ev mod

Someone quoted a Toyota exec. to the effect it will void your battery warranty. I would suspect in American courtrooms, if you have enough money to fight it, it would reduce your battery warranty to the European time limit. They have the EV switch stock, but have a shorter battery warranty.

The Coastal and most other EV switch mods access software routines already in the car's system. In essence, what it does is extend the time the battery can be used for propulsion. It will still default to the ICE running once you exceed the extended limits, or if you apply enough throttle.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mtskier @ May 26 2007, 01:59 PM) [snapback]450535[/snapback]</div>

Thankfully the laws that govern our vehicles (in the US) are consumerist in nature. Installing a modification does not allow the manufacturer to absolve themselves of their warranty commitments. If a component malfunctions or otherwise requires service they must prove that your modification is what caused the undesired behavior in order to deny a warranty claim. Considering that the Prius is built with the EV mod compatiblility in its firmware and distributed in multiple countries with the switch pre-installed, I don't see how any claim of resulting damage could be successfully prosecuted.

In other words. Your warranty is safe if the thing is properly installed and you don't go crossing any wires.

You will have to pull apart several of the interior panels to get at the wiring bits for the Coastal Tech install (The glove box and possibly the passenger vent). Personally I went with the OEM button instead because it looks nice and professional and there is a bit of visible geek factor associated with the thing

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mtskier @ May 26 2007, 01:59 PM) [snapback]450535[/snapback]</div>

I have the coastal ev mod coming in the mail. Have you seen this video? I think the coastal mod is the easiest way.

 

The only way the dealer will know you have the Coastal Tech EV switch is if they have to access the block of plugs where it's located, or if he takes it for a drive and knows to attempt to engage it. Both very unlikely.

I don't believe any Toyota executive ever stated that the EV switch would void the warranty, and some folks have actually shown it to their dealers, without problems.

Some uninformed salesmen have made silly comments about it, but salesmen don't know beans about this car.

Toyota has states on its web site that converting the Prius into a plug-in hybrid AND converting it to run on electric-only would void the warranty, perhaps because there are lubrication issues if you drive very long distances without running the engine, something that the EV switch won't allow you to do because the stock battery lacks sufficient energy to drive the car more than a couple of miles in EV mode.

The Coastal Tech mod is the easiest EV mod to install, as it requires less disassembly of the dashboard. It does require removing several dashboard panels on the passenger side, unplugging a plug thingy, inserting a pin, and then clamping a couple of connectors onto two wires. It is pretty simple and straightforward, except that you will be working in a very tight space, and the wiring harness in the car has almost no free play to it, which makes it harder. And the dashboard panels can be tricky to remove.

I am a total klutz, and I did mine. I almost gave up a couple of times, but in the end I did it.

 

Regarding the EV mod, has anyone figured out yet how to invoke the EV dash light when it is engaged? I know there is a space for that light in the Canadian dash, not sure about US...?

I plan to add the OEM EV button to my car after my basic warranty is up (just to be safe... almost there!).