sfprankster's (mis)adventures modding a 2014 Prius Model Three

^^^ I'm more worried about slicing my fingers while tightening each loop, rather than a few pokes from a needle. But thanks!!


My (mis)adventures making the darkness fade away...


Installed a set of Sylvania Silverstar Ultra 9005 High Beam bulbs today. Another plug 'n play mod that takes a minimal amount of time(5-10 minutes max), requiring no tools.


All lights blazing(5k HID low beams, 3k HID fogs and Silverstar Ultra high beams).

Somewhat brighter than the stock halogen bulbs and with less yellow hue. These bulbs seem to have a longer, brighter projection of light down the road.

Living in the mountains, a little extra light can mean the difference between getting home safely or spending the next day at the body shop pulling Bambi's fur out of the grill.



Another shipment from Taiwan, a pair of Sokie Tech White Hood Struts, ordered on Friday the 21st and arrived today, the 25th.


Amazing that the instructions are in English, so no Google Translate needed.

 

More (mis)adventures of the exterior type...


Having a little spare time in between prepping for Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to complete a couple of mods on my wish list.

Sokie Tech Hood Strut Installation:
First off, I installed a pair of Sokie Tech White Hood Struts that I received yesterday. This is a very simple mod requiring a few tools(10mm, 12mm sockets and a 12mm wrench) to complete. The included instructions are in English, with pics. I finished the installation in a little over 10 minutes.

It's as simple as locating/removing/replacing 4 bolts to install the ball joint brackets and snapping the struts into place. The brackets are labelled with a "R" and "L" stickers to indicate the correct mounting locations, as you are sitting in the vehicle. To finish, I removed the stock hood rod to complete the hood strut mod.





The simplicity of opening the hood now, and not having to locate/unclip and place the stock hood holder is well worth the expense and effort to install this mod.


Rear Wiper Delete:
After having sanded/primed/painted a pair of 1 3/8" plugs several weeks ago, both plastic and metal. I finally had the time to complete the Rear Wiper Delete Mod today as well. This is a little more involved than most of the mods I have completed to date, requiring a few specialized tools to complete.


Simply unclip the cover on the rear wiper, by gently pulling the sides, to expose the 10mm nut that holds the wiper arm to the wiper motor and remove the nut. The wiper arm is held by a compression fit to the motor. I used a small gear puller to remove the wiper arm easily without damaging the glass.


Removing the interior panels on the hatch exposes the wiper motor assembly. Remove the three 10mm bolts on the bracket to remove the wiper motor assembly and the rubber grommet from the window. This leaves you with a 1 3/8" hole in the rear window to fill. I used a painted plastic plug, available at Lowe's, to cover the hole and sealed it with a small amount of silicone.




Once the silicone has had a day or two to dry/cure, I'll apply a liberal amount of Rain X to help shed rain water.

 

Santa(aka Amazon) visited my house a little early today and dropped off a set of AVS window visors.

 

The make the sun go away (mis)adventures continues...


Installed a pair of AVS window visors today. A very simple mod requiring no tools, just denatured alcohol(wipes supplied with visors) and a microfiber towel for cleaning.

My dirty car with very clean window frames. We've had over 10" of rain in the last week and today was the first break in the clouds.


Window Visor Installation:
I began by cleaning the area with denatured alcohol and a microfiber towel, where the double sided tape would attach the visors to the window frame, and allowed ample time to thoroughly dry.


After letting the window frame dry, I tested the visors for fit and location before removing a couple of inches of the adhesive backing and folding at 45 degrees. This allowed me to adjust the fit before the final application of the adhesive to the window frame.


After a couple of quick tugs on the remaining adhesive backing, applying pressure to get the maximum adhesion, the window visors are installed.



Road tested at 70 mph and they are still there.

 

The creature comfort (mis)adventures continues...


Wheelskin EuroPerf Steering Wheel Cover Installation:
Installed a sand/black Wheelskin EuroPerf steering wheel cover.



Oooooops, backtracked into the wrong hole.

Lots of fun to install(sarcasm). Once you get a rhythm going, and the thread becomes shorter, it gets much easier. The shape of the steering wheel, with the flat along the bottom, makes it a unique fit and difficult to maintain an even finish. You end up with some excess material that needs to be spread between two of the wheel's lower spokes to create an even appearance. I found it best to get the leather warm before stretching around the wheel's spokes and finalizing the position, before the sewing begins. There's plenty of waxed thread, so no worries about having enough to finish. Just take your time and tighten each loop as you proceed around the wheel.



Pro Tip:
Snug the previous loop just before snugging the current loop to lock the cover into position.




Interior LED Update:

Changed the interior map, rear dome and cargo lights to LED's from VLEDS. The LED's from VLEDS produce a higher intensity, whiter light, without the blueish hue of the iJDMTOY LED's.

Map Light iJDMTOY LED:


Map Light 5k LED, image taken during daylight:


Rear Dome Light iJDMTOY LED:

Rear Dome Light 5k LED:


Map Lights:
5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 160LM | 1 PAIR

Rear Dome Light:
5K WHITE 6 LED HIGH OUTPUT DOME LIGHT BULB 170LM 31MM 3175 DE3175

Cargo Light:
5K WHITE 6 LED HIGH OUTPUT DOME LIGHT BULB 29MM 3022

 

The visors keep the upper half of the windows clear of most of the rain. It's been too wet and cold to try them with the windows open.

As for the noise level, I haven't had a chance to really test them. We've had another 8" of rain since I installed them.
I should get a chance sometime today, on my way to Paso Robles and leave an update tomorrow.

 

The amount of the noise is reduced at highway speeds(55-70mph). Without the visors, I noticed a large amount of a buffeting noise at speed with the windows open. With the visors installed, this changed to sound less abusive and natural to the ears. As the weather gets warmer, I'll get a better chance to test the difference. Yesterday, with the weather in the 40's, the windows opened momentarily until my gf gave me the "stare" to close them.

The "do I really need these" (mis)adventures...



Door Striker Covers:
As for another quick mod, I installed a set of door striker covers from Ebay that I received last week. They must have come on a slow boat from China, since it took a few weeks to deliver them. As simple to install as snapping them into place.

 

So yours is coming on a slower boat than mine did. You must have forgotten the expedited shipping bribe.



I ordered them on Nov 25th and received them last Tuesday, Dec 11th.

 

Coming SOON!!!
...more new (mis)adventures, this time with my favorite Dremel tool and lots of multi colored wires...

Audio system upgrades(HU, amp and speakers) in a random step-by-step process.

Ordered(shipped today) a pair of JL Audio TR650-CSI component speakers and brackets to replace the OEM speakers in the front doors.

 

Phase two of the audio system upgrade ordered today.



Next up on the wish list, rear speakers.

Then the toughest decision, which HU to install.

Time for some additional research.
Rear camera input...
Navigation...
Apps...




Ahhhhhhh.....the creature comforts.

 

The HID's make a huge difference where I live(out in the boonies...aka Santa Cruz Mtns, CA). The amount of light and the color difference(5k) from the stock halogens, allows me better visibility down road to avoid Bambi, Pepe Le Pew and their relatives that wander around after dark.

As to the HID's from the front, they are BRIGHT. Out here, the road is mostly single lane and weaves, turns , climbs and drops constantly. Depending on where on the road you catch oncoming traffic, I'm sure it can be difficult to see where they are going. The actual light cutoff against a wall @ 25' is the same as the stock halogens, just the intensity is somewhat increased.

Where I don't like them, is when it is near dusk and raining. The road reflectors are easily seen, but the road surface can be obscured and difficult to determine depth and distance.

 

I have a set of 3k HID fog lights to make up for the deficiencies in the the 5k headlights.

 

The creature comfort (mis)adventures updates...


Sun's out...

Wheelskin update:
Got the chance to tighten up the Wheelskin steering wheel cover.
I had a couple of ripples/creases that bothered me while driving. After having it stretched on the steering wheel for several weeks, it was much easier to redo the thread to cleanup my original installation. The shape of the 2014 steering wheel, with the flat on the bottom for leg clearance, makes it difficult to sew a round cover without creases.


Now to order a set of Clazzio beige/black leather seat covers to match the steering wheel cover.
Only change needed from the Clazzio site mock up image, is the headrest in beige.


JL Audio TR650-CSI component speakers and brackets arrived yesterday.
Like a kid in a candy store.




Edited for update:12/28
Rear speaker brackets deliver tomorrow, although I haven't ordered any speakers for the rear as of yet.
The amp I ordered is hung up in UPS somewhere and the delivery status hasn't been updated since Xmas eve.