I am currently in the middle of the headlight EV mod. So far things have been going great (jinx!) as the instructions on this site are well laid out and the pictures are great. While scanning the other wires under the steering wheel, the thought crossed my mind that I could insert the EV wire into the pin that controls the map button on the steering wheel. My 2006 #5 has the map button on the wheel, but since I don't have NAV, the button has no function. I figure one of those other wires must go to the map button. I have been searching for wiring diagrams on the steering wheel butons but I haven't found anything yet. Quite frankly, I probably wouldn't know if I found it or couldn't read it anyway. I would appreciate if anyone here could share what they know to my cause. Another possibility it my #5 does not have that wire and there could just be a dummy pin in the connector. If anyone is game, I could take pictures of my connectors and post and then someone could compare to a 2006 #7 or higher to see if there are any additional wires. Of course, this EV mod would be unique to those with a 2006 #5 or #6.
I got curious too as I have a 2006 #6 and researched it some. It doesn't look like we can use the map button for anything . It is essentially multiplexed with the auto, temp +, and temp - buttons on the left hand side of the steering pad. I susepect the button even puts out a signal (via the A/C ECU) on the BEAN and AVC-LAN, but the nav system is the only thing looking for it. If you want to dig through the electrical diagrams, see the attached .pdf files ( I hope this works) and then the links in the thread at www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/prius/59638-2006-pius-steering-pad-map-spare/ [attachmentid=2678] [attachmentid=2679]
You could still use the button but you would essentially have to design a duplicate amplifier/circuitry that senses the different voltage present on the bus when the MAP button is pressed. This would require analog comparators or a microcontroller with analog input. Not terribly difficult but it's no longer just a switch closure like the headlamp flasher or cruise control disable options.
You'd have to build a fairly sensitive window comparator, and know what voltage is produced when that button is pressed [easy enough to test]. My guess is that the unseen resistor in the chain [inside the ECU, probably] is 1K, yielding button-press readings of .25, .5, and .75 times the supply voltage. Just like old wired remotes used to work, heh... . How much of the '06 manual is up at tundrasolutions? It won't let me grab things without "registering" [grrr] but that might be a handy resource for those who are tired of TIS. . _H*
Only some of the 06 electrical is in the Tundra Solutions knowledgebase. I can download stuff with the normal (free) registration. A lot of the info available is TSB's.
swrtwdrv, thanks so much for looking into this and sharing your findings. Unfortunately for me, I don't know the first thing about the solution glenk and hobbit suggested. I will have to wait on the "for dummies" version.
What they are saying is that all the switches on that steering wheel "pod" have a common output wire. The computer knows what button you have pressed because each button provides a different voltage on that wire. That means you can't easily use any of the buttons for another use.
sure, if you don't mind letting everybody ahead of you know when you're switching modes, and potentially confusing them as to what you're trying to communicate. . I'm still surprised that the headlight-flasher method has gotten so popular. It has some *really* unwanted side effects. . _H*
Say what? :blink: The headlight-flasher method only has 2 side effects that I'm aware of: 1) You can no longer blink your lights during the daytime by simply pulling on the stalk. No biggie, I never do that anyway. You can still blink them by rotating the headlight switch, if you wanted to. 2) If you happen to want to engage EV AT NIGHT, when your lights are ON, it will blink your high beams at the same time. OK, how often does that happen? How often are you on a road, with uncoming traffic, at night, and you decide to engage EV? VERY rarely, in my experience so far. A minor inconvenience, IMHO.
That's true. I have the Coastal mod mainly because I know my skills at installation. I don't use the "flash to pass" part either so that side effect wouldn't affect me. One big advantage the EV/flasher mod has over the EV/Coastal mod (aside from price) is the fact that the headlight stalk is always on the left side of the steering wheel, whereas the CC stalk turns with the wheel so you have to figure out where it is at times.
I would like to engage EV at night more often, but in trying not to avoid irritating or confusing the drivers in front of me, I avoid using it. The advantages of the head light flasher mod over the Coastal mod or a separate switch is the instantaneous switch into the mode (no delay like Coastal) and handy access (separate switch). I'm wondering if I can wear out the headlight stalk switch, as much as I would like to use EV though. Also, installing the HL flasher mod removes the connection for the daylight headlight flash. I wonder if you can remove the night time flasher as well by removing an additional wire. I'll have to look at the schematics.
Having used the headlight flasher mod for two months, I'll throw in the following observations. You can still 'daytime flash' folks by pulling the stalk, but as noted, only if you leave your low beams on during the day. (Which many folks do, as Daytime Running Lights, or because they let the car turn them off at night on it's own). You can also 'daytime flash' folks by twisting the knob. It should be possible to wire up the mod so that you don't loose 'daytime flash', but I'd want to look over the electrical schematics first just to be 100% sure. As to nighttime flashing, it's really a non issue. At least in my case, I really only flip into EV mode when stopped (be it parked, or at a red light, etc..). The car so rarely lets me slip into EV mode at speed (unless I'm really crawling slowly), that I rarely bother. And even so, all it takes is a split second of contact to activate EV mode. The high beam blink is so short, most drivers would probably think you just hit a small bump and it bounced your beams higher for a second. When someone wants to flash you with their high beams - they're usually quite noticeably obnoxious about it, which the side effect of the EV mod isn't. Just my 2c -Ken
So far I have enjoyed the Headlight Flash EV mod with any side effects. Having a button solely dedicated to that purpose would be the ideal, but I never use daytime flashing so there is no loss for me. Maybe how you choose to install EV is just a reflection of your personality - like toilet paper inside or outside. If I had a creative or humorous bone in my body, I would make an attempt at some personality driven questions to help a person determine which EV mod they are most compatible with. But I would be more likely to piss folks off - like I have done so far.
I do a lot of my driving at night, many times when I want EV I don't feel like I should have to flash my highbeams at anyone. Thats why I went with the factory EV switch.
