Coastal EV Mod Install - Video

In my opinion - yes - every opporunity to save some gas, improve your milage or simply 'Pimp' you Prius with fun add-ons - just do it.
I believe I do improve my milage by strategically using the Coastal EVMod. Its easy to install, hidden from view and relatively inexpensive.
Coastal docs are good and easy to follow.

 

Thanks. I get 4.9 to 5.0 l/100 km - winter time up to 5.3 l/100km - without trying to 'hypermile'. I keep an eye on the display but I also keep with the flow of the traffic. I think the EV mod, if properly used, can improve the mileage. I live in a city full of small hills and valleys. EV mode should pull me up the hill when the battery charge is between 3 bars and full, then recharge on the way downhill. Could be a bit tricky and fun to learn how to maximize the benefit.

I would not be surprised if Toyota automated this process for the 2010 model's with the various 'EV modes'. The 'performance mode' is probably the current 'normal' driving mode and the 'economy' level is something what I have in mind above. The battery is way too small to make the pure EV mode practical other then showing it off.

Laszlo

 

hi all,
just did the coastal ev mod yesterday - couldn't find thunder's video (which i really wanted to see) - saw the juiced hybrid vid a couple of times, not extremely helpful.
coastal docs are terrific.
didn't say how to remove the bottom of the vent cover - some deliberate finger nails were able to remove - vent popped off, glove box removed all perfectly.
did the "build a ship in a bottle" approach - easily found the bottom computer plug, with difficulty wedged it out, then it wouldn't reach outside of the vent area now matter how badly i manhandled the harness in front of and then behind other wire stacks.
managed to shred my left hand a bit with all the times i shoved it through the holes. anyway, ultimately got the black and white wire clipped after dropping one of the taps into the bottom to be lost forever (thank you coastal for including a third!!!!) - took FOREVER to snap the purple wire - finding it was easy - getting it alone from the rest of the wires, with twisting, shifting, etc. took about 20 minutes while sweat dripped all over me.
thought the worst was over - then took about 10 minutes to sort of move the white retaining clip away (managed to break some pieces of it off - yikes!) - eventually got the orange wire inserted (locating the position took 5 seconds, great documentation).
finally, put it all back together, then from passenger seat "started" the car and tried EV - was THRILLED when i apparently delayed and it said "EV mode note available now" - that meant i was hitting the ev mode "stuff" - a few seconds later the engine shut, and i had the climate control screen, pulled the cruise control cancel for a couple of seconds, and was rewarded with the hybrid screen - showing me ev mode was properly installed.
eventually went for a drive, and thank god everything worked - ev mode wise, and not ev mode wise. whew.
install was worth it, but i sweated it out - overall, took better part of an hour - i must confess, i was worried i'd screw something up, and not thrilled to see little pieces of the white retaining clip on the floor - i hope wires or pins don't pull loose in the future.
still, i hope any one considering the mod goes through with it - but too bad toyota didn't just put the damn button in at the factory.

 

Be proud of yourself! Well done. Yes, the Coastal Instructions are EXCELLENT! Still the job is a bit tricky, not much space to work with. It took me about 30 minutes to install the mod. That includes dropping and fishing out one of the little 'T-clips'. I did not want my Toyota service guy find it for me and - perhaps - get into a warranty fight later. My 2008 Prius barely has 12000 km on her.

As you said everything works fine EV mode in or EV mode out. I am still trying to find out if I get any benefits mileage wise. I mostly use the EV mode to make sure the 'warm up cycle' of the gas engine does not start until I am well on my way, rolling at a decent speed. I actually reset the car to 'normal mode' at that point. I don't want the battery charge go below 3 bars (orange colour). It is my hunch that if that happens too often it may effect the useful life of the battery - $$$$$$$$$$$$ There must be a good reason why Toyota programmed the controls to get the gas engine cut in before that happens most of the time. So running in EV mode till the battery runs below three bars may not be a good thing in the long run.

Laszlo

 

Hey folks, I have a problem that maybe you guys have seen before. I have an '07, and I installed the Coastal EV mod about six months after I got the car. It's been working great. BUT: I was in an a small accident (damage to right front headlamp, small damage to the bumper) that did not hurt the frame (thank god) or penetrate the engine/passenger cavity.

I finally have the car back this week and it's looking great..

But now my EV switch does not work

I noticed that my electrical system was most likely completely disconnected (clock was reset, along w/ all radio presets) from the battery. Could that cause a problem?

Before I start ripping apart the dashboard to check to see if the EV wiring is intact, has anyone else ever had a problem like this? Is there a master reset / reboot or something I can do to have the Prius system see the mod?

Thanks!

 

Just a hunch! If your Prius was in a Toyota dealership for repair they may have removed your mod!

I would start here. It is relatively easy to check - just pop-off the driver side covers and take a look.

Good Luck

 

Thanks..it was actually at a local shop that specializes in Toyota's, and I've done a lot of work w/ them...so I doubt it but I'll check. I need to take a look at a good video that shows what I am looking for...it's been a while. What is the best current video to review?

 

Check out this link ou yoptube

#

 

Late last June I held an install fest in Mountain View. This is the taped install of a coastal EV mod. Feel free to leave any comments if you liked the video.

Enjoy!

Thunder

THUNDER, ANY CHANCE YOU CAN RELOAD IT. IT SHOWS THAT IT ISN'T AVAILABLE. THANKS.

 

I installed the CoastalTech EV mod. I didn't want to fumble/hunt for a switch while I'm driving. It works, kinda. When it works, it works well. I can go about 2 mi from a green bar charge in ev. My community has a 35mph limit and it's about 2 miles outside the community so it works for me. Comming home I go down a long hill so it charges for the next day. Problem I'm having is I get the "cannot switch to ev mode" whenever it is hot out. Above 90 degrees even if the car sat all day(outside), green battery charge I cannot switch to ev mode. Tried no ac, no lights so it only works well in the mornings/evenings or cooler weather. My opinion (.02 cents), spend the $65 on gas as without the mod the car works well anyway. Other than that install was easy and quick. Lifting the white clip is impossible without breaking it slightly. Those thinking of the mod, it's easy but you do sometimes wish you had smaller fingers. I installed the locpic navigation agree mod also which took about 3 minutes and is worth the money.
What did help was the PERFORMANCE CHIP upgrade from punisher_performancechips (ebay). $20 for 18mpg more fwy.
On to my Horn blaster upgrade.....

 

EV mode is mostly for fun - I guess the program knows something we don't in hot weather and saves us from some calamity, now or in the future. And of course it could be a bug.

How did you do the reverse beep OFF? It does not bother me but some of my friends asked if I could do it.

 

Disabling Reverse Beep
• Power on the car, Cycle ODO/TRIP, stopping on ODO, Power off the car.
• Power on, within 6 seconds, hold ODO for at least 10 seconds.
• While still holding ODO shift into Reverse and back into Park.
• b-on shows on speedometer display, press ODO to cycle to "b-off".

• This also works for the seatbelt beep, replace shifting with buckling/un-buckling.

 

Thank you for the quick note. I will try it.
One more question; what benefits do you get with the 'punisher performance' chip?

Thanks

 

increase in highway mpg. I don't see any decrease in performance when I step on the "gas".

 

Did it and love it!
Thanks for sharing.

 

As a newbie (just got one finally) I am looking forward to installing the Coastal Mod. I've read all the posts (thank you) and I wanted to just check back before I make the MOD plunge and ask if there is anyone out there with any major problems with the MOD in the years that have passed?

My understanding is that with a full battery SOC one can expect about 2 miles of EV range (within all the constraints of course). Theoretically that should give you at least 2 more miles per day (minimum).

Still sounds like a WIN-WIN to me. Am I missing something?

BTW, I'm not really worried about the possibility of voiding my Toyota Warranty (mine is a certified warranty). Anyone have any problems with that?

 

Couple of comments. First; The installation was easy, just follow the instructions. Take your time, don't be in a hurry. Watch that you don't cut yourself. I was surprised that some if the metal edges were quite sharp. My 'upgrade' works perfectly - within the constraints you are already familiar with. Also, on-the flat you may get two miles. In my hilly city, the EV distance is shorter. In any case it is fun to cruise silently out of my street.

I try not to let the battery go into the orange range (~ below 30%). I know that the software will protect the battery from full discharge - but just in case. Since under normal operation the battery rarely, if ever, goes that low, I wonder if reaching this level of discharge too often will shorten the life of the factory battery back.

Second: what is a 'certified warranty'?

Good luck with the mod. I am considering increasing my electric only (EV) range by adding batteries in the area under the trunk. There are at least two options I am aware of.

 

I have the mod on all my prii. Easy to install even the first time and use. The insertion of the pin is tricky but take your time. You will need to snap pull the vent cover out. They are just a push tab so grab and pull hard. It's easy to use. It will not work until the car is warmed up. Usually I drive a 1/2 mile then hold the cruse switch back for 2 seconds. The gas engine will kick off (under 34mph of course). Go above 34 and the gas engine kicks on. Turn it back on while stopped or below 34. As soon as it the bars get to 2 bars you will not be able to use it again for a bit. My drive is 3 mi out of my community speed limit is 35, I keep it at 33. I can use it all the 3 mi with some coasting and downhill. The outside temp has allot to do with how far you will be able to use it assuming under 34mph because of ev/ice normal. The battery is well protected and will not let you over ev mode. An oddity I noticed, when I'm stopped and turn it on the mfd wheels tick one way. When I turn it on again while stopped the mfd wheels tick the other way.

 

EV mode is fun but remember using EV mode does not improve your overall fuel economy, if fact, it reduces it. If you have a scanguage, you can see that after the ICE starts with a low battery state-of-charge, the current into the battery (generated by running the ICE) is high for a while. So you are burning gasoline to charge the battery, not to move the car forward.

If high fuel economy is your goal, you should aim to charge the battery with brake regen, not with the ICE.

On the Gen II, I use EV mode for a couple of reasons:
1. to move the car around the driveway. For this purpose, you have to put the car in EV mode in the first 10 seconds after the READY light comes on (before the ICE starts)
2. to try to kill the ICE when coasting to a stop when the car is past stage 1a but not yet in stage 4.

But hey - have fun.

 

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE! I bought my used 2008 Prius from a Toyota dealership last week (Dec 2010) with 50,000 miles.

The Toyota Certified Used Hybrid Warranty includes:

* 3 month/3,000 mile bumper to bumper (from MY date of sale and mileage)
* A total of 7 year/100,000 Mile Powertrain Warranty (from original date of purchase). I have approximately 4 years/50,000 miles remaining.
* A total of 7 year/100,000 mile Roadside Assistance
* A total of 8 year/100,000 Factory Hybrid Battery Warranty
* Has passed a rigorous 174 point Quality Assurance Inspection
* Carfax Report