Most Obscure Prius Facts (Way out there)

If you press the Display button while in reverse, you can adjust the color, contrast, brightness and tone of the rear-view camera image.

I stumbled onto this feature just this evening. I then looked for any mention of it in the owner's manual and found none.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Jul 9 2007, 02:22 AM) [snapback]475384[/snapback]</div>

I'd be willing to bet pneumatics handles this. B)


f]For those with the CD changer, I'm sure you know the /\ up & down track buttons on the steering wheel if pushed, will change cd tracks. But if pushed and held, will select next cd in the changer.

 

For those with an aftermarket EV switch on the 07 models:

1) while stopped, get on the Energy Screen (screen with the images of the wheels, motor, battery etc...)
2) activate to EV mode (if it will let you)
3) while still stopped, when the car goes into EV mode, you'll notice the wheels will rotate about a 1/4 turn

I was sitting at a light wondering how I could tell if the car was put into EV mode while already on the Energy screen, and noticed this very little, trivial detail.

Granted, if you are on another screen, say the audio or Nav, it will change to the Energy screen when it goes into EV mode.

My wife says I should find something better to do with my time :blink:

 

In Germany, the Prius is lighter than the smaller Toyota Auris diesel.
(and has a 25% better estimated milage rating)

 

Here's all the electric motors I can count:

Editted to add the other motors people pointed out.

2 Drive motor/generators
4 Window motors
4 Side view mirror motors
1 Radiator fan motor
1 Power steering motor
1 Brake fluid pump
1 A/C compressor motor
1 A/C fan motor
1 Engine coolant recirc pump (for heater)
1 Inverter coolant pump
2 Windshield washing fluid pumps
2 HID lamp leveling motors
1 Coolant recovery pump
1 Fuel pump
2 Windshield wiper motors
3 CD player motors
2 Navi DVD motors (there isn't an motorized eject on that, is there?)
1 HV battery vent motor


So I count 31 electric motors... I/we probably missed some .

Solenoids are technically linear electric motors, but let's not go there .

Other obscurities:

In addition to the car's diagnostic screens, the Navi system (and associated stuff) has one too: go to the Volume menu and press on the top left then bottom left of the screen 3 times. Among other things, you can override the lockout of the navi system while the car is moving from here by holding down the "override button" for a few seconds.

There's a toe rope hook in with the spare tire tools that screws into a receptacle on the front bumper.

Turning the rear view mirror upside down both matches the trapezoidal shape of the rear window better, but also positions the mirror dimming sensor so that headlights behind you hit it instead of being blocked by the "spoiler" bar.

There are various easter eggs for changing some of the car's settings, like you can turn off the reverse beep with a sequence of headlight switches and Odo buttons (that I don't remember because I did it so long ago that I forgot I had a reverse beeper . I don't remember them all, but they're not too hard to find by googling.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ratrent @ Jul 11 2007, 11:00 AM) [snapback]476963[/snapback]</div>

Your list is pretty good, but you forgot the cooling fan for the HV battery. (It pulls air from the vent next to the RH rear seat and vents it out near the Aux battery). Also, you left out the motors in the CD player/CD changer.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dogfriend @ Jul 11 2007, 11:08 AM) [snapback]476971[/snapback]</div>

And the two windshield wiper motors (you got the two washer motors). New total count for motors is now 26. Are you sure you don't want to do solenoids and relays (which include a solenoid) next?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ratrent @ Jul 11 2007, 11:00 AM) [snapback]476963[/snapback]</div>

Not all Priuses have either the threaded socket in the bumper or the little hook that screws into it. It is used to tie the car down during ocean transport from Japan.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mad Hatter @ Jul 11 2007, 11:44 AM) [snapback]477002[/snapback]</div>

That's funny, because the owner's manual for my Prius says that it is expressly for towing purposes. If it is in the OM, wouldn't it be on all instances of the current model?

 

CD player has 3 electric motors. One to eject/load the disc, 2nd to move the laser, and 3rd to rotate the disc. For those with DVD based Navi, there will be even 3 more.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Susan4ET @ Jul 11 2007, 11:16 AM) [snapback]476978[/snapback]</div>

I think we should try to list ECUs/Microcontrollers after we get the electric motor count nailed down. :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dogfriend @ Jul 11 2007, 01:55 PM) [snapback]477016[/snapback]</div>

IIRC, there are a total of 4 electric motors for the mirrors - 2 for each side. That would make the count 28, right?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kohnen @ Jul 11 2007, 12:19 PM) [snapback]477034[/snapback]</div>

Please submit here the complete wiring schematic for each of these systems that have motors in them. Please use the recent Prius model if earlier models have a system difference. Thanks.

 

I think this counts as obscure....
hybrid ( and electric) cars get free parking at city controlled parking spaces in Sheffield England.

 

As was just stated in another thread of the main forum, when using the metal key to open the door in the event of the 12-volt battery dying, you have to pull on the door handle before and while turning the key for the door to unlock. Why does Toyota do weird things like this that are are completely different than any other car on the planet? :huh:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(diamondlarry @ Jul 14 2007, 11:40 AM) [snapback]478652[/snapback]</div>

No, you don't.

But now this particular myth will last on forever. Its lasting power will rival that of the "Hummer is more environmentally friendly than Prius" story which perpetuates like rabbits.

 

This may not qualify as an obscure fact, but it's something that not everybody will have noticed.
There is no drain under the windshield on the passenger side. If the Prius is parked on a slope which causes the passenger side to be lower than the driver's side, if it rains or if you wash the car, the water remains in the black plastic well. You have to turn the car around or manually get rid of the water.

 

Never happened in any other car....
Had 3 dozen eggs and a gallon of milk on the passenger seat...the seatbelt signal started to beep ...hmmm?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AOV @ Jul 14 2007, 07:17 PM) [snapback]478808[/snapback]</div>

Read the manual on the Occupant Classification System in the passenger seat.