Dealers and the EV Switch

[gpb5200]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ Feb 22 2007, 04:39 PM) [snapback]394815[/snapback]</div>

There are at least two instances reported here on PC of two different Toyota dealers installing an EV switch.
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Anyone have the name/location of dealers that would install it?

[Allannde]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gpb5200 @ Mar 3 2007, 12:38 PM) [snapback]399578[/snapback]</div>

Anyone have the name/location of dealers that would install it?
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One of the dealers who reported doing it was located near Seattle, Washington (Bellevue, I think). The other was not named by the PC member who said "my dealer installed mine".

Have you asked your dealer?

I installed mine in less than an hour using these instructions at a cost of less than $5.00.

http://www.calcars.org/prius-evbutton-install.pdf

It is not rocket science. It is important not to be sloppy and to follow the instructions.

There are several types. You need to pick one whether you do it or have it done.

There is the one from Coastal which is activated by the Cruise Control lever
There is the High Beam Flasher type which is a DIY job (see darelldd's site) (I think it is evnut.com)
There is the Momentary Switch type which is also DIY and involves no touching of the wiring of the car.
There is the OEM (factory) switch type which is available from Sigma which looks stock but is harder. This is also the most expensive

Do a search on the site. There is lots of information.

[gpb5200]

[quote]
One of the dealers who reported doing it was located near Seattle, Washington (Bellevue, I think). The other was not named by the PC member who said "my dealer installed mine".

Have you asked your dealer?


HMMM, I live in Rhode Island, so that would be one heck of a service call.

I asked the service dept. at my dealership if they would install one if I bought it and brought it to them. He looked at me like I had two heads, asking, "What's that?" He was either playing stupid (possibly the party line) or my local dealership service dept. knows less about my car than me. I also asked the dealership's parts guy about an engine block heater. His reply was, "we haven't sold one since about 1990. Apparently RI Prius drivers are not big on any mods. I am planning on checking other nearby dealerships to see what they say about the ev switch.

My dealership hosts a monthly Toyota Care Clinic. I might take the opportunity to see if any other attending Prius owners have installed one.

I was also considering emailing Toyota directly to see if they were planning making this available as an official retro-fit, since it seems it will be available on the new highlander. It only makes sense, but as my boss tells me all the time, I'm "guilty of thinking logically again."

The problem I have, is that I am not daring enough to do this myself if there is the slightest possibility of voiding any part of my warranty, even though the possibility of my batteries needing warranty replacement is probably nil. The extended warranty I purchased with my last car (Subaru Outback) turned out to be the best car investment I ever made. It ended up paying for itself about three times over with everything that went wrong with that particular vehicle.

If I do find a dealership in the New England area that will install one (either the Toyota one or an aftermarket) I will post it immediately for those not wanting to do it yourself.











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[efusco]

For your EV mod I'd suggest going to a custom car radio/stereo installer. They're generally much more willing to do such mods whereas a lot of dealers are more 'by-the-book' about such things when they're unfamiliar. when you go in come armed with a copy of some install instructions so they have some idea what they're getting into.

You didn't mention if you were planning on an OEM type button or the Coastal Mod...the Coastal mod really is a DIY thing that just about anyone could do. The OEM button involves a few other steps and some dash deconstruction, but it's still not difficult and any decent radio installer should be able to do it in an hour or less.

[gpb5200]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Mar 3 2007, 06:41 PM) [snapback]399654[/snapback]</div>

For your EV mod I'd suggest going to a custom car radio/stereo installer. They're generally much more willing to do such mods whereas a lot of dealers are more 'by-the-book' about such things when they're unfamiliar. when you go in come armed with a copy of some install instructions so they have some idea what they're getting into.

You didn't mention if you were planning on an OEM type button or the Coastal Mod...the Coastal mod really is a DIY thing that just about anyone could do. The OEM button involves a few other steps and some dash deconstruction, but it's still not difficult and any decent radio installer should be able to do it in an hour or less.
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If I could get the dealership to install it, I would do the OEM. If the warranty would remain intact, I would probably just go with the Coastal Mod, or something similar.

[Allannde]

Hello gpb5200

There are several very helpful threads on the installation of block heaters. I had my dealer do mine because it is not easy to do. It is not impossible, but it is hard.

I understand your reluctence to install the EV switch. It isn't the installation which could hurt the traction battery, it is the the way it could be used later. Most likely the negative consequence (if any) would be poorer mpg. As has been pointed out, all electricity in the Prius is generated by the ICE. There is a loss of efficiency in the generation process. That is to say, power directly from the ICE is the most efficient for most circumstances. Torque at startup and when the ICE is cold are exceptions to that rule. So for the most part, the EV switch needs to be used sparingly. But used wisely, it helps.

There is an option other than a dealer. Sometimes a firm which does consumer electronic repair, especially for cars, will do such things. They may not have done this particular job before and so it would be good to print out the instructions which I referenced for them. It is not a complicated job if I could do it!

On the other hand, you might think about why you want to do it. Frankly, there is nothing magic about it. The most useful thing, in my view is that if I want to move my car a short distance (like out of the garage for washing) without startiing the cold engine, I can.

Others use the EV button lots, some in connection with "Hypermiling". They swear by it. But that requires quite a bit of skill. I am glad I have the EV switch, but I could live without it. I didn't come to this point of view until I had the switch, however.

I hope my comments are helpful.

[gpb5200]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ Mar 3 2007, 07:22 PM) [snapback]399674[/snapback]</div>

Hello gpb5200

I hope my comments are helpful.
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They have been. I had thought about using it to get out of my neighborhood w/o using the ICE at all and back into it on return trips. Theoretically, coupled with an engine block heater in the morning, as long as it is not too cold outside, that should be able to get me that mile, give or take without using a drop of gas, provided too, that the battery has enough juice, which now that I think of it, it might not if I were to return home with a diminished charge and have to leave in the morning with the same diminished charge. Yep, it might just not be worth it, now that you mention it.
Thanks again!

[bnardone]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gpb5200 @ Mar 3 2007, 08:37 PM) [snapback]399682[/snapback]</div>

They have been. I had thought about using it to get out of my neighborhood w/o using the ICE at all and back into it on return trips. Theoretically, coupled with an engine block heater in the morning, as long as it is not too cold outside, that should be able to get me that mile, give or take without using a drop of gas, provided too, that the battery has enough juice, which now that I think of it, it might not if I were to return home with a diminished charge and have to leave in the morning with the same diminished charge. Yep, it might just not be worth it, now that you mention it.
Thanks again!
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did you ever get around to this or no? i live in RI/MA and am getting ready to install my engine block heater, mud flaps and oem ev switch. i am waiting a 2-3 weeks while i figure out my can reader route so i can do that at the same time if i go with the can view v4 or similar. during discussions, someone recommended that i record the whole installation process and host it freely online so that people may better be able to understand what is involved and how to go about it (as well as give me critiques ).

long story short, i thought i would mention it to a fellow rhode islander.

[bestmapman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon n @ May 11 2007, 10:53 AM) [snapback]439909[/snapback]</div>

did you ever get around to this or no? i live in RI/MA and am getting ready to install my engine block heater, mud flaps and oem ev switch. i am waiting a 2-3 weeks while i figure out my can reader route so i can do that at the same time if i go with the can view v4 or similar. during discussions, someone recommended that i record the whole installation process and host it freely online so that people may better be able to understand what is involved and how to go about it (as well as give me critiques ).

long story short, i thought i would mention it to a fellow rhode islander.
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Where did you get the OEM EV switch? Do you have the part number?

Thanks

[bnardone]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bestmapman @ May 19 2007, 07:28 PM) [snapback]445875[/snapback]</div>

Where did you get the OEM EV switch? Do you have the part number?

Thanks
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I got it off of Sigma Automotive. They were fast and helpful with that and a few other things.