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What is the plastic thing on windshield?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Coast Cruiser, Mar 28, 2016.

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  1. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    On the Gen4, a 4" by 1" plastic box, attached to the inside of the upper windshield, just to the right of the rear view mirror. Some type of antenna? A sensor for all that collision technology? My Three model doesn't have any special features. Just curious what it is.

    And another dumb question, My Three model has XM radio. Is that something that I have to renew every so often? A subscription? My first experience with it. Multiple baseball, basketball, and football channels, Christian stations, several news and business channels, and about 100 different music stations.

    This old guy is overwhelmed! ;)
     
    #1 Coast Cruiser, Mar 28, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2016
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sat radio?
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 28, 2016
  3. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Don't know, bisco. I got an "XM" button... is that Satellite radio?

    You're talkin' to a guy who always left his Camry radio tuned to AM! :ROFLMAO: :rolleyes:

    Still tryin' to figure out all this new-fangled fancy technology.
     
    #3 Coast Cruiser, Mar 28, 2016
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, you get a 3 month trial of xm sat radio, then they zing you. i never listened to it either.:cool:
     
    #4 bisco, Mar 28, 2016
  5. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    How much does it cost??? Anybody know? What do you have to do... type in your credit card number on the screen? :p
     
    #5 Coast Cruiser, Mar 28, 2016
  6. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    Don't worry. you will get a letter from SiriusXM Radio with an offer to renew/extend your subscription. I have played this game many times - if you call and refuse the first two or three "offers" they will finally offer their lowest price - about $5 bucks a month. That is a price I am willing to pay.
     
    #6 krmcg, Mar 28, 2016
  7. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    10-4, thanks.

    (I'm surprised that regular AM & FM has'nt gone to some sort of subscription by now!)
     
    #7 Coast Cruiser, Mar 28, 2016
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    It's all still there, in the air. Same for your local tv channels, you should be able to snag them with an antenna. And guess what: they're beautiful high definition. :)
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Mar 28, 2016
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  9. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    They did a looooong time ago: they're called commercials. :) Once you find satellite channels you like and begin listening to them, you'll greatly appreciate the non-commercial format. We gladly pay for the service.
     
    #9 fotomoto, Mar 28, 2016
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    That's what I love about Canada's CBC radio: commercial free, and a gamut of good programming. Is there something similar in the US?
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Mar 28, 2016
  11. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    The closest thing to that I have is NPR and luckily my local FM station broadcasts in HD with three separate channels of programming.
     
    #11 fotomoto, Mar 28, 2016
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and even npr has gone to a laundry list of 'semi-commercials'.
     
    #12 bisco, Mar 28, 2016
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  13. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    There's a good number of commercial-free radio stations in the US. In the NYC metro area, I'm particularly fond of WFUV, 90.7 FM, out of Fordham University. Great music mix, and can also be found online at WFUV.org.
     
    #13 RRxing, Mar 28, 2016
  14. eric1234

    eric1234 Active Member

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    yeah, but most of the channels include some "self-promotion" that I consider commercials. If you listen to some of the news channels, they include commercials. XM is the biggest rip off - like suggested above - be sure to hold out for about $25 / 6 months - they won't offer that at the start, but if you keep threatening (and are willing) to cancel, you likely will get that pricing...



    Merged



    I think that's for the headlight sensor...??
     
    #14 eric1234, Mar 28, 2016
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ah, thanks for the correction.
     
    #15 bisco, Mar 28, 2016
  16. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    No guys, the headlight light sensor is a small round bubble-looking device, mounted right in the middle of the dash on the Gen4, up by the defrost vents. (My 3 other Toyota's had the same thing. Some are located over by the driver's side.) Photo coming.

    The 4" plastic box up by the rear-view mirror, I think bisco was correct, that must be for the Sat/XM radio.
    I'll go take a photo, if anyone's interested in seeing the "mystery box."
     
    #16 Coast Cruiser, Mar 28, 2016
  17. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    image.jpg
    Headlight dusk sensor. Gen4 Prius. (Same as on all Toyota's, as far as I know.)
     
    #17 Coast Cruiser, Mar 28, 2016
  18. Geo13647

    Geo13647 Junior Member

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    The safety system anti-collision & road sign/ lane departure camera& hi-beam sensors are situated behind the rear view. Could be one or both of them, the rain sensor for the wipers is also in the same location. The other anti-collision sensors are behind the T badge on the hood.
     
    #18 Geo13647, Mar 28, 2016
  19. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    And the "mystery box" mounted up by the rear-view mirror. Gen4 Prius. My cheap Three model does not have any anti-collision features or radar cruise... navigation only. Maybe it's for the Nav. image.jpg
     
    #19 Coast Cruiser, Mar 28, 2016
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  20. Geo13647

    Geo13647 Junior Member

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    You got auto wipers? If so then it's the rain sensor.
    The GPS for the nav is usually under the centre of the dash.
     
    #20 Geo13647, Mar 28, 2016
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