Would installing this void my warranty?

why do you want one? Best to call the dealership where you service you car - its them afterall.

I am leaning towards yes because you are tapping into a wire system. They dont know if it will be correctly installed or cause problems down the road that will effect the dealerships profits. So they may say no

 

It shouldn't be a problem. However, "piggyback" fuse taps need to installed correctly. The bottom fuse is the original one and the top fuse is the one for the added circuit. It must be installed so that the new circuit is fused. You need a test light to determine the "hot" side of the original fuse socket. The lead out side is then protected by the new fuse.

You need to decide whether you want the socket to be connected to "live battery," accessory or the "run" terminal.

I would, however, not cut into the plastic panel but use an attachment bracket, less you will later need to replace the panel. It would not look much different as it is under the dash at the OBDII location.

 

In the US, and I am assuming you are in the US, the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act applies.

MLM Law - Understanding the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act- Attorney Specializing in Multilevel Marketing and Direct Selling Reese, Poyfair, Richards

The manufacturer has the burden of proof that your modification is the source of the failure. They cannot deny warranty claims with proving your work caused the failure.

"The federal minimum standards for full warranties are waived if the warrantor can show that the problem associated with a warranted consumer product was caused by damage while in the possession of the consumer, or by unreasonable use, including a failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance." - Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act - Wikipedia

 

I'd just make a bracket with a hole saw in a 1/16 inch thick piece of aluminum with two holes to existing screws on the underside edge ot the dashboard.

That would make it easy to remove and reinstall the entire setup and make it look as it was NEVER THERE, if you take it to the dealer.

 

As others have noted, Toyota is unlikely to deny an unrelated warranty claim merely because the car has been modified. As the Warranty & Maintenance Guide (PDF) states, however, damage or malfunctions caused by an alteration, or by the installation or use of an aftermarket part, wouldn’t be covered.

Remember that the SRS Driver Knee Airbag (Lower No. 1 Instrument Panel Airbag Assembly) is nearby. As far as I know, Toyota doesn’t publish detailed information about the airbag deployment interference zones (keep-out areas). The Owner’s Manual (PDF) has a diagram on page 36 that shows general locations, but the actual deployment volumes may be different. Page 42 warns, “Do not attach anything to or lean anything against areas such as the dashboard, steering wheel pad and lower portion of the instrument panel.”

Consider, also, the potential for injuries, during a collision, from contact between the driver’s body and anything you install, not only the USB socket itself but also any connected devices or cables.

For the installation itself, see the Repair Manual (more info) for important precautions against personal injury and property damage while working on or near the airbags and other supplemental restraint system (SRS) parts. At the very least, disconnect the negative (–) terminal of the auxiliary (12 volt) battery and wait at least 90 seconds before starting any work.

As an alternative, if you just want more USB charging ports and wouldn’t mind if they are in the center console, you might consider instead the Dual USB Power Port accessory sold by Southeast Toyota Distributors, their part number 00016-00222, previously discussed. I’m not sure if this still applies officially only to the liftback Prius, but many of the relevant parts are common with the Prius Prime.

 

Look up the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act if you believe the modification you are doing will void your warranty. Basically, similar to what the other post said, they will have to prove that the mod you did, caused the issue. People add fuses and tap lines all the time without issues. Including adding USB charging ports.

 

There is nothing in that Act that would determine if your modifications would void the warranty. The warranty terms provided by Toyota are the applicable agreement:

" You should also be aware that Toyota may deny you warranty coverage if your vehicle or a part has failed due to abuse, neglect, improper maintenance or unapproved modifications."

"WHAT IS NOT COVERED

This warranty does not cover damage or failures resulting directly or indirectly from any of the following:

• Fire, accidents or theft
• Abuse or negligence
• Misuse — for example, racing or overloading
• Improper repairs
• Alteration or tampering, including installation of non-Genuine Toyota Accessories
• Lack of or improper maintenance, including use of fluids and fuel other than those specified in the Owner’s Manual
• Installation of non-Genuine Toyota Parts
• Airborne chemicals, tree sap, road debris (including stone chips), rail dust, salt, hail, floods, wind storms, lightning and other environmental conditions
• Water contamination"​

 

What the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act does is place the burden of proof on the manufacturers to prove you caused the failure, not your burden to defend your work. To invalidate your warranty THEY need to PROVE you were at fault, you are assumed innocent.

 

Which section of the legislation specifies this? I was unable to find it.

 

Check out this link Auto Warranties & Routine Maintenance | Consumer Information has some pretty good info.

There is a section on that link called 'Will using 'aftermarket' or recycled parts void my warranty?'

 

That does not address modifications to the vehicle.

 

What is your definition of modification? Are you discussing the cutting of the hole? or using the aftermarket part? Tapping into a fuse, all of the above?

In that link it states: "Simply using an aftermarket or recycled part does not void your warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket or recycled part."

So, to understand where you are coming from, which definition of 'modifications' are you referring to?

Its not like he is installing a turbo - tho Ive seen a lot of threads of people asking if it can be done! LOL

 

That’s not for me to decide. The warranty is between the car owner and Toyota. The point is that modifications to the vehicle are excluded by the warranty terms and not protected by the Magnuson Moss act.

I doubt this modification would cause a problem, but I am not the provider of the warranty.

 

How about :
15 U.S. Code § 2304 (c) Waiver of standards ?:

"(c) Waiver of standards

The performance of the duties under subsection (a) shall not be required of the warrantor if he can show that the defect, malfunction, or failure of any warranted consumer product to conform with a written warranty, was caused by damage (not resulting from defect or malfunction) while in the possession of the consumer, or unreasonable use (including failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance)."

Modifications can be declared to be damage, so are excluded, but that alone doesn't nullify the warranty coverage of the rest of the vehicle.