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Easy mod thread

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by darelldd, Mar 30, 2006.

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  1. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Apr 3 2006, 07:59 PM) [snapback]234495[/snapback]</div>
    The general consensus from Googling is that siping has minor to negligible effect for wet and dry traction, increases tire-road noise, and is only really useful in snow for tires with "soft" compound (generally warm/summer tires). High mileage tires use something "harder".

    It has also been commented that if siping was that good, why aren't the highly paid tire engineers doing it, at least the all-season tires, out of the factory instead of just mainly the snow tires?

    Maybe, you can let us know how long these new OEMs last for you as a reputable answer to this question.
     
    #21 NuShrike, Apr 5, 2006
  2. benighted

    benighted New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 4 2006, 06:49 PM) [snapback]235009[/snapback]</div>
    Really? I find the fog lights alone are a lot less annoying than those high-beam DRL's.
    I run my foglights in the daytime for safety even on nice days because there are patches of trees and dark places.
    I can live with being hated for having my lights on but I can't live with being dead because someone didn't see me.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Apr 4 2006, 11:15 PM) [snapback]235131[/snapback]</div>
    My local Les Schwab has a demo set up with a piece of tire material with a weight on top of it that is slid on a metal surface representing ice.

    One sample is siped while the other is not, from what I can tell the siped tire is much harder to move than the non-siped tire. Though it is a controlled sample and may not be how the tire performs in the real world I'll take any bit of traction I can get when there is ice on the road.
     
    #22 benighted, Apr 5, 2006
  3. tideland_raj

    tideland_raj New Member

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    darelldd,
    What about dynamat?

    I've done the simple ones you've mentioned (and some others on your extended list), but I'm really itching to find out if there's a large benefit to doing the dynamat soundproofing.

    That, and the tint are the only other things I really want to do further to my (and my wife's) Prii.

    (oh, and not to forget, the BT stiffening plate... still on the fence about that one, but it sounds like a winner)
     
    #23 tideland_raj, Apr 5, 2006
  4. aussiedog

    aussiedog New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RunninDover @ Mar 31 2006, 10:15 AM) [snapback]232982[/snapback]</div>
    Do other agree that this indeed improve the sound quality?
     
    #24 aussiedog, Apr 5, 2006
  5. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aussiedog @ Apr 4 2006, 11:43 PM) [snapback]235143[/snapback]</div>
    Since doing the anytime reverse video mod, I disconnected the speaker, and am happy to report that I DO find the sound to be improved. YMMV, though. The good news is that it is easy enough to just pop the speaker out and remove the wires - and give it a try. Like it better connected? Just plug it back in, and nobody goes home mad. I find that there is no stereo separation with that mono source shouting at me all the time right there in the middle.



    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tideland_raj @ Apr 4 2006, 11:39 PM) [snapback]235142[/snapback]</div>
    I've done Dynamat on previous cars. I think I'm too old to do it again though! Yes, it can make a difference. If I had a $2500 stereo in the thing, I might consider doing it again. As it is, the car is plenty quiet enough for my needs. In other words - yes it can make an improvement, but no, it is not worth the effort or expense for me (and I don't say that very often!) :)

    You MUST have tint though. Whew. I won't own a car without tint. I had that appointment set up on the morning BEFORE I bought the car.
     
    #25 darelldd, Apr 5, 2006
  6. tideland_raj

    tideland_raj New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 5 2006, 02:49 AM) [snapback]235146[/snapback]</div>
    Hmm... must be me, though... since the engine/motors are so damn quiet, I notice the roadnoise a bit more (either that, or I live in an area with rough roads)
    Yeah, the wife would like it, how much did it cost and how long did it take, btw?
     
    #26 tideland_raj, Apr 5, 2006
  7. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tideland_raj @ Apr 4 2006, 11:57 PM) [snapback]235150[/snapback]</div>
    While the Prius makes quite a bit more noise than my other cars, it is better insulated on the inside, so I don't complain about it. This is our *luxury* car!
    I paid $185, and I left the car for half the day. My guy does FANTASTIC work, and I recommend him highly. http://www.darelldd.com/ev/prius_exterior.htm
     
    #27 darelldd, Apr 5, 2006
  8. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tideland_raj @ Apr 4 2006, 11:39 PM) [snapback]235142[/snapback]</div>
    I will always recommend the BT plate to anyone. I have it. I know people who live near me who have it. it makes a huge difference and is well worth it.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aussiedog @ Apr 4 2006, 11:43 PM) [snapback]235143[/snapback]</div>
    It takes away some of the Mid fuzzynes of the sterio. I would also recommend doing it.
     
    #28 V8Cobrakid, Apr 5, 2006
  9. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Apr 5 2006, 12:22 AM) [snapback]235156[/snapback]</div>
    Doesn't quite meet the "cheap" requirement though!
     
    #29 darelldd, Apr 5, 2006
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I don't mind the foglights as long as they're not bright (e.g. the Mazda Protegé5 or the WRX with HUGE rally-like foglights).

    What's really annoying is the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. I don't know about you but that high-beam DRL is NOT at reduced beam.
     
    #30 Tideland Prius, Apr 5, 2006
  11. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aussiedog @ Apr 4 2006, 11:43 PM) [snapback]235143[/snapback]</div>
    After I hand-tuned my CDs through equalizer settings in Nero before I burned them, I put the center-speaker back because it then improves the sound. I got these settings scanning with an RTA in the car.

    There's a missing hole between 1KHz and 2KHz without the center speaker. In stock sound, the 2-4KHz sounds is overboosted over the center-line so killing the center speaker actually helps to flatten the audio.
     
    #31 NuShrike, Apr 5, 2006
  12. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Apr 4 2006, 11:15 PM) [snapback]235131[/snapback]</div>
     
    #32 seasalsa, Apr 5, 2006
  13. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 5 2006, 12:28 AM) [snapback]235163[/snapback]</div>
    how about the Cadiallac Escalade's "reduced hi-beam" drl's there just as bad. And then most of those morons drive around with their fogs on as well. The government should legislate that no fogs without low beams on.
     
    #33 Frank Hudon, Apr 7, 2006
  14. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 6 2006, 09:38 PM) [snapback]236181[/snapback]</div>
    They have. At least in CA there is a height above which you must have white lights showing to the front - and fogs are always below this (except maybe on jacked-up trucks which are typically have their headlights too high). So that means we DO have a law that headlights must be on with fog lights - which also means that by law, fog lights are useless. As soon as you have lights on that are high, the light bounces back into the driver's eyes.... which sucks... and is why I disabled that feature on my car so that I can drive with just the fog lights on as intended. That said - I do this to drive in fog, not to look cool or piss off Frank.
     
    #34 darelldd, Apr 7, 2006
  15. benighted

    benighted New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 6 2006, 09:38 PM) [snapback]236181[/snapback]</div>
    Why? Is there any reason they shouldn't be on? Please explain this to me.
     
    #35 benighted, Apr 7, 2006
  16. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    any Prius with DRL's have the high beams at reduced output and the fog's will come on with that set up which means that you can have fog's with high beams on. Stupid in the extreme and totally useless in fog but stupid people use them all the time.
     
    #36 Frank Hudon, Apr 7, 2006
  17. benighted

    benighted New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 7 2006, 08:25 PM) [snapback]236636[/snapback]</div>
    Oh, I get it. You just don't like seeing them on with highbeams.
    That makes sense, having DRL's defeats the purpose of having them on during the daytime.
    I imagine the stock foglights on a DRL Prius would be utterly useless.

    So let me get this right, if I am driving my Prius (non-DRL) in Canada with my fogs on for visibility (I use them as DRL's to save wear on my HID's) it wouldn't bug you?
     
    #37 benighted, Apr 7, 2006
  18. Canuck

    Canuck Member

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    Regarding removing the piece on the rear window washer so as to be able to lift the wiper for ease of cleaning.......... when going through a high presssure wash during the latter stages there is a loud clatter caused by something lifting the rear wiper. I'm reluctant to remove that piece until I know it won't allow the wiper to lift out of control and damage the arm.
    Gary.
     
    #38 Canuck, Apr 7, 2006
  19. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Canuck @ Apr 7 2006, 08:50 PM) [snapback]236645[/snapback]</div>
    OK with me! Certainly none of my other vehicles with rear wipers have had this limitation. But then I never go through automatic washes, so there you go. :)
     
    #39 darelldd, Apr 8, 2006
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah but on any car, you can't turn on the high beams AND foglights. On cars that can have foglights without the low beams on, the foglights are used as DRLs (e.g. Murano, A4). I'd like to see how effective our foglights are in the fog without the headlights on.
     
    #40 Tideland Prius, Apr 8, 2006
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