Forum Newbie, Pls Help - Chaning Odometer fm KM to Miles

Odd as the US version has a button right next to the mileage reset/a-b-c choice that changes miles to km.
So if the Canada version is missing that button I bet the harness is still there looking for a closure.

 

I think that button just changes the speedometer not the odo. I didn't know this was a requirement. The quoted price looks like they want to change the combo meter... maybe you could get one at a salvage yard?

 

Yes your right...sorry.

Just curious does the canadian version have the speedometer button for km to ml also. And if so does it just change the speedo and leave the mileage in km?

 

It does have the KPH/MPH speedometer switch, but it only switches the speedometer. The MFD stays in litres/100km and the odometer stays in kph.

As for the OP, dont import it just yet if you dont have to. Just bring your US drivers license and US plates. You have a grace period for a few months once you come over. In reality if you ever get pulled over for it, just say you are visiting and give your old US address. No issues. You could tell the truth and usually the local cops wont care and just remind you that you have to get it done, but it is within their authority to force you to do it.

Are you aware that there cannot be any loans or outstanding debt on the vehicle if you are planning to import it? Meaning you must own the car with no liens.

Also when you do go to actually import it, I think you need to cross the border again because the US has to release it for import into Canada first. You need to fax them your recall letter a few days ahead of time as well. Bring lots of money, since you will be paying GST and lots of other fees and taxes. A couple hundred for the RIV fee, another hundred since the car has AC, another few hundred since it was not assembled in North America, and potentially more.

The MFD shouldnt need to be changed to litres/100km but the odometer does need to be changed. My suggestion would be to just drive it in and not as an import. You are visiting a friend, not getting a job. Dont bring up the job word, you will be screwed at customs. Then once you are there you can spend your sweet time looking at junkers and find a used instrument cluster and maybe MFD.

If you do the process by the book, you will have 45 days from the time they mail you Form2 (they give your Form1 at the border) to fix everything. If you fail, then you get 45 more days I think. If you fail after that, the car must be exported back to the US and you get no fees or taxes at all returned. You may then try and reimport it, but all fees and taxes have to be repayed and you are basically starting over.

Also you can get some of the stuff needed like the child restraint straps and DRL conversion kits at Crappy Tire (Canadian Tire) for pretty cheap, like < $5CDN.

Good Luck. It is usually not worth the headache to import, just sell in the states, and buy in Canada. But this brings up another point, you will have no credit. US credit does not transfer to Canada (and visa versa either). So no loans, no credit cards. You will have to start over with a Savings account and build. US banks will not lend on a non-US car, and you cannot import a car with a US-debt. So if you do buy over there, make sure you have savings, but you will have no credit to borrow against.

 

Re: Forum Newbie, Pls Help - Changing Odometer fm KM to Miles

Yes, your best bet is to get rid of the car in Canada.

You will find that it is not easy to import a vehicle into the US, unless the car has decals that indicate compliance with US EPA and US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards regs.

 

Let me get this straight. The US requires you to change the odometer to miles? Perhaps the onus on that should be put on Toyota.

But to answer your original question, I don't think you can "hack" the system. A European member says he did, but that may be due to it having different firmware. You can get into the service menu and in there you can see the country code. Some who have tried were unable to change it. The story was if you held the button for a long time it -would- change, but I haven't heard of anyone successfully doing it.

The bottom line will be that US Prius are a lot less expensive than Canadian Prius. So you may be able to come out even or perhaps a little ahead if you sell yours in Canada and buy a used one in the US.

If you bring a US Prius back to Canada you don't have to change the odometer, you just have to afix a sticker indicating it is in miles not km. So if/when you return you can bring your car back.

 

Unfortunately it's pretty bad timing. Perhaps someone will want a Christmas present. Vehicles sell well in the Spring, not so well in winter.