Toyota Will Void Warranty For EV Button ~ '04 & '05

[Brian]

Today at our OC meet we discussed how Toyota will now Void the warranty if you have an EV Button on your '04-'05 Prius. It is in the Q & A page for the '05 Prius Here
As stated in the Q & A:
25. Does Toyota support the modification of my Prius to be a plug-in Hybrid and run on electric mode only with a switch?

Any such alterations, modifications or tampering with the vehicle voids the warranty and is likely to be counterproductive for air quality and Prius’ durability and safety.

[Brian]

What I don't see right is how they ALREADY put the switch on all other models they sell for the other countries but will VOID our warranty for wanting what they have on ours. It just doesn't make sense.

-Brian

[toolbox]

I figured this. You have to follow the terms laid out in the warranty manual provided to you from Toyota. modification to the vehicle gives them an out or excuse to shoot down any claim. it doesnt matter if you think it is right or wrong and it doesnt matter what they do overseas. warramty regulations differ from state to state. if you have a button installed i recommend you remove and hide any evidence before you take the car in. cutting into the wiring harness is a big no no. if your gonna wire switches in, try to use junctions and connectors so they can be removed for dealer visits.

if you have a ev switch and bring the car in with a hybrid battery problem you are gonna get told by putting it in ev mode you damaged the battery by discharging it outside its set range.

[peart75]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(toolbox\";p=\"43100)</div>

if you have a ev switch and bring the car in with a hybrid battery problem you are gonna get told by putting it in ev mode you damaged the battery by discharging it outside its set range.[/b]

what's funny is that the system doesn't even allow this to happen. if the batt. gets too low it automagically kicks the engine on for regen. same goes for rapid acceleration while in EV mode.

-drew

[Speedracer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(toolbox\";p=\"43100)</div>

cutting into the wiring harness is a big no no.  if your gonna wire switches in, try to use junctions and connectors so they can be removed for dealer visits.
if you have a ev switch and bring the car in with a hybrid battery problem you are gonna get told by putting it in ev mode you damaged the battery by discharging it outside its set range.
[/b]

I agree that, alter OEM wiring harness is pre-much voiding warranty.. Specially most automobile maker picky about it(for U.S market), because too much law suits agains really stupid things... Think a moment why so many warning lables and dumb instraction for any product in U.S??? Im from consumer product development background and I heard so so many dumb things which you never thought to do.

[jamarimutt]

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

[efusco]

Old News Discussed in Previous Thread

Bottom line is that the word "and" suggests they're trying more to avoid people adding additional batteries. Also, this disclaimer has always been in my install instructions and anyone adding the EV should be prepared to buy a new battery or HV ECU if one of those malfunctions and Toyota refuses to fix under warranty.

Also, there is no alteration of any wiring harness. An existing feature is accessed...that's it. Fighting a refusal of warranty work would likely not be worht the legal costs, but one would probably win if you did.

[toolbox]

proof is the biggest thing if you decide to go to court...if the insurance company can only guess what happened and thinks it is owner negect and cant prove it you got em and will win your case.... if they have proof or pics of a nitrous bottle or cut up harness you sealed your coffin. alot of times warranty companies have to look at the expense of a repair vs fighting the decision. you have to make a business decision on whether it cheaper to just buy the repair or to fight it out, but the customer is gonna be giving a hard road and it gonna take alot of phone calls and complaining.

[Zephyr]

Even if you removed the mod before bringing it in for service, wouldn't the fact thet the car was put in EV mode be logged in the computer? I would think that would be enough evidence that the system was tampered with.

Either way, as much as I want to do the EV mod and even have an OEM switch I now have second thoughts. I assume the other mod to enable all the nav and phone functions while the car is moving carries the same consequences as the EV switch?

Mike V. <><

[efusco]

Even if you removed the mod before bringing it in for service, wouldn't the fact thet the car was put in EV mode be logged in the computer? I would think that would be enough evidence that the system was tampered with.

Either way, as much as I want to do the EV mod and even have an OEM switch I now have second thoughts. I assume the other mod to enable all the nav and phone functions while the car is moving carries the same consequences as the EV switch?

Mike V. &lt;&gt;&lt;

First I have to ask...what consequences?? If you add a subwoofer would that cause 'consequences' to your warranty?

Look there's just way too much hand wringing over this. In over a year of folks having the EV button no one has reported a single problem with service or warranty.

Yes, the info that you'd used an EV mode is recorded in the computer. I suspect it logs out after a while of driving without it. But, even if it's there to be found someone has to go looking for it. It isn't as if it's stored as a DTC code, it's just stored with all the other NORMAL operational information and would take a seriously dedicated tech who knew what to look for, where to look for it, and why to look for it to find that information.

Even if they did find it, if the warranty related problem was not a direct function of the HV ECU or HV battery, the only systems the button directly effects, they can't, legally, delcine warranty service. They have to prove that the mod did the damage....since the 'mod' is a standard feature and works exactly the same way in Japan and EU then they're going to have a darn hard time proving that your EV button did the damage--unless you did something way wrong installing it and cause another system to cause the actual problem, in which case your warranty work SHOULD be declined since you actually caused the damage.

The NAV and BT speed sensor defeats affect nothing but the speed sensor wires. for the NAV and BT (and indirectly the Consumption graph and Energy screen simulated wheel motion). So, unless those mods cause direct damage to those systems or you did the mods wrong and caused damage to other systems due to faulty installation they can't void your warranty any more than if you'd installed all season floor mats and had a problem with the car.

Still, if you're uncomfortable and can't afford to pay cash for the work should they decline warranty coverage then you should not do these mods. I say that never expecting to have to pay a dime, but knowing I'm able to if necessary and willing to accept the risk.