EV and voiding the Factory Warranty?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jedddelucia @ Mar 31 2007, 09:53 PM) [snapback]415839[/snapback]</div>

There are dealers that either don't know, don't care or will install it for you. If you're worried about it being discovered when it's in the shop, the mod where you supply your own button would be the best as you can hide the button.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Apr 1 2007, 02:35 AM) [snapback]415860[/snapback]</div>

Wow there are dealers that would install a mod like this? I'm surprised all the local dealers near me seemed to be ignorant of the EV mode and immediately mentioned voiding the warranty when asked about a mod..I know I asked some interesting questions prior to purchasing the vehicle.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jedddelucia @ Apr 1 2007, 01:53 AM) [snapback]415839[/snapback]</div>

That's because PriusChat's search engine sucks.

To search PriusChat, try a google search with "siteriuschat.com" at the end of the search string. For example, you would enter "EV warranty siteriuschat.com" into the search text box on Google's web page. This will give you 31 pages of hits within the PriusChat.com site.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darken @ Apr 6 2007, 08:12 AM) [snapback]418801[/snapback]</div>

Maybe one or two in the country. There aren't many, but some have posted that they bought the EV mod and had the dealer install it.

 

Frankly, if I knew of a dealer who would install a modification that would potentially void the factory warranty, I would not post the name of the dealer on a public forum. Do you think that Toyota doesn't monitor this (and other) forum? Nothing like reducing the population of dealers that are willing to be creative and help an owner extend the value proposition of their car....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darken @ Apr 6 2007, 12:12 PM) [snapback]418801[/snapback]</div>

Standard, default response, indicating:
1. I don't know, I just sell them
2. What does "EV mode" mean?
3. Probably not, but I'm not sticking my neck out for you
4. I don't care what you do after you sign and give me a check

I should, however, confess that my saleman was actually quite knowledgeable about the Prius and another model I was looking at.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZenCruiser @ Apr 8 2007, 11:02 AM) [snapback]419840[/snapback]</div>

My salesman as well as the service manager were very knowledgeable about the EV mode mod as well as the EV conversion. They mentioned the pros and cons (potential warranty voiding) and said if I wanted to do the mod, they (the service mgr.) would be open to doing the work, but I would have to sign a waiver releasing them of liability if the warranty were to be voided by Toyota.

 

The Costal EV switch is fairly easy to install and is not visible. While some anal dealerships may refuse warranty service, it seems unlikely that an honest dealership would, unless a bungled installation was the cause of the problem. Remember, that the only thing this modification does is to install a switch which is included standard on every Prius sold in Japan and Europe and which implements a control function which Toyota built into your car, merely leaving out the switch that turns it on and off!

If you really feel incapable of performing the installation (reasonable if you have very large hands, as the working space is small) post a notice in the "Local Clubs - CA - San Francisco Bay Area" forum of Prius Chat, and I'll be some Prius Chatter in SF would be willing to do it for you.

I have the Costal EV switch and I love it. Using the c/c stalk puts it right at your middle-finger-tip, allowing you to activate it without taking your hand off the wheel or your eye off the road. The only disadvantages are, you have to hold it for 3 seconds (no big deal) and it's hard to activate it while turning, since the c/c stalk rotates with the steering wheel.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Apr 8 2007, 09:45 AM) [snapback]419836[/snapback]</div>

Actually, I found that out back in 2005. The agency who installed them started the topic (something like "Am I the only dealer that installs the EV mode?").

I installed it myself, after much debating with myself. I decided to after realizing that the EV mode won't work (or will drop out) if the conditions aren't right.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Apr 8 2007, 10:14 PM) [snapback]420107[/snapback]</div>

Exactly! This is a function that Toyota has built into the car. But for whatever reason, they decided not to give North Americans the switch that activates it. So some of us have installed the switch ourselves, making our cars work like the Japanese and European Priuses. And Toyota built in all the safeguards to make sure it won't hurt the car. If the conditions are outside the set parameters, the computer says "No" and the car does not go into EV mode, or if in EV mode, it leaves EV mode.

Inappropriate use can reduce your mpg, however. Examples include accelerating under EV mode, or spending too much time in EV.

 

This is Toyota's position on modifications.

25. Does Toyota support the modification of my Prius to be a plug-in Hybrid and run on electric mode only with a switch?

Any such alterations, modifications or tampering with the vehicle voids the warranty and is likely to be counterproductive for air quality and Prius’ durability and safety.

Read it at the following link at the bottom of the page;

http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2005/prius/faq.html