Long story short, I bought a very slightly used (170 miles) 2007 touring PKG six from a dealer. It came equipped with a strange button that he could not identify. He said he would e-mail me the accessory list for the car but he has not yet. So what do you think Priuschat folks, can anyone name the function of this device? The light blinks blue when the power is off but turns off when the power is on. Both buttons appear to be pressable but have no effect on the car http://picasaweb.google.com/mdrudeen/Prius...175641589045842 for a bigger view
check to see if they enable full access to the bluetooth phone (top button) and NAV (bottom button) when the car is in motion. Just guesses based upon the telephone look of the top button. That isn't any common button/mod I've ever seen, but those two mods (disruption of the speed sensor wires to allow full access to BT and NAV) are common mods.
The top button is one of the space ships from Space Invaders and the bottom one is clearly the international symbol for "D-Fence!" albeit sideways. Rorschach, out!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 27 2007, 09:24 AM) [snapback]502675[/snapback]</div> Space invaders, pong, tail gunner, asteroids, let's not be giving away our ages now.
That's the "Hang up and drive" button that invokes instant cell phone Karma in neighboring cars: http://www.funnyplace.org/stream.php?id=4536
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Aug 27 2007, 10:45 AM) [snapback]502699[/snapback]</div> ROFL - Brilliant
if set up right its the button the thief presses to ask u "yo now that im in your car how the hell do i start it man?"
Efusco had a great suggestion, but one question is... Does that Prius have Nav and Bluetooth? If it does (package 5 or 6 for 2007 model) then I would say it's very possible that could be a Nav and Bluetooth speed sensor override. But, the fact that it lights up when the power is off and the light is off when the power is on leads me to think it may be related to some kind of aftermarket alarm system. The best way to find out what those buttons are for is to take some of the dash panels off to get behind those buttons and find out where the wires go to (crawl around under the dash with a flashlight). They must be splice into something or they must be plugged into a box somewhere in the car, just find out where they go and we should be able to figure it out from there.
It's obviously the double secret button developed by the Coalition of the Willing that, when pushed, blows up France, only France, and ALL of France.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lass @ Aug 28 2007, 07:01 PM) [snapback]503507[/snapback]</div> Ooops , sorry France I will miss your pomme frites I am going to the dealer today for a separate isssue so I will press him on identification and report back if I find anything. The wife was less than enthused with the remove some dashboard panels option
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ilusnforc @ Aug 28 2007, 05:57 PM) [snapback]503450[/snapback]</div> If you have trouble tracing the wires (which can be a challenge behind the dash), you could remove the switch panel and apply 120V to the connectors. Then just watch to see where the puff of smoke comes from.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoDosch @ Aug 29 2007, 08:44 AM) [snapback]503716[/snapback]</div> That's so brilliant is HAS to work!
It really isn't difficult to remove a few panels from the dash. First off, you can start by pulling of the left vent piece, just push down on the top edge and pull it straight back toward you and it should pop off. Once the vent panel is off you can just about reach your fingers in behind the 3 blanks where your mystery buttons are and pop those blanks out so you can see the wires behind it. I guess you really wouldn't need to do that if you can get under the dash with a flashlight. Once you get the left vent panel off I think there are just two phillips head screws holding the lower panel of the dash on just below the steering wheel, that should be easy to get off then you can really take a look around. It's really not difficult, look for PDF files with step by step dash removal instructions for the EV button install and you should be able to get just a few little panels out of your way to see what's back there, I don't literally mean to take the entire dash out of the car.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ilusnforc @ Aug 29 2007, 02:42 PM) [snapback]503977[/snapback]</div> For those of us who are less hands-on, that sounds like a REALLY scary option. I mean, what happens if I break something?? That's also why I'd never try the "apply 120 volts and wait for the puff of smoke" option either!
