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2nd Gen Homelink mirror in PIP?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Sarge, May 1, 2016.

  1. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Hi all,

    I am thinking of picking up a used PIP Technology package to replace my '06, and one of the minor annoying things is that it does not come with the Homelink like my 10-year old Prius has... :-/

    I know the Homelink mirror can be added afterward (and is available in the PC shop), but I was wondering if it would be compatible with the same mirror as the Gen 2?

    I would likely be selling privately, and wondering if a swap would work before doing so, or if I would need to buy a new one specifically for Gen 3?

    What are the wiring implications, and are the harnesses the same?

    Thanks!
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hmm, I'm pretty sure the Prius Plug-In Technology has the auto-dimming mirror w/ Homelink. It's not available on the base PiP. Are you sure the seller didn't swap his out? lol
     
  3. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Lol, unfortunately no. I looked at one a few weeks ago which I unfortunately missed by a few minutes (as someone else bought it before me), and it only had the auto-dimming, no Homelink. If you look at the brochure specs, it indicates the same, and there are a number of threads here with people complaining about the lack of this option. :(

    Not that it would stop me from getting the car, just annoying (and illogical) they would leave this off of a vehicle many would park in the garage *to charge*... (?) :-/
     
  4. se-riously

    se-riously Active Member

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    It sounds like you're trying to transplant the Gen 2 mirror to a Gen 3. The only real thing stopping you is whether or not the mounting tab for the mirror for Gen 2 is the same as Gen 3, which I can't answer. If yes, then you can cut the Gen 2 harness, and easily solder extension wires to the hot and accessory wires in Gen 3. Since you intend to buy a Gen 3 first before selling your Gen 2, it should be easy to figure out if the mounting tabs are the same.

    If you have no idea what I'm writing about, then don't bother even trying it.
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ohh I get it. I thought it was missing the mirror in its entirety. Well, that's just silly.

    I haven't taken apart the mirror but given that the mirrors are (most likely) from Gentex, they may be interchangeable. It's just a matter of wiring it up properly.
     
  6. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Thanks for the reply. While I am no or Prius tech, I do know a bit about this stuff, and if it is above my skill, then I would go to my trusty independent Prius mechanic to help out, who rebuilt my HV battery a couple years ago. :)

    I installed an EV button in my Gen 2 a few years ago, and also hard wired a dash cam last summer, so I do like to play sometimes. :D

    My main question is whether all the necessary wires are there, and whether it is simple as plugging in a harness, or if there is hardwiring involved, or if the mirrors are completely different between Gen 2 & 3. They look pretty similar, but I haven't looked at a Gen 3 closeup.

    Cheers. :)
     
  7. se-riously

    se-riously Active Member

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    There is no wiring harness. You should follow the Gen 3 mirror instructions to figure out where to run the wires, and where to tap into. You only need a max of 3 wires (ground, hot at all times, and accessory). If you want the homelink to work only when the car in on (my recommendation if you ever park the car outside your home), then you only need 2 wires (ground and accessory). I believe the Gen 3 mirror instructions have you tap accessory at the power mirror switch.
     
  8. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Wiring the mirror to only work when the car is on is an interesting idea, I never thought of that from a home security point of view. However, in my personal situation it's not a big deal since my house does not have internal access to the garage, and there isn't much of significant value in my garage.:eek:
     
  9. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    I have HomeLink on my Acura and it's nice, but I didn't mind paying $15 for a new garage door opener for the Prius and keeping it clipped to the sun visor. It's a little more convienient to have it on the visor since it's closer, and the buttons are bigger.

    I also have a key-chain opener for the motorcycle.

    I'm missing the auto dimming feature of the Acura, but flipping the switch isn't a big deal. If the retrofit is easy enough, I'd consider installing an auto-dimming HomeLink mirror in the Prius. I plan to keep it a long time.
     
  10. se-riously

    se-riously Active Member

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    That's why I never use the clip-on-the-visor remotes that come with the garage door opener. I use keychain ones instead.
     
  11. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    I park my car in the garage, so if someone has access to the remote opener, they are already inside the garage. If a thief happens to steal my car while parked somewhere else, they won't know where I live.

    Besides all that, garages are super easy to gain access to in just a few seconds, so I don't consider them to be anything more than a shield to the elements.

    I'm in a good neighborhood, so I'm not likely to be robbed. Even so, I have a couple networked security cameras to keep an eye on the place. If I'm home, I welcome any and all intruders; the doors are unlocked.
     
  12. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    I note that you are in Oregon, but here in California, one is required to keep a copy of the registration in the car, to show a police officer if pulled over. And the registration has one's home address. :oops: Having the registration and insurance card in the car is so 20th century. At least around here, the police run your plate before they even approach your car, so they already know the registration and insurance information. At potentially relevant tidbits like if the car is reported stolen.
     
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  13. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    Good point, I forgot about the registration. I only have to deal with that every 2 years in Oregon, and we are required to carry it as well.

    Maybe I need to wire in a self-destruct feature to my Prius. If I can't have it, nobody can. It would make avoiding accidents way more important though.
     
  14. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Lol. :LOL:

    Good thing Prius has one of the lowest theft rates in the industry, at least they did several years ago, I haven't heard more recent statistics. Of course, with the price of gas now, you could probably leave the keys in it running and a thief would probably still ignore it. :cool:(y)
     
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  15. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    My anti-theft device in the Acura is a 6-speed manual transmission. Could probably leave the doors unlocked and the keys in the ignition on that car too.
     
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  16. drash

    drash Senior Member

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    You're right. Except for that one in the commercial, it has the lowest theft rate in the country for the 2008 to 2012 model years. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau only 1 out of every 606 were stolen and almost 97% were recovered.

    I'm more worried about thieves stealing my wife's 19" wheels off of her Venza while parked in the garage than in stealing my Prius. Now that the warm weather is here, time to start shutting off the garage door opener at night.
     
  17. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    I know what you mean. It's not fun owning a car which is a theft target. Before the Prius, I had an Acura Integra (before kids ;)), and my car was broken into twice, once had an aftermarket stereo ripped off, and the second time I scared them off as I was in earshot of the alarm in the store. Not cool.

    Thieves aren't after 'efficient' cars. :LOL:
     
  18. iluvmacs

    iluvmacs Member

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    When I replaced my Gen2 Prius with a PiP, I swapped the mirrors so I could still have a HomeLink mirror, as I had the exact same complaint. (The purchaser of my old Prius never missed it since I never advertised it as having HomeLink ;-). The "wedge" mount is identical (as it is on many cars). You do have to do some wiring, which can be accomplished by following the installation manual available online (I think published by Toyota... easy to find). You also have to provide all your own supplies for doing that, but that's not terribly difficult. I did this same thing again for another family member's PiP, but we bought a salvaged HomeLink mirror on eBay (at a fraction of the cost of a new one... just gotta look for one in excellent condition, and make sure it includes the wire harness, unless you want to buy that bit separately).