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EV switch installation- Check engine light

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by parrot_lady, May 2, 2007.

  1. parrot_lady

    parrot_lady Member

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    I need someone to tell me what I've done wrong. I installed it Monday night after work (and was dragging) and went through step by step, its a factory ev switch, I jumpered it with tele taps to the panel dimmer, had two people check that it was ok, and all the wires were right, taps were ok. Made POSITIVELY sure that I had my pin in hole 27, Matt (the engineer...) checked orientation, inserted it fully, and at first I had it grounded to the car (tore the dash apart a bit further, found a body ground bolt, and soldered on a loop-thingy (thats technical terms there :p) put the bolt back on, started the car, everything was re-installed correctly into the HC unit (the gray panel). Check engine light came on. Ok fine, according to Evans directions, we should be able to ground it to the b&w wire from another port on there (the instructions aren't in front of me right now) so Matt brings out the cordless soldering iron and we tap into wire I'm using and ground it to the b&w one. Check engine light is still lit. Tear out the Ev switch, ALL associated wiring and start car... no check engine light. I know it was in hole 27, It was fully inserted... and I was scared so bad I screwed up my car. It doesn't have the check engine light.

    What did I do wrong? I'm sure its something stupid. The only thing that was lit was the check engine light, the SOC on the battery was at least 4 bars (it was 5 at one point, but all that starting and stopping it did decline. :angry: :angry: I'm so mad at myself for doing something stupid like this and not being able to figure it out.

    (I also couldn't find anything on the ev switch in any other thread with the refrence of "switch check engine light" The ev term couldn't be searched on apparently its not long enough.)
     
  2. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    Did you accidentally start your car with the connector removed? This will cause the check engine light. To clear the problem you need to restart the car 3 times.

    Try to hook the EV button back up just like the instructions say then start the car again.
     
  3. douglas001001

    douglas001001 smug doug

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    I just finished installing my coastal ev mod.

    After it was done I had a check engine light, I did start up and shut off a few times then it went away and EV mode is working.

    Scan Gauge had a previous stored code of "UO293" a search found this:

    http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=13866&hl=u0293

    I assume that I'm ok since it went away? I booted up to lower windows forgetting that I had a plug out (duh), so I think that is what happened to me.
     
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Yea, no need to panic...check that the plug is fully inserted back into the ECU and you wanna make sure you don't try to start up before it is. If you get the CEL try the start up and shut down thing about 3 times and see if it clears. As long as the EV mod functions and the CEL goes away there's no harm done.
     
  5. Cheap!

    Cheap! New Member

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    No worries from my point of view either. Just power up and down three times. If it stays lit, are you due for an oil change? Because, that could cause the check engine light too.
     
  6. parrot_lady

    parrot_lady Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ May 2 2007, 06:22 PM) [snapback]434291[/snapback]</div>

    Nope, I had Matt go over it, started it up a total of four times I think (maybe 5) but we had pulled everything out and restarted it with evrything back in. If you try to restart it with things out I got four lights check engine, giant (!) light and service and I think something else. thats easily spotable.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ May 2 2007, 06:36 PM) [snapback]434300[/snapback]</div>
    I should have just come in here before panicking... but noo... I went to bed thinking "it'll go away in the morning" ... And it did.


    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ May 2 2007, 07:36 PM) [snapback]434336[/snapback]</div>
    Nope, I started my car up to shut off that stupid "service now!" light. ... I hate that light in my car it comes on at ~ 4500 miles. Toyota is trying to convince me that I'm "harming" my car by going the reccomended 5,000 miles/6months, and I won't be scared into it.

    Based on this I might just try again tomorrow night, on and off three times. Dash is still ripped apart (including the air vents, glove box, and ... well everything) and the co-workers were like "DUDE you've done this to you $xx,xxx car!!!"... well DUH! Toyota techs to do this are few and far between and trying to convince me that its "wrong" and "they can't do it" .

    Amy
     
  7. Cheap!

    Cheap! New Member

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    Just remember all the programming is there. It was only the pin and switch to ground that were missing. It will be fine.
     
  8. Bear68

    Bear68 Member

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    Just a word of caution. I have it on VERY GOOD AUTHORITY (Toyota Rep whom I do trust) the EV switch VOIDS the warranty on the HV battery. It was originally intended for use in European cities where emissions standards are very high due to ancient architecture among other reasons. It is not authorized by Toyoa for use in the US.

    BTW Douglas001001 your U0293 code is a "loss of communication to the HV ECU" and providing it went away, should not reoccur.
     
  9. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ May 3 2007, 12:31 PM) [snapback]434934[/snapback]</div>
    This was hashed out at great length when the method for implementing the switch first became known among Prius owners. Toyota states on its web site that converting a Prius into a PHEV will void the warranty. It never states that the EV switch alone will do so. In fact, to deny warranty service on account of the EV switch, they would have to prove that the switch had caused the damage. Finally, it was the high emissions standards in the U.S., not in Europe, that accounts for the difference.

    Further, many dealers have seen different people's EV switches, and have not reacted negatively, and some dealers have even been willing to do the installation.

    If Toyota were to claim that the EV switch caused any component of the car to fail, they'd have to explain why this is apparently not the case in Europe and Japan.

    HOWEVER, if you cause damage by installing it carelessly, that damage will not be covered under warranty.
     
  10. DannyM

    DannyM Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 4 2007, 09:07 AM) [snapback]435393[/snapback]</div>
    Does anyone know a good source to find out about Dealers that will install it? I have the Coastal switch, and am quite capable of doing it myself, but I really would like something concrete that proves my warranty won't be voided.

    On one hand, I think it would be really good (and good advertising) to build a public list, but on the other hand, if the head Toyota office doesn't approve, we don't want them shutting down this practice and knowing exactly where to go.

    I'm also wondering if it's possible to change the Coastal installation so that instead of using the two clamps which cut through the insulation on 2 wires, maybe we could just tie the wires together and insert them back into the plugs, so that the switch could be removed later before taking it into a dealership, and it would be undetectable. Thoughts?

    What I'd really really prefer is a letter from Toyota Canada telling me that as long as I install this correctly, and it doesn't cause any wiring problems, my warranty is in no way harmed. Does anyone think it's possible to get this? The bad part is that if they say no, they would know who I am and be sure to investigate the car closely for any warranty claim down the road.

    Thanks,
    Danny
     
  11. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    You are never going to get such an assurance from Toyota, because they really do not want you to make any mods. And dealers who will install it for you are few and far between. You could certainly install the Coastal switch the way you describe, but it would be a lot more work. The whole point of the method used by Coastal is that it is easy and does not require cutting any wires and is absolutely invisible unless someone opens up the compartment where those plugs are.

    If you are that concerned about being able to remove the switch any time you take your car in for service, you might be better off installing an actual button, as Evan describes in his extremely detailed Knowledge Base article. But even that would be a lot of work to remove every time you take your car to the dealership.