wheel.



Front caliper covers:
The same steps are used to install the front caliper cover, with a few minor differences. The clips used for the front are slotted, with the mounting studs attached to the welded tabs on the cover itself. The cover is fitted onto the caliper first and the clips are slipped into place over the mounting studs. Again, the cover are secured with a pair of 3/8" lock nuts. Once again, check the clearance between the clips and the brake rotor. Reinstall the wheel, then rinse and repeat for the other side.





Toyota mud flaps(US version):
Since I was already removing the wheels to install the brake caliper covers, I took the time to install a set of Toyota mud flaps. I've waited to install the mud flaps(received them in early December) until after I had my Prius lowered. I wanted to see the amount of ground clearance firsthand, before attempting this installation. Since I live in the mountains, up a 2 mile dirt road, the amount of mud, dirt and debris can become "one" with the exterior of my Prius rather quickly.

Rear mud flaps:
The rear mud flaps are mounted using a combination of double sided tape and a pair of screws/clips. I used a microfiber towel and water to clean the area underneath, where the double sided tape attaches. The mud flap has a couple of raised areas, where the clips will sit flush. Using the mud flap as a guide, insert the clips over the inner edge of the bumper cover. Remove the backing from the double sided tape and press firmly from the bottom. Using a drill and a #2 phillips bit, drive the pair of self tapping screws into the rear bumper cover and into the clips, to complete the installation of the mud flap. Now rinse and repeat for the other side.



Front mud flaps:
Installation of the front mud flaps is very similar to the rears. The difference is the front mud flaps are slightly smaller. They use a pre-existing 10mm screw and a single self tapping screw/clip to secure them to the vehicle. The double sided tape is once again used, but is less than 1/2 of what is used in the rear. Using a 10mm socket, remove the screw from the fender well. Align the included screw clip with the mud flap and attach it to the fender. Remove the backing from the double sided tape and press firmly from the bottom. Tighten the 10mm screw into the original hole and using a drill with a #2 Phillips bit, drive the self tapping screw into the fender and clip. And once again, rinse and repeat for the other side.
.



As you can see from the last thumbnail image above, a single trip up the private road to my home can leave a mess. I'm hoping the mud flaps will deflect some of the road debris picked up by the tires.

 

Thanx!!!

In a past life, long, long ago(retired in 2005), I wrote first draft tech manuals for my software consultation/development company. Handed them off to my admin, and she could decipher them into language even a banker or attorney could understand...



Does it show much, that I have zero experience working on cars?





j/k

 

Dropped my Faux Five Prius off for warranty work today. The driver seat belt buckle went on backorder, but should arrive from Japan by Tuesday. The Piercey Toyota service manager felt the defective buckle could be a safety issue and gave me a Prius C as a loaner until mine is repaired.



Now that I have driven all three models of the Prius family, I'm so glad I got the standard model Prius.

Prius v:
Drove like a tank, underpowered and too top heavy to feel comfortable on the mountain roads where I live. Plenty of room in the passenger/driver area. The additional rear cargo area is a bonus, but not enough to be a deciding factor in a future purchase.

Prius C:
Feels so small and confined. For the small passenger/driver area, the ergonomic layout is comfortable. Just the feeling of being the smallest vehicle in SF Bay Area traffic is somewhat disconcerting. If it wasn't labelled a Prius on the outside, you would never know by the entirely different layout of the driver's controls(shifter, head unit, dash cluster, center console etc).



Good meeting fellow priuschat member @johnsk93 today.

The pics of your car, here on Priuschat, do not do it justice. Much better live!!

 

Another (mis)adventure begins...


Blind Spot Mirrors:
Seems to be some large blind spots in the rear and side vision from my Prius...

An SUV or other large vehicle can appear from out of nowhere in the lane next to you, so I added a set of small, adjustable blind spot mirrors. I found them at Piercey Toyota, when I went in on Wednesday to have the driver's seat belt receiver replaced under warranty. They are small enough, approximately 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" and mounted on a pivoting base, to not be an obstruction, yet give an added degree of vision to remove the blind spots to the sides and rear of the vehicle. For less than $5, it adds enough vision to be well worth the minimal price for me.


I began the installation with temporarily placing the spot mirror in several locations, to see where it was the least obtrusive to my vision through the side mirror.


I used an ammonia free glass cleaner(safe for use on tinted windows ), applied liberally, and a microfiber towel to clean the mirror surface. Once dried, remove the double sided tape backing and apply the spot mirror to your selected location with a small amount of even pressure.



One of the easiest mods I've done to this point. It took more time to decide where I wanted to place the spot mirrors, than to actually attach them...


Now if only I can figure out how to make it easier to see around the A pillars in the front...




Maybe a reciprocating saw...

 

Another OCD (mis)adventure...

The last piece of charcoal gray interior remaining, something that I missed painting during my previous center console/dash (mis)adventure in January 2015(post #134)...


The center console drink holder:



To remove, open the center console and pull the rear edges outwards, towards the seats, then upwards to release the 4 clips holding it onto the center console. An interior panel tool can be of assistance if your fingers are too big to get under the edges. Once removed, the silver edge trim is held in place with 4 clips. Using your fingers, work around the clips to release the trim from the cup holder. Be careful, this piece is very thin and fragile.



Before I began painting, I lightly sanded the cup holder with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper to allow the paint a better opportunity to adhere. With a microfiber towel and some denatured alcohol, I cleaned the cup holder of any dust, oils or residue left behind by the sanding. Let completely dry. I applied several light coats of Krylon Fusion satin black paint, with 20-30 minutes drying time between each coat, until an even coverage was obtained. Once the paint has fully dried, I reattached the trim edge to the cup holder.




To reattach the cup holder, align the 4 clips into the slots on the center console. Press firmly downward, on both edges at the same time, until the clips lock into the center console. Make sure the rear edges are snapped into place and you have finished another of my OCD (mis)adventures...



My black/beige/silver interior...

Could you please step away from the Kool Aid before lunch...

 

Another "no tools required" (mis)adventure...

Door extension limiter covers:

I found these while doing some random searches for Prius accessories on AliExpress. A set of four black, plastic door extension limiter covers with a total cost of $4.99, including shipping. I ordered them on the 29th of January and they arrived yesterday. It took a while to receive them, but for the price to include shipping, I can't really complain. And truthfully, I had forgotten I ordered them...


As the post title suggests, no tools are required to install the door extension limiter covers. Just press them into place. A pair of clips on the inside of the cover, hook over the the top and bottom edges of the extension limiter mounts, to lock them into place.


My favorite type of mod...

Literally a minute or two to install on all four doors...

 

Another (mis)adventure requiring POWER tools...


This set of aluminum pedals was another random find on AliExpress and arrived early last month, when I was grinding through a work marathon. So I never had time to install them until today...


Aluminum pedal set:
This set includes pedal covers in brushed aluminum( accelerator, brake, parking brake, footrest and hardware) with rubber inserts that protrudes through the aluminum pedals. This set requires some modification/fabrication to install. You have to drill several bolt holes to mount this pedal set onto the stock pedals. Not the easiest area to access and drill, if you consider the movement of the pedals and the contortions involved under the steering wheel and dash. This set of pedal cover needs the rubber insert screw holes to be cut out with a sharp hobby knife before installation.



Installing the brake pedal:
Removal of the rubber brake pedal cover is simple. It is stretched over the pedal and held in place with a small edge that wraps around the pedal's edge. Beginning in the corner, pull the rubber cover out over the brake pedal to expose the metal brake pedal. I used masking tape to hold the pedal cover in place, to mark the hole locations. Once drilled, using a 7/64" bit, mount the brake pedal and insert the supplied allen screws through the cover and brake pedal. Then secure in place using the flat washer, lock washer and nut.



Installing the footrest:
The easiest step of this mod, simply use a drill the run some screws into the floor to secure in place. I'm not sure I like the way this particular footrest is shaped. Seems to be a poor representation of the triangular shape and I will more than likely flip the footrest over to more accurately follow the original lines of the footrest. To be determined this weekend...




Installing the parking brake pedal:
Removal of the rubber cover is essentially the same as the brake pedal. Beginning near a top, pull the rubber cover downward to remove. The size of the parking brake pedal only allowed me drill a single hole for mounting. This where you will need to fabricate a little. I had to make a small, flat aluminum bracket to hold the cover onto the parking brake pedal. This bracket allowed me to mount the cover with a pair of allen screws and secure it into place. In the first picture below, you can see the size of the the parking brake pedal. Not much room to drill and even harder because of the differing angles.



Installing the accelerator pedal:
The accelerator pedal is plastic. Every other pedal to this point has been metal. Again, here you need to do a little modification to the pedal cover. The one I received was flat and the Toyota pedal has a slight curve to it. I used a piece of steel pipe and rolled the pedal cover until it fit the curve of the original. Being slotted aluminum, this was easy and took a couple of attempts to get the correct fit.

 

Once the sun goes down tonight, I'll take a few pics and post them.


Here's the door light in the daylight for comparison.

Stock halogen:


iJDMTOY standard LED:


VLEDS flank 194 LED:

 

An updated (mis)adventure...


Today I received a package from Japan containing a three piece rear window plug set. A set to replace/update the painted, plastic plug I originally installed(Post #43), when I completed the rear wiper delete mod some time ago. This set is well designed and contains a fitted insert with a beveled edge, neoprene washer and a knurled nut to secure it all in place. With this set, there is no longer a bulge, rather a smooth, flat surface that is barely noticeable from a short distance away. As with almost everything from Japan, the included instructions are in Japanese. Luckily, this is an easy item to install, once you have the interior panels removed.



Rear wiper delete window plug:
I'm not going to get into the removal of the interior panels in this post, as I have covered this in several of my previous posts.

Once I had removed the rear hatch interior panels and gained access to the original plastic plug, I used a sharp hobby knife to cut away the silicone glue I used to seal the plastic plug. Without forcing the plug, I gently spun the plug until it was easily removed. Using a sharp hobby knife and microfiber towel, I removed the left over silicone glue and cleaned the area around the hole. Not sure if is necessary, I added a very small amount of silicone glue to the beveled edge of the insert and placed it through the hole from the outside. While holding it in place, I put the neoprene over the insert and locked it into place with the knurled nut. I hand tightened the nut and this pulled the insert into alignment with the hole, leaving a smooth, flat surface.







LED pics for @chughes123:

License plate(VLEDS Flank 5k LED's):

From 10' behind the car:

Taken without flash or any other source of ambient light. The light shown on the ground is from the LED's.



Door(VLEDS Flank 5k LED's):

From 4' behind the car:


From middle of the rear door:


From 4' to the side of the door:

Taken without flash. The ambient light is from the interior map lights(VLEDS 5k High Power LED's)