mswtoyota's 2006 Black Prius mods

First mod: shark fin from PriusChat shop:
I get comments about this all the time from fellow Prius drivers (esp 3rd gen). Apparently the 3rd gen "limp" look is unflattering.

 

My own version of EV button mod:
I installed a button into an old lighter plug (just need the ground to activate EV mode) and plug it into the lighter socket. Handy for moving the car around the driveway without starting the engine, and being a ninja.

 

Interior LED upgrade:


So much better than stock. Also did the rear tails and license with LEDs.

 

New seat covers:

I've got port installed leather, but I like to keep it covered to protect it.
I like the quality of the Coverking covers, but I have contacted them about the misaligned headrest velcro and fitment. I can't get the velcro to stay shut.

 

Just tonight, I figured it was time to defeat the Nav and phone lock out when traveling more than 3 mph.

I really like Bronson's automatic circuit, but I wanted something NOW, so I put the 1/4" DPDT switch in the upper glove box.

 

Set up a custom PID in Torque (paid version) to run the battery cooling fan on high:
Name: BatteryCoolingFanSpeed, Short name: SFS, Mode&PID: 3081000X, Equation: A, Min:0, Max:0, Units:No reply required, Header: 7.00E+03.
Enter the fan speed (1-6) where the X is in the above PID (Eg 30810006 is speed 6, or high) and add the gauge to a screen in Torque. Whenever you are on that page, the fan will run on the speed you set. When you scroll off that page, the fan will revert to being controlled by the car as usual.

 

Sorry for the poor focus. Best $14 I've spent so far. They even had the polarity correct (I figured there was no way they would get it right). They literally just plugged in where the stock light was and snapped into place. Awesome at night!

 

And then to something a little more serious:
Alpine PWE-S8 to fill in the missing lows. It is a powered 8" sub that takes high level inputs, so the stock JBL amp and speakers stay. I'm use to 2x12" Alpine type R subs in the truck, so the stock JBL system left a lot to be desired. I didn't want to take up room with a big box and amp, so self powered and able to fit under the rear floor were the requirements. It won't win any SPL competitions, but it sounds 110% better than it did stock! No one knows it is there until I turn it up and it takes no cargo space. Easy to wire in since the 12VDC battery happens to be right there in the back....

 

Installed a 34 inch LED light bar behind the billet front grille. Grille was mounted with leftover fence brackets and rivets to the bumper cover; light bar drilled and tapped into the aluminum bumper behind the bumper cover and styrofoam. Wired into the factory fogs using a 40 amp relay and fuse. My factory HID highbeams suck, but now I can see everything including the damned kamikaze rabbits every morning.

 

I may have gotten carried away. The mower got one too.

 

Replaced the stock (hollow?) swaybar with a 24mm from a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. Time to autocross!

 

I'm gonna try it with just the upgraded front for now, would you happen to know how much larger the Matrix\corolla\vibe rear bar is from the stock non-touring prius rear is?

SM-T230NU ?

 

Yes, it has speaker level inputs and auto turn on, so I routed two small twisted pair wires under the carpet to the JBL amp under the passenger seat. I used 4 T-taps to tap into both rear speaker outputs. It adds just what the stock system is missing, but I didn't want to take up any cargo space.

 

Yup