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Aftermarket Accessories or Mods for 2008 Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Natalie Chappell, May 10, 2021.

  1. Natalie Chappell

    Natalie Chappell New Member

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    So I’m a owner to a 2008 Toyota Prius
    EVERYTHING IS FACTORY!!

    one of the first things for me is tint
    Can y’all throw some advice on other things I can do to make it look less factory.
     
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  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    --Take out the center console and replace it with an upholstered cushion or pillow. Looks way nicer/cleaner and more room for your legs and arms.

    --Install a lifters on the shocks so car sits 1 1/2" higher

    --Rear wiper delete

    --Replace corroded bus bars and nuts on hybrid battery and install grid charging harness like Maxx volts or Prolong by Hybrid Automotive

    --New Stereo

    --Low rolling resistance tires up above 40PSI for best gas mileage

    --See my mods below
     
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  3. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    Hey, that rear wiper is useful. If she wants massively custom, let her get a wrap. Do you think it wise to encourage a newbie to mess around with the traction battery??
     
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  4. Samuel Williams Jr

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    I don't get the rear wiper myself? But folks have been doing that forever? The bus bar and having a look could not hurt but yeah not the best advise for a newbie?

    My advise would be to have all the fluids, the pcv and the spark's plug's changed if they have no records? And to find a good Hybrid Shop. None of that would change how it looks but it may help keep it running. Then work on the rest. :)
     
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  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Altered the title to be more descriptive
     
  7. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Yes, very much so... The level of fear and misinformation and genuine apprehension to work on hybrid packs by even professional auto mechanics is ridiculous. It's a bunch of 8v battery modules wired up in series to create high voltage. Once the safety plug is removed it's no longer high voltage and very easy to work on / needs to be worked on to ensure its longevity.
     
  8. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    maybe, but some folks should be legally prevented from so much as touching a screwdriver... anyway she wants it to look different, i think maybe some nice wheels and some window tint is the place to start.
     
  9. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    I think you will find that even with the safety interlock removed there is still high voltage to be found inside the battery. The danger is only removed by removing the bus bars from at least one side of the pack.
     
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    High voltage linked with 8volt modules in series only requires a single bus bar to be removed to disarm the high voltage risk. And while it's always better to train people to be extra cautious when they're first learning, the whole reason they created the orange safety plug design is to make the pack safe to work on by disconnecting a single bus bar and yet most professional mechanics are still too scared to learn how.
     
  11. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    That is true that the circuit is broken. However, there is still exposure of up to 120 VDC on one side of the 'break' and a bit lower on the other. So, it is still not 'safe' until after removing all the bus bars from at least one side of the battery. When this is done it is safe as each module is a unit and the exposure is to only a nominal 7.2 VDC.
     
  12. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    This is what Zythryn did

    39976.jpg

    Nobody mistakes him/her for factory.