Will adding aftermarket equipment void the warranty?

Toyota cannot be responsible for changes made to their design by others. So don't expect a warranty on any changed parts. But a remote starter is not going to make the rear seatbelts to rip, parts not effected by the aftermarket enhancement are still covered. I would ask the installer what all he will be changing. (Electrical System, Dash?, relocating parts under hood?. etc.) Does his 'lifetime warrantied local installation' cover the Toyota parts he impacts, or just the parts in his kit?

 

Here's my 2 cents....

I would barter hard with my dealer to see if they can install the Factory Remote Start (designed for the Prius), to get their cost down some from retail.

The Factory Remote Start, utilizes your existing Fob, no need to carry another brand remote with your Fob. Plus it would NOT void any warranty when installed by Toyota.

The hundred dollars or so saved may not be worth it in the long haul.

The Wisconsin Winters, like Buffalo, would make it a worthwhile investment, and piece of mind is important with the complexity of the electronics in the Prius.

Nothing worse than having a later problem from something installed incorrectly, to have the dealer say "Oh I see you added an aftermarket Remote Start" that could be your issue.

Toyota could say that an issue was caused by the NON TOYOTA REMOTE START, and the diagnostic fee's (maybe although not related) would circumvent the initial savings.

 

The wiring system on a Prius is complex. I would think long and hard about a non-factory remote starter. It may work fine, but it could be a ticket to a lot of expense and frustration. At the very least, find out how many Gen III Prius remote starters the installer has done, and ask to talk to some of them.

Tom