Knowledge Base Articles Discussion Discuss articles posted by PriusChat members on Prius quirks, fixes, modifications and more! Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:32:38 +0000 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:32:38 +0000 PriusChat https://priuschat.com/forum/knowledge-base-articles-discussion.26/ Lithium Ion batteries now available direct replacement Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:38:13 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/lithium-ion-batteries-now-available-direct-replacement.257831/ https://priuschat.com/threads/lithium-ion-batteries-now-available-direct-replacement.257831/ invalid@example.com (abubin) abubin


I come across lots of videos on Lithium Ion as direct replacement for NiMH batteries on Prii.

Lots of local workshops in my country specializing in hybrid started offering this replacement service as well. Prices are like 20%-30% cheaper than NiMH replacement from Toyota.

I am wondering if this is safe and will work properly as they did not replace the BMS.

Any thoughts?]]> 7 Electric power from a hybrid, connecting inverter to the high-voltage system Wed, 06 Aug 2025 06:11:58 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/electric-power-from-a-hybrid-connecting-inverter-to-the-high-voltage-system.224218/ https://priuschat.com/threads/electric-power-from-a-hybrid-connecting-inverter-to-the-high-voltage-system.224218/ invalid@example.com (ChapmanF) ChapmanF
Any car has a 12 volt system, and power inverters to run from the 12 volt system are easy to find. Pretty much any modern car, Prius...

Electric power from a hybrid, connecting inverter to the high-voltage system]]> 61 Affordable Vin Search Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:14:13 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/affordable-vin-search.256215/ https://priuschat.com/threads/affordable-vin-search.256215/ invalid@example.com (PriusTech) PriusTech
stat.vin charges about $6, you get all that plus if it's been through an auction you get what it sold for and pictures]]> 1 Long Term Storage TSB Sun, 02 Feb 2025 02:25:53 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/long-term-storage-tsb.253478/ https://priuschat.com/threads/long-term-storage-tsb.253478/ invalid@example.com (Prodigyplace) Prodigyplace I was unaware Toyota had an official procedure.

@Tideland Prius you may want to sticky this.Feel free to move this to a better place, if there is one.

@Mendel Leisk @bisco you may want to take a look too.]]> 12 Belt change how-to with photos Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:16:11 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/belt-change-how-to-with-photos.87166/ https://priuschat.com/threads/belt-change-how-to-with-photos.87166/ invalid@example.com (galaxee) galaxee
I didn't see a belt change how-to write up, so I documented as DH did the change.

Tools:
10mm, 12mm, 14mm sockets. Ratchet. Extension. New part.

BEFORE you begin: know the routing of the belt! It's hard to get a good picture, but get your hand in there and feel...

Belt change how-to with photos]]> 47 Gen1 tranny service DO IT NOW! Fri, 08 Nov 2024 02:57:26 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/gen1-tranny-service-do-it-now.83967/ https://priuschat.com/threads/gen1-tranny-service-do-it-now.83967/ invalid@example.com (3prongpaul) 3prongpaul
If you have not changed the fluid and cleaned the...

Gen1 tranny service DO IT NOW!]]> 27 MouseProofing the Prius Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:05:06 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/mouseproofing-the-prius.51005/ https://priuschat.com/threads/mouseproofing-the-prius.51005/ invalid@example.com (ebsmythe) ebsmythe
MouseProofing the Prius]]> 210 Finally! How to program a non-SKS key/fob. Detailed! Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:00:28 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/finally-how-to-program-a-non-sks-key-fob-detailed.43563/ https://priuschat.com/threads/finally-how-to-program-a-non-sks-key-fob-detailed.43563/ invalid@example.com (amethystjw) amethystjw
If you have a 2004-2007 non-SKS (Smart Key System) Prius and you're trying to make a new or used fob work with your car, I finally found the answer. Lots of people have been asking about how to do this for a long time but all of the directions I've found were slightly incorrect. Again, my directions have only been tested on a non-SKS Prius, one that has fobs with a black logo on the back (not a silver logo). I successfully performed these steps on a 2005, by...

Finally! How to program a non-SKS key/fob. Detailed!]]> 317 Disabling the Reverse Beep Thu, 10 Oct 2024 22:12:05 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/disabling-the-reverse-beep.37380/ https://priuschat.com/threads/disabling-the-reverse-beep.37380/ invalid@example.com (Tideland Prius) Tideland Prius NOTICE: This works for the 2nd generation Prius. So far, we have no found a solution for European models.

To eliminate the beeps from seatbelts and reverse, follow these steps:

1. Power on the car to IG-ON or READY. IG-ON will do for this purpose.
2. Using the Trip/ODO button, set the Trip/ODO display to ODO (not Trip A or Trip B )
3. Power off the car.
4. Now power the car to READY (brake on). This is required so that step 6 works correctly.
5. Within 6 seconds of powering on,...

Disabling the Reverse Beep]]> 117 HV Battery Date Code Sat, 22 Jun 2024 09:18:28 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/hv-battery-date-code.198957/ https://priuschat.com/threads/hv-battery-date-code.198957/ invalid@example.com (ITBland) ITBland View attachment 156494
Some additional information from senior members here:
​

HV Battery Date Code]]> 31 Toyota Canada's Online-Only Maintenance Schedules, this is progress? Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:31:33 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/toyota-canadas-online-only-maintenance-schedules-this-is-progress.247062/ https://priuschat.com/threads/toyota-canadas-online-only-maintenance-schedules-this-is-progress.247062/ invalid@example.com (Mendel Leisk) Mendel Leisk
Impressions, looking through that pdf:

1. Schedule only goes to 120K kms (roughly 80k miles. For comparison, in 2014 schedule which was included in the physical warranty details booklet,...

Toyota Canada's Online-Only Maintenance Schedules, this is progress?]]> 11 04 Broken auto leveling headlights - fixed! Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:58:30 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/04-broken-auto-leveling-headlights-fixed.39825/ https://priuschat.com/threads/04-broken-auto-leveling-headlights-fixed.39825/ invalid@example.com (joules) joules
Headlight sensor repair

My problem was the headlights pointed very low. They illuminated about 25 feet of the road with a sharp light-dark horizon. I've driven the car like this for 9 months.

Jason
04 Prius]]> 43 Cleaning up cloudy yellow headlights Thu, 19 Oct 2023 14:21:21 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/cleaning-up-cloudy-yellow-headlights.196503/ https://priuschat.com/threads/cleaning-up-cloudy-yellow-headlights.196503/ invalid@example.com (fotomoto) fotomoto
I use the turtle wax rubbing compound brand only because I already had it on the shelf but I assume any other will work just as well. Next, a circular foam...

Cleaning up cloudy yellow headlights]]> 26 4G Prius Features & Specifications (2016-?) Fri, 13 Oct 2023 09:23:33 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/4g-prius-features-specifications-2016.160952/ https://priuschat.com/threads/4g-prius-features-specifications-2016.160952/ invalid@example.com (Tideland Prius) Tideland Prius
To navigate the Excel spreadsheet, look for the tabs on the bottom right. You can navigate between "What's New" for the 4th generation Prius over the 3rd generation Prius and navigate to each model year to see what the prices are/were, the standard equipment and the option packages.]]> 57 Replacing Volume Control Knob on 2008 Thu, 12 Oct 2023 21:03:28 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/replacing-volume-control-knob-on-2008.243126/ https://priuschat.com/threads/replacing-volume-control-knob-on-2008.243126/ invalid@example.com (Fredii) Fredii
But I also have a 2009 Prius that I am selling that does have the volume knob.

Can I just pull out the knob on the 2009 and stick it on the 2008?]]> 5 How To: Change Headlamp / Headlight bulb Sat, 09 Sep 2023 15:26:38 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/how-to-change-headlamp-headlight-bulb.38842/ https://priuschat.com/threads/how-to-change-headlamp-headlight-bulb.38842/ invalid@example.com (usbseawolf2000) usbseawolf2000 How To: Change Halogen Headlamp / Headlight bulb

A video comparison of 2006 Prius with X-Treme Power versus 2005 Prius with OEM bulbs.



These pair of bulbs are availble at your local automotive stores for $40-$50 plus tax. I got a pair from powerbulbs.com for $47 shipped.


Step By Step Instructions by Tideland Prius for Passenger side and Driver side Bulbs

1. Remove all 6 clips holding down the...

How To: Change Headlamp / Headlight bulb]]> 240 Tactrix Openport 2.0: a USA-made, non-flaky, onboard diag dongle works with Techstream Sun, 06 Aug 2023 21:10:36 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/tactrix-openport-2-0-a-usa-made-non-flaky-onboard-diag-dongle-works-with-techstream.187246/ https://priuschat.com/threads/tactrix-openport-2-0-a-usa-made-non-flaky-onboard-diag-dongle-works-with-techstream.187246/ invalid@example.com (ChapmanF) ChapmanF Background:

About a year ago, while I was feeling very indecisive about all the choices of cheap eBay dongles (mostly clones of the XHorse Mini-VCI) that might or might not work well with my car and Techstream, I was helped out by someone who had already been down that road, and picked out for me an old beater Windows 7 laptop and a Mini VCI and took care of all the installation for me. That really was helpful, and it has gotten me through all of the maintenance on my Gen 3 that I've...

Tactrix Openport 2.0: a USA-made, non-flaky, onboard diag dongle works with Techstream]]> 24 Gen1 inverter Fri, 10 Mar 2023 20:28:36 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/gen1-inverter.239338/ https://priuschat.com/threads/gen1-inverter.239338/ invalid@example.com (bigblock67) bigblock67
How to tell if inverter or Battery pac is failing?
Thanks]]> Traditional dash controls vs touch screens Fri, 24 Feb 2023 17:10:07 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/traditional-dash-controls-vs-touch-screens.222884/ https://priuschat.com/threads/traditional-dash-controls-vs-touch-screens.222884/ invalid@example.com (Mendel Leisk) Mendel Leisk
Why are traditional knobs not replaced by touchscreens in cockpits? - Aviation Stack Exchange

I think the main reason manufacturers are moving to touch screen controls is economic; nothing new there. Convincing consumers it’s a must-have improvement over traditional controls seems a fait...

Traditional dash controls vs touch screens]]> 21 Do brake lights come on each time you apply the brakes? Sun, 04 Dec 2022 03:46:53 +0000 https://priuschat.com/threads/do-brake-lights-come-on-each-time-you-apply-the-brakes.236250/ https://priuschat.com/threads/do-brake-lights-come-on-each-time-you-apply-the-brakes.236250/ invalid@example.com (RGeB) RGeB
The longer answer is not necessarily in brake-by-wire Toyota HVs, to my great surprise. See the log below. The car computers decide when to light the stop lamp, and they do not always light it each time you press the brake (even though cooperative braking is activated, and both regenerative and hydraulic friction braking are operating, and the car decelerates).
View attachment 232141

I thought the brake light should warn of (impending) car deceleration....

Do brake lights come on each time you apply the brakes?]]> 34