Can an EV stitch be install on a prius that did not come with one? If so were does one find it and who installs it. Does it void the
I see you're kinda new here by the # of posts. Please do a search before posting a question like this. There have been several how-to's and threads on the subject. In a nutshell - yes, one can be added w/ the right parts and some elbow grease. Toyota has threatened the warranty in some cases, and in others required the button removed before performing warranty work.
NOTHING can void the warranty if it does not break something else. There is no such thing as "voiding the warranty." All that can happen is something isn't covered under warranty if it is found that something you did broke the thing you want fixed under warranty. How. Many. Times. Can. This. Be. Said? That said... here's my page on the EV switch: Prius EV Mode
Battery failure could be considered breaking something. There is at least one documented case where Toyota initially refused to honor the HV battery warranty because of the installation of an EV switch. You can make a good case that the EV switch merely enables a function already available in other countries. Regardless, Toyota America claimed the added EV switch hastened the death of the HV battery and therefore voided the warraenty. They eventually relented, and agreed to honor the warranty if the EV switch was removed and not reinstalled. Tom
Yet it's on the 2010 model - AND is and has been in the HiHy. I think that will void -ANY- chance for Toyota to claim the EV switch causes something bad in a court! -Especially- if you purchase the OEM switch and install it. Of course if you don't want to have to go to court then don't install the switch. It doesn't really do much useful.
I have no luck finding any info on the search. This is a very user un frendly site and I have a heck of a time getting any info. Then they schange the site to be hadrer to use. But I keep tring to figure things out.
Admittedly, the native search function leaves a little to be desired, but that's not the site's fault; it's the forum software. Otherwise, the site is most definitely not user unfriendly, IMHO. And nothing about the site's functionality has changed recently, only cosmetics. I generally prefer the Google search utility, available via the same search button at the top of the page. A quick search using that with the terms "EV switch" yields dozens of useful threads. Try "EV button" too. Meanwhile, the link I provided above has multiple other links within it. Those and Darell's link should get you started.
It's not very hard. Try these results: [ame=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=EV+switch&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=priuschat.com&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images]- Google Search[/ame] Tom
Tom - Yup! And that is still not "voiding the warranty." The question usually implies that Toyota will suddenly be under no obligation to cover anything once you modify the car in any way. Your point is well taken, of course. And really... was my point as well.
Here in Europe the EV switch is always OEM, and yes, I find it useful when I want to move the car around in our little town and don't want to warm up the ICE. I can go to get some gallons of water (awful chlorine taste at home), and return with the ICE perfectly slept. Pure EV transport!
I test drove a HiHy Limited when they first came out here, and honestly don't recall an EV button However, today I swung by my Toyota dealer and they had a 2009 HiHy Limited in the showroom. This is a much different HiHy compared to the one I saw 3 years earlier I was sorely tempted to take one for a spin. The interior is much nicer, the nav is great, backup camera, etc etc. Let's not forget the EV button and the "Econ" button Apparently the Econ button helps to get the max fuel economy out of the HiHy. Not sure how, exactly. Maybe a test drive will uncover the secret
