1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Turn on defrost without MFD or steering control?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by FazilHussein, Aug 14, 2024.

  1. FazilHussein

    FazilHussein Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2014
    67
    34
    0
    Location:
    Perth, Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    G'day all!

    My beloved 2005 is getting long in the tooth; trying to squeeze a couple more years from it with minimal cost.

    MFD is intermittent and the defrost steering control is not working....which makes this a big issue for Ottawa winters. :(

    I have two options:

    1) Replace the clock spring ($100)
    2) Fix the MFD ($300)

    Is there any way to turn on/off front and rear defrost outside of the MFD and steering controls? App/ODBII port?

    Thanks,

    Faz
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,361
    1,790
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I don't think so You're lucky to have two ways to do it right off the bat You should be able to do the clock spring for a lot less than $100 You can't take off the 19 mm nut and the two torx bits and the steering wheel pad and pull the steering wheel off and pop on another clock spring seriously wow well yeah I guess there's always that the junkyard should be full of them I mean they are here I don't know about Ottawa but I got a friend in just across in New York border I can't remember the town and they got a few of them where he is he doesn't drive one but anyway I would think an MFD the same thing 300 wow from junk yards in Canada they really get that no kidding they can't give them away down here a lot of them wind up being thrown in the pile of trash so I grabbed them when I can and I've got four or five generally floating around here I seem to never need them other people do.
     
  3. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2024
    371
    88
    10
    Location:
    Third Rock from the Sun
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The steering wheel cable loses contact, but it can be restored.
    To do this, find a pin that is free and switch it to a working one.

    2006 Prius clock spring (spiral cable) repair | PriusChat

    I'll add:
    The heaters are turned on by supplying control power to the relay.
    This can also be implemented with a separate forced button by turning on the signal directly to the relay PS HTR Relay, PTC HTR 1 Relay, PTC HTR 2 Relay
    It is important to provide a timer so that the heaters do not burn out.
     
    #3 MAX2, Aug 15, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2024
  4. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,668
    1,714
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Get the wiring diagrams for your car and figure out where to hack in a momentary switch to "replace" the steering wheel controls.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Tombukt2 likes this.
  5. FazilHussein

    FazilHussein Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2014
    67
    34
    0
    Location:
    Perth, Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks for the suggestions!

    I'm taking the low road and sending in the MFD to be fixed; I haven't put money in 'er all year, so she's overdue.

    Faz
     
    Tombukt2 likes this.
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,361
    1,790
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    No kidding what is that run generally their company or some places handle this usually I just stack them up from junk cars you know the four button don't see the seven button that much