EV Mode + tons of upgrades. Turtle prius

I really like to "rice up" my Prius but with cleaner look and OEM rice.

Not long ago I purchased Italian spec Gen 2 and with all the lack of options they have the EV mode button as you may know. Now I want this option on my US Prius and I read all around that its pretty easy to install and is kind of inbuilt in the car. I know about the flasher or the cruise control type mode and also a regular toggle switch on the dash would be even better.

Why not to get OEM button? Around internet I found some topics saying to buy it from Japan..from Europe..blabla. Toyota guys are very rarely car people and especially 90% of prius drivers don’t dig enough the details so you have to dig yourself

I saw the button and also the back wire plug housing and saw that they have 2 types of those buttons – 1 pre and 1 post face lift at 2006 and up. So I figured let me look into other Toyotas, they must have this switch on other cars here. Gen 3 has it but its integrated with 2 other buttons. When I looked into the prius type C – kaboom, it has the button and it’s the same pinout, only the problem for me was that the prius C has no silhouette of an actual prius just like the Gen 2 oem button has a picture of its own silhouette. So for whoever don’t care, type c button would do the job. In junkyard these I believe are anywhere between free to $10.

Next I looked The Camry hybrid – and bang again, same button as the Prius C.
It is not confirmed but those 2 are very possible option assuming that those 2 buttons have same insides and just different picture on them compared to the gen2 oem button

And now came the surprise to me. I looked the Gen 2 Highlander Hybrid. And kaboom again. This time the actual button was 1:1 With the prius. I checked with the dealer – and they have this button. Anywhere from $45-$60 range. No need to order it from Japan or wherever. Also the wire housing that connects to the back is available for under $10. I keep digging and realized that for the non hybrid Highlander there is a blank switch there Or there is DAC assistant button. When the switch is blank, there is still harness underneath.
I found one base Highlander in the junkyard and cut the harness. It was $0. Next I went to the dealer and purchased the oem Highlander Gen 2/Prius Gen 2 button and I was done within 1 day. No need to buy from other countries. If I wanted to do the Cheap-o free way I would wait for camry or type C to show up (many already) and make it for close to nothing. Or Highlanded with DAC button would also possibly work as a EV button but its not confirmed.

I installed the switch easy. Connected pin 4 to pin 27 on the ecu plug #14. I used spare connector from the flasher plug. Tapped to the illumination of the dimmer switch and grounded the switch. Done. Working well and no problems.

I hope I help someone and there are so many people all the time crying for info and where and how to install in.
Also here i will soon post few other mods with OEM and non OEM parts. Hope it inspires someone



Prius EV Mode

http://www.calcars.org/prius-evbutton-install.pdf

SWITCH PART NUMBER: 84720-47020

This is from the dealer. I ordered online for cheao or all local dealers said they can have it in 1 business days from warehouse for a little bit more than online. In my cage Mcgeorge Toyota sold this to me the cheapest online price $46 or so


Installed the button on the very left because if placed in the middle it hides behind the steering wheel. Now i dont have any more blank switches


The Camry appears to be the same button just different logo

same with the Type c


This is center console off of Highlander Gen 2 (2008-2013 i believe)
Has 3 options. All of them has the harness underneath.
Option 1 - blank switch - it still has the harness hanging under. I cut 6"-8" of it and used it to connect to my EV button



Option 2 - DAC button for 4x4 models probably - Its the same button just like the EV button, will substitute it probably. And the harness underneath is again the same.



Option 3: This is the Highlander Hybrid which has the exact EV button. If you find one for parts you can just grab the switch with the connector harness under it.

 

Thank you. I see you are a bit sarcastic
I will soon post few other mods

 

Another thing i did is replaced the turn signals with Red ones. I dont like the yellow rear turn signals and for some reason in US most of cars has red including the VW and Audis nowadays. Now its much better. I was thinking of putting LED turn signals but every time i put even expensive good quality leds they fail much faster than the regular bulb. I will still try to install LED in future but will keep the normal ones as a spare.
Also i installed Auxito LED t10 bulbs for the license plate. car looks so much better and easy to read plate for the cops



Before


After

 

the other day i got myself a touring spoiler. Was holding on to it for a while hoping will find the same color and wont need to paint but in this case i had to repaint it. Local shop sells spray paint custom OEM colors for $25 and did the job myself. Only thing after the clear coat it needs buffing

The only issue i faced (ofcourse) is the broken side clips/studs of the spoiler. I couldnt find the part number. I believe they are 2 things on each side but it could be just one. Because of them the spoiler rattles ugly so i put the heavy duty plastic velcro. It is really stong but its a little thicker so the spoiler pops out a bit much If i type prius spoiler pins all i find is gen3 parts. Do you guys know whats the part number ?
Thanks





This is the new spoiler and its sticking out on the sides because of that velcro

 

Last week i did get some polyurethane bushings. I have on the side front swaybar from 2010 Matrix so i removed the front subframe and one of the bolts on the old control arm was seized. The nut that is welded inside the subfreme broke off and so the subframe is ruined. I now ordered a refurbished subframe and will install the control arms with those new bushings. I am a little skeptical about the smooth ride with those bushings but will see and report

 

Those are the Siberian bushings. They have ther US based website and online seller. Also you can see here at the last Reply on this topic Front control arm loose bushing | PriusChat

 

Removing the old ones was harder than i thought. I used big vice and some sockets and hammer but autopart stores have that "bushing/bearing tool kit" which you can rent for free and should work. Presing the new ones is was really easy. The big one goes like half way in by oem design and the small one just slides in

 

Reporting back on the bushings. The first drive is that car handles fantastic. Ok i should admit its most likely due to the front sway bar From 2010 Matrix. its 24mm and i got the polyurethane bushings too. New struts too.

The job did not go smoothly...I was replacing the bearings and when removing the ABS sensor, the bolt holding it snapped. This happens all the time. I did drill a new hole but it is a little offset. Now the ABS and other lights are on but i will try reset them with pin 4 and 13.

Another thing i did is add a rearview camera sprayer. I took the sprayer from old Honda CRV but i think i better off get a new one that has plastic nut on the back. For now is good. I did put Y-connection on the hatch sprayer and sneaked a rubber hose under the plastic covers on the hatch. Then i did drill a small hole in the hatch and connected to the sprayer on the plastic itself. Normally in the winter time the camera gets clogged in no time and stuff dries on it. Now when i this happens again i will clean it with no issues. the sprayer is activated when i squeeze the hatch sprayer. Also that new sprayer has single hole which is adjustable and it took few tries to make it spray directly sideways on the camera. The angle is a bit tricky but it is what it is






another mod is the adding of the Fumoto easy drain plug. Its made in Japan so it is spot on.

 

The plug has really hard spring and turn handle which must be tilted and turned at the same time. Cannot happen on its own. It would be easier for a normal plug to come out than this one to open on its own..and there is a plastic c-clip which is just for peice of mind.
The plug works well so far. Have done only half oil change.
After i sort out my brakes ill post few other cool mods

 

I did another small upgrade. I purchsed the BLITZ made in Japan radiator cap. Regular caps are 0.9 pressure. This one is "racing" 1.3 which is an overkill but not gonna damage anything if the engine cooling system operates properly and i have the Scangauge all the time to monitor temperature. HKS has 1.1 pressure caps but they are hard to find. The new cap is polished aluminum and is amazing





img hosting

 

When i am on the racetrack the car would not overheat so easy because the higher pressure would raise up the boiling point of the coolant.

...But its not that
It is rather visual upgrade

 

I did other things to the car. Replaced the old dirty worn out seatbelts. Got me some lime green color to go with the car color from my Airbags com. The look amazing and they are really fast to retract and to put on due to the material having no grease or dirt.




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Next thing is to add the half lei mesh seat covers. Those are traditional japanese style and even the gen 3 has oem part (possibly gen 2 too) Its a japanese thing most people dont get. After i installed them i received more criticism than positivism but i love them already

 

Absolutely. Actually i know somewhat better way for a car that has hardly removable belts like hight end cars.
Take all the seat belt out and take it out of the door and close the door on it. The belt will stay outside. Then use pressure power wash. It does it even without soap. But i used soap to make it smell nice. Then let it dry like that without retracting it to prevent water getting in. In 30 min to 1 hr in warm weather it dries.
Either way washing belts is super neglected for most car owners especially black belts that you cant see the dirt so clearly.