What do I need to activate software on my 2007 Prius

[AnailizeR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Sep 26 2007, 01:55 PM) [snapback]517986[/snapback]</div>

First understand what you've got; then perform experiments to see the effect of proposed changes; and finally, implement specific modifications to implement what works.

Bob Wilson
[/b]

Ok... I understand what I got... now to make experiments ... I need some form or way to change what I currently have... and thats the point of my questions...

[hill]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Sep 26 2007, 01:44 PM) [snapback]517981[/snapback]</div>

Ahem, I have a list:
[/b]

You skipped the all important body conforming, massage-o-tronic seats, with heads up display while operating 20mm Hummer-disabling gatling guns. :P

[okiebutnotfrommuskogee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Sep 26 2007, 12:44 PM) [snapback]517981[/snapback]</div>

Ahem, I have a list:

1. allow lower cruise control speed - 0 mph would be perfect but I could live with 5 mph as the lower limit.

Bob Wilson
ps. I'm not waiting on Toyota for these features but we can talk about them a week from Sunday. <grins>
[/b]

I don't understand why the cruise control has to forget your settings after you go too slow or stop. The one on my 05 Avalon remembers where it was even after a complete stop. Just start up and gain a little speed, then push it up to the resume position and the car goes back to the speed it was before you stopped.

When I first got my Prius, I thought that the cruise control was broken till I figured it out that it didn't work like the one in the Avalon.

[bwilson4web]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Anai @ Sep 28 2007, 08:56 AM) [snapback]518948[/snapback]</div>

Ok... I understand what I got... now to make experiments ... I need some form or way to change what I currently have... and thats the point of my questions...
[/b]

What did you want to change . . . the requirements?

Access to the Prius source code and programming interfaces is at best a corporate trade secret. However, all of the 'inputs' and 'outputs' are mapped by the maintenance documentation including the wiring diagrams. So instead of trying to break-in to a closed system, think "shell" and deal directly with the inputs and outputs. For example, my temperature hack:

http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_temp.html

I wanted my 03 Prius to have similar, fuel efficiency to the Japanese and European Prius. My first experiments used a diode, pot and switch to test what happens when the thermistor value is 'adjusted.' If the ICE is below 40C, the engine will choke and die. But at 40C and above, I can trick it into 70C and instantly go into hybrid operation and save 3 minutes of ICE warm-up. I also had to make sure the 'bias' backed out after reaching 80C or the engine would report overheating. But I wasn't happy with the analog approach because it wasn't as precise as I wanted and didn't record any history.

Now I use an MSP430 microcontroller to handle the thermistor hack. This lets me control all aspects with software that I can change at will. After a few tweaks, it worked quite nicely. Now I'm looking at making a bunch of them for an after-market offering.

Bob Wilson

[Rest]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Anai @ Sep 25 2007, 07:18 PM) [snapback]517717[/snapback]</div>

I can "pony up" that kind of money.. with the money i am saving on gas .. it will take a long while but sure can be done[/b]

Do the math. It would take like 20 years to recover the cost of the tool, with the fuel savings. You would be better off waiting for the newer Prius models to come out and upgrading.

[AnailizeR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Sep 29 2007, 01:35 PM) [snapback]519083[/snapback]</div>

Do the math. It would take like 20 years to recover the cost of the tool, with the fuel savings. You would be better off waiting for the newer Prius models to come out and upgrading.
[/b]

It was a joke .... dumbass... besides .. upgrading is just a pain since I will have to pay for the price difference... and unlike most .. I like to think my way through stuff ... go on ahead and trying thinking outside the box before you give dumb replies....

[patrickindallas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Sep 29 2007, 08:16 AM) [snapback]518978[/snapback]</div>

I wanted my 03 Prius to have similar, fuel efficiency to the Japanese and European Prius. My first experiments used a diode, pot and switch to test what happens when the thermistor value is 'adjusted.' If the ICE is below 40C, the engine will choke and die. But at 40C and above, I can trick it into 70C and instantly go into hybrid operation and save 3 minutes of ICE warm-up. I also had to make sure the 'bias' backed out after reaching 80C or the engine would report overheating. But I wasn't happy with the analog approach because it wasn't as precise as I wanted and didn't record any history.
[/b]

That's a neat little trick. Does it change the emissions profile considerably?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Anai @ Oct 6 2007, 01:40 AM) [snapback]522108[/snapback]</div>

It was a joke .... dumbass... besides .. upgrading is just a pain since I will have to pay for the price difference... and unlike most .. I like to think my way through stuff ... go on ahead and trying thinking outside the box before you give dumb replies....
[/b]

Touchy, touchy.

[bwilson4web]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patrickindallas @ Oct 6 2007, 03:08 AM) [snapback]522120[/snapback]</div>

That's a neat little trick. Does it change the emissions profile considerably?
[/b]

It hasn't been measured. However, the engine continues to warm-up but over a longer period of time with the ICE off more often. It could be replicated by doing a series of short start-stop segments, say stopping the ICE at each stop sign or traffic light. The extended warm-up gives the heat time to throughly warm the block so you don't get 'hot-spots.'

Measuring the effect requires an exhaust tester and a dynometer. Doable, it would be a little pricey.

Bob Wilson