I am a Prius Newbie

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hryb @ Jan 4 2007, 08:31 PM) [snapback]371082[/snapback]</div>

My Bonus answer is to do what you are doing - query the board now. The things I learned are amazing. I also added the 3M chip protection film to the front nose by the dealer (disclaimer - I work at 3M, and have had this film on many of my cars).

I feel honored to be the first to reply, but I am a newbie so I cannot answer many questions.

1. If you pick your car up at night realize that the rearview mirror automatically adjusts "tint" to dim the lights of cars behind you. I was trying to find a way to dim this the old fashioned way thinking there was a mechanical flip. It just takes time. But in the dark I kept hitting the garage door buttons built into the mirror and a light kept flashing at me.

2. No idea
3. Mine turn off as soon as I open the drivers door. Again others might have a work around
4. No idea
5. I don't think a lockable compartment in a car is secure enough to deter anyone willing to break into the car. There are several hiding spots that only Prius owners will know how to access.
6, 7 and 8 - no ideas or knowledge
9 - if you search enough or ask about the phone in a separate thread someone will answer. Also Toyota web site has a list of phones and their level of compatibility. It seems few phones can dump their entire address book to the Prius, many can do about 10 at a shot, others only one at a time.
10. Don't know about software updates. Good question I hope someone knows. I have not yet been into the service dept.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hryb @ Jan 4 2007, 09:31 PM) [snapback]371082[/snapback]</div>

1. My salesman didn't notice that I was missing the deck mat. You may want to verify that the dome lights are set to "door" (the rear "on") or the car will be real dark.
3. Turn the headlights off when you put the car in park. Otherwise there will be some draw on the battery.
8. I am told the DVD drive is under the driver's seat.
b. Increase tire pressure to 42 front/40 rear for better mpg. First, get comfortable with the car. It will make lots of strange noises. They are normal. Second, you've been reading the posts. Follow the topics of interest and when someone's idea sounds like it makes sense for you, try it.

Welcome and enjoy. Amazing your passengers is a bonus.

 

The headlights will turn off when you open the driver's-side door IF AND ONLY IF you shut the car down before opening the door. They will then come back on when you start the car again. I use this feature when I go somewhere at night, so I don't forget to turn the lights on. Otherwise, turn them off manually. No, they will not turn off automatically after some set time if you leave them on when you get out of the car.

The Costal Tech EV switch is the easiest method to implement but costs (If I remember correctly, around fifty bucks.) The Knowledge Base here on PC describes two methods that are essentially free, but require dismantling nearly the entire dashboard. All methods require removing an extremely hard-to-get-at plug and inserting a pin in the specified location, and all methods require at least that you attach a ground. If you go for the button method, you need to buy a button, which can be the (not cheap) OEM button, or can be any old cheap momentary-close switch. The headlamp-flasher method requires tapping into at least one wire. I have the Costal Tech switch and I like it. I would not trade it for either of the other implementations, but that's just my preference.

The dealership does NOT regularly upgrade the software. There were a couple of software upgrades on some early 2004's, but those were recalls: we had to take our cars in. There are no "regular" software upgrades.

I can't help you with your other questions. Congratulations on your new Prius. You are going to love it. My best advice is pay no attention to advice about "special" ways to drive, and JUST DRIVE IT! Just like any other car, jackrabbit starts and stomping hard on the brakes are bad for mileage. Drive it sensibly, like any other car.

And browse John's Prius Pages.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hryb @ Jan 4 2007, 07:31 PM) [snapback]371082[/snapback]</div>

</blockquote>1) Didn't run into any problems... Hollywood Toyota was very good on the prep. Everyone pushes scotchgarding, undercoating, and an extended warranty, so expect these to be applied with high pressure. Personally, I only went for the warranty, and told them I wouldn't pay more than the amount PriusChat was currently charging. They went for it (which was half the cost they originally requested). You can buy the warranty from anyone, and if you buy it through PriusChat, the board makes a bit of money. If you feel that you should buy it from the dealer for some reason, take the page from this site with the price quote in when you pick up your car, and demand that match the price. If they don't, buy it somewhere else.

3) In the 2005, they go off automatically.

4) I've got Sirius, but installed a portable unit on the wall above the carpet in front of the center console. I think Toyota calls this plastic wall the "cowl". This is the cheap way to go, and probably isn't the best option. I've heard of people getting the DIN sized Sirius (or XM) receiver and mounting it in the map compartment under the CD player... probably go that way if I had to do it now.

5) There is a 'secret' compartment under the floor in back. You'd have to pull up the carpet to find it, so most people don't really realize it is there unless they have a Prius themselves. It doesn't lock, though. Has anyone ever tried replacing the openers on that with locking openers? Interesting idea... You could also hide things in the lower drawer of the center console. Most Prius owners don't figure out that the drawer exists until they've owned their car a while anyway, and car thieves are probably in the dark about it too.

6) Black car? Mine is too, and I went for the maximum legal amount of tinting here in Nevada. Makes the car look very good. At night, though, I sometimes have to roll down the front windows to see through the rearview side mirrors well... only when backing up, though.

7) For the 2005, I picked up a factory EV mode button on eBay and installed it myself. Took about an hour, and wasn't hard at all. CoastalTech's solution doesn't need a button, but gets rid of other functionality on the cruise control stalk, I think. The factory solution is easier, and seemless. Search for instructions in this forum somewhere. Does anyone know if this works on the 2007?

8) Under the driver's seat.



Bonus: I don't work for 3M, and wish I had gotten the clear front bra. The angle of the Prius hood means that it takes a lot of rock hits while driving, and the undercoating is white. Any chips in the paint show through and are very obvious. Mine is already pretty chipped up. Additionally, get the same thing for the back bumper lip. That is likely to be the first place on the car that you scrape yourself (pulling something large out of the hatchback), and you'll regret not getting the protection. Other stuff? You live in a wet climate... get good all-weather floor mats. Also, pick up something like CoastalTech's ultimate lockpick. This gets rid of all the nag screens and allows you to access the phone and navigation system while driving. Strike that, it allows your passenger to do these things... yeah, that's it... passenger.



Best of luck with the new car!

 

Congrats on your purchase and welcome.

1) I have the pre-delivery check list, but where (if any) have people run into problems? Or where should I pay special attention to?
Don't buy any of the dealer offered add-ons, such as pre-paid maintenance or the extended warranty (which you can get through this site cheaper).


2) I wanted to get the glass breakage sensor added to the car, but my salesman was told by his service dept. that you can’t add that sensor to this package level. Huh? Isn’t it just a microphone that you plug into the car’s anti theft unit?
I don't know. Sorry.


3) Headlights: Will they stay on for a period of time when I get out of the car and then automatically shut off say 30 seconds later after I get into the house?
Previously answered.
<blockquote>a. Do the headlights flash when I engage/disengage the car alarm?
I don't know.</blockquote>
4) Satellite Radio: I’d love to get it…but what’s the deal with the 10 or 16 character limit on the display? Is this depended on the satellite unit you get? The version of software in the car? Both? Neither? One a side note, how hard can it be to make that data scroll? I mean really.
It character limitaion has nothing to do with the car, it has to do with the satellite receiver. There is no fix, as of yet.
<blockquote>a. If I go through the gymnastics of installing a radio myself: If I decide to switch to XM or Sirius from the other at some point, will the antenna work ? I know the head unit will need to be swapped…but do each satellite carriers need a service specific antenna? I mean can I use a XM antenna w/ Sirius or vice-versa?
I don't know about the antenna. My Sirius antenna works with my Sirius radio. </blockquote>
5) The wife is kind put off by the no lockable compartments issue. (Yes, never leave anything you don’t want stolen in the car..I know) Has anyone found a suitable aftermarket solution other then ‘hiding’ things in the center console front facing drawer?
No ideas. Sorry.


6) Any tips on window tinting?
Don't do it yourself. Laws are different by state, so ask the window tint guys what they recommend.


7) EV Mode: Other then Coastaltech, who sound like a nightmare to deal with, were can I get a nice easy solution to add this? I don’t want to clip wires if I don’t have to.
Sigma Automotive has the OEM EV button. I don't know how involved this is though.


8) Nav System: I Understand it’s DVD based….but where is the DVD drive?
Previously answered.


9) Has anyone used the T-Mobile Dash w/ a Prius? Any ideas if all the cool phone book stuff works?
Not me, so I'm no help here.


10) When I bring the car in for service, do they regularly upgrade the vehicle software ? (I am hoping they’ll add scrolling to the Satellite radio issue...or should I give up on that windmill?)
Previously answered. (And yes, you'll have to give up on that windmill for now.)


BONUS Question for existing Prius owners: What are the one or two things that you would do different if you could do it all over again? (when you took delivery of your vehicle or in the first three months?) In other words, what wisdom can you impart on me, a new Prius owner? What accessories would you add immediately if you had the chance to do it all again?
You've already joined here, so that's a great start. I've learned a lot in the 8 months that I've been here. Take a look around - you're going to find some amazing stuff.

 

1. Tire pressure, overfilled oil, all tools in the underfloor hatch compartment, underbody plugs installed.

2. Yes you can. Do it yourself, buy it from the PriusChat shop cheaper, have a dealer program it active, done.

3. No.

4. Character limit is based on the MFD screen version you get, upper packages receive a better resolution screen which shows the 16 characters.

5. Someone posted eons ago about adapting key locks to the hatch floor over the storage compartment. Nothing for the front of the car.

6. Something non-metallic (ceramic).

7. Not easy but get the EV switch or your own switch, connect the proper pin in the ecu and a wire to ground, no splicing. Look in the KB.

8. As stated under the driver seat.

9. ?

10. No, only if there is a TSB.

Get the clear bra on the front. Unless you like dirty mats get the Toyota all season mats or the exact mats. The window deflectors, formerly on sale in the PriusChat shop, are a great addition. If you need the glass break sensor you might need the wheel locks as well.

Wayne

 

I just traded my2004 for a new 2007 and am having the 3M clear bra installed next week. My 04 got pretty beat up on the hood and front bumper from rocks and bugs. On the 04 I had Dynamat installed in the doors and floor, but the 07 is much less noisy on the hwy. Also tinted the windows and put Goodyear Comfort Treads. The tires also helped with the road noise and ride comfort. The 07 came with extended wear Integrities that I'll keep for awhile (I think they are 6yr/100,000 mile). Enjoy CES, I wish I was going!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Jan 5 2007, 12:28 AM) [snapback]371128[/snapback]</div>

Following Daniel's advice, I got the CoastalTech mod. CoastalTech is not so much a consistent nightmare as somewhat erratic. I've used them twice and gotten phenomenally fast turnaround. But from what I read, that was luck. Anyway, the CoastalTech mod is easy and the directions are excellent. Took me maybe 10 minutes. Wire taps but no wire cuts. I don't think I lost any cruise-control options but I haven't used it since in put in the EV mod.

Things I would do differently/earlier on.

EV mod. It helps with milege on cold starts, and it's fun to play with. There's a potential warranty issue there, but I wish I'd bought it sooner (my wife's car is an '05).

Rear and rear-side visibilty take some getting used to. Raise the rear-view mirror as high as you can get it to go. Some people take that off and turn it upside down to get it a bit higher. I also added "spot" mirrors (little round stick-on mirrors) on the side mirrors, and those help a bit for finding cars in your blind spot. I wish I'd gotten bigger spot mirrors (and will, someday, pry the current ones off and add bigger ones.)

Four small drops of superglue around the edges of the "panic botton" switch on the fob. Maybe it's just me, but a) I consider people who set off their own car alarms to be inconsiderate morons, and B) I managed to set mine off by having something press against that panic button while the fob was in my pocket.

Oh, and in retrospect: there's a fair chance your AC will stink in the summer. Moldy smell. Happens to a lot of cars, not just the Prius. I put up with it for a while, not knowing what it was. Don't put up with it -- read the threads here on getting rid of that. For my wife's car, running the defrost occasionally in the summer was enough to dry out the mold on the AC condenser.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(danoday @ Jan 5 2007, 10:14 AM) [snapback]371330[/snapback]</div>

5) I thought of installing a Cam Lock in the 'secret' compartment. I didn't as I realized if a thief got to it, they'd realize there might be something valuable there and probably be able to get in with a screwdriver.

7) I have Coastal's EV mod and it doesn't get rid of the functionality on the cruise control stalk. It uses the Cancel part; you pull stalk more than 2 seconds to operate the EV mod. Less than 2 seconds is enough time to cancel the cruise control. You must be thinking of the 'free' method of using the "flash to pass" part of the headlight stalk.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cam @ Jan 4 2007, 09:58 PM) [snapback]371090[/snapback]</div>

... and for some others (Motorola V710), none at a time. Thanks a lot, Telus! :angry:

I may investigate the hacks for this phone to override it - that is, once I get my phone back from warranty repair due to flaky Bluetooth performance. <_<

 

I think it's been said before that if you mention you're getting a better deal on the extended warranty, do NOT mention exactly where you're getting the better deal as it may jeopardize the future of PC's deal.

The 7 years is just 7 years, not in addition to the basic warranty because it covers additional stuff that the basic doesn't. I have the 75k mile extended warranty but if I had a do-over I might get the 100k... not sure which I'd rather hit first, years or miles... i guess probably miles so maybe I'm better off this way

You don't need the 3M clear stuff for the hatch/bumper area unless you want it to be clear. There's a stick-on guard that you can get that I think is black (I don't have it but I might soon). As for front protection, don't follow other cars so close and you might reduce your chance of getting nicks in the paint!

Enjoy the car, and we'll see you on the road... unless we're too busy fiddling with our safety-disabled nav system and sideswipe you before we see you coming.

 

As for question 6, I live in Virginia and used Huper Optik ceramic tint on my windows. Being ceramic, it greatly cuts down on the incident infrared energy. I had it installed in the summer and noticed a significant reduction in the use of my AC on those warm sunny days, improving fuel efficiency.

Enjoy

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hryb @ Jan 5 2007, 03:53 PM) [snapback]371406[/snapback]</div>

The cost for the 3M stuff varies. Do a Google search. What I'm getting is Reg. length for hood, front of fenders, back of side mirrors, and front bumper. Materials are about $375 and labor will be $50 per hour. He estimates it will take3-4 hours if I do the prep work. After seeing the dings in the paint and bumper of my 2004, If it works like people say it does, it will be money well spent. By the way, get the extended warrenty from Troy on this site---Best deal out there.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hryb @ Jan 4 2007, 09:31 PM) [snapback]371082[/snapback]</div>

1. I didn't have a checklist and happened to luck out; I did take the car for a drive before accepting it. Listen for wind whistles especially; with any car, they can be especially difficult to locate and resolve.
2. I don't know if that many folks have been raving about the glass breakage sensor(s)...are you getting a significant break (no pun intended) on your car insurance?
3. The headlights do NOT have an auto function and the leaving them on trick is more of a workaround, in my opinion.
4. Don't have satellite radio and I have a rule against paying for things that I can (sort of) get for free. I also avoid services with monthly fees like the plague!
5. Lockable compartments? All these do is force thieves to really mess up your interior! There's a nice little compartment in the back, above the spare tire and below the cargo floor which is kind of hidden, and a cubby on the side in the back, too.
6. Certain types of window tinting have metal in them and that will mess up the reception of the GPS antenna (if so equipped)
7. EV mode is taking the car where it was not necessarily intended to go; I figure that it should be a little difficult to do so folks who don't really know how won't mess up their rides (this includes me). Also, EV operation can potentiall drastically shorten the life of the traction battery (as I'm sure you know) so make sure you're an informed user.
8. Already answered
9. I'd love to get RID of my mobile phone and PDA, so I'm no help whatsoever with this.
10. Don't count on it! [smile]

I added the TRD lowering suspension to my car when she had less than 1,000 miles on her, and in my opinion it's the best single mod for a Prius (but that's easily debatable, of course).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarge @ Jan 5 2007, 11:42 AM) [snapback]371400[/snapback]</div>

Verizon has disabled OOP (Obex Object Push) so their phones won't send. There are some options, like using a laptop (w/BT), a Palm Pilot or getting a BT phone off of eBay that will send the phonebook. I got a T-Mobile Sony Emerson T68i that way and used it to send the phonebook.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hryb @ Jan 4 2007, 08:31 PM) [snapback]371082[/snapback]</div>

It seems nobody answered 3-a, which is the easiest - yes. No horn honk or chirp. One flash for lock, two for unlock. If you unlock and don't enter within a certain amount of time it relocks. You can probably add a honk if you want in one of the menus, I think I saw it in the manual somewhere.

I've had no problems with the auto-headlights, but it is order-dependent. If you turn off the headlights and turn off the car, then think, "Well, I should leave the headlights on since it will be dark the next time I drive" and turn them back on, then when you get out of the car the headlights stay on, and I think it beeps at you. But if you just turn off the car normally and get out, the headlights go off as soon as you open the door (or is it take the key out - you probably have SKS, so it might be slightly different anyway). Maybe I confused you, but you'll know right away which condition you have, because if the headlights are turning off, they will be off by the time you close the door. (But not the internal domelights, those stay on for an additional 30 seconds or something).

I'm not big on appearances, so I skipped the $150 dealer mats with the Prius name stitched in and got some trimmable generics for $30 at Target. I got a good cargo mat for the back though, I really like that (I carry around things like firewood and bags of mulch occasionally).

Don't be alarmed by low mileage on your first tank, that's kind of a learner tank (expecially in winter time) and may not be topped off by the dealer.

I think the secret trunk in the back is better than a locked compartment, because the lock tips burglars off that there might be something valuable inside. But a compartment they don't even know about is better. Only problem is is it's not accessible from the front seats.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(danoday @ Jan 5 2007, 10:14 AM) [snapback]371330[/snapback]</div>

AAF beat me to it, but I'll repeat and confirm: The Costal Tech EV mod does not eliminate any functionality: A brief pull towards you on the cruise-control stalk is the original c/c cancel function. Holding the stalk towards you for about 3 seconds activates the EV function, or de-activates it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jan 5 2007, 01:20 PM) [snapback]371489[/snapback]</div>

You are mistaken, Natalie. (That doesn't happen often!) First of all, the EV switch (regardless of which method you use to implement it) merely restores the functionality that all Priuses sold in Europe and Japan already have. The North American Prius has all the software, but they left off the button, apparently to comply with the EPA mileage-testing criteria. Second, even with the switch, the car protects the battery, denying EV mode if the SOC is too low or the car is accelerating more than it likes, or going too fast, or any of the temperatures are outside certain set ranges. While in EV mode, it will cancell EV mode if any of the parameters moves outside its acceptable range.

When you add the switch, all you are doing is switching the car from the N.A. version to the J/EU version. EV mode was designed by Toyota and implemented by Toyota and installed in our cars by Toyota. For North America they left off the button, and some of us have put the button back in, either has a real, physical button, or as a hidden switch.

That said, improper use of the switch can reduce your mpg (especially excessive use, running in EV when the engine would be more efficient, which is most of the time) while correct and judicious use probably can produce a very small improvement.