EV SWITCH

Bobkat -

First, can I ask that you turn off the caps for future posts! It is the equivalent of shouting, and is difficult to read.

I've just recently installed the EV mod on my Prius (I did it before I owned it for three hours). I wouldn't be without it, as that's the main reason I chose this car to buy. My main vehicle is a pure battery electric, so I'm not the guy to ask about using the battery. As far as I'm concerned, the Prius doesn't use the battery enough as it is! I have heard of NOBODY having any sort of battery problems because of this. This feature is installed at the factory for everybody outside of North America. The car takes car of itself.

How you implement it is entirely up to you. There is no "best" way. Good luck.

 

Very true, and some things are up to the individual driver. One may experience an increase in mileage, while another experiences a decrease. Some use it all the time and some consider it a toy. It's like driving the Prius, there's a learning curve.

My switch is on its way so I'll be learning too.

 

I just spoke with the dealer where I purchased my car they said if anyone modified the electrical sys or a mechanical mod other than say a k&n air filter it will void the manufacturers warr.

If you had to take it in for service, and they find a modification you could find yourself paying for the repair... "Just a heads up"

 

Hi BobKat. Lots of resources here on EV mods. Here's one where its worth was explored. http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=14863&hl=

 

This has been discused on here MANY times, and the concensus is, as held up in the courts, its up to the dealer to PROVE your modification did the damage that you are putting the warranty claim in for. Your dealer can BS you all he wants, but most dealers seem to be reasonable when it comes to mods. Of course, that being said, if I suspected my HV battery was bad, I would probably remove my EV wire before taking it to the dealer.
Now, on the other hand, although I have installed a K&N filter on EVERY car I've owned in the past 20 years, it IS possible to have a warranty claim disallowed because of the K&N if the oil from the filter fouled the MAF air sensor (if the Prius even has one). There's alot of well-documented reports on the web of people whose MAF had to be replaced because of over-oiling, FYI.

 

In the U.S., the car manufacturer has to provide evidence that the unauthorized mod was the direct cause of the specific problem before they can legally charge for service that would otherwise be covered under warranty.

 

And to complicate matters, there are techs that either don't know what an EV switch is, don't care what an EV switch is, would like more information about the EV switch or install the EV switch.

I suppose IF the battery went bad early and IF the tech knew about the EV switch and IF the dealer wanted to make a case of it, there could be trouble. As it is unless you have the OEM switch (and the tech knew what that was) it's pretty hidden.

 

Why would the dealer care? Don't they just submit the claim?

 

Thank you! I get SOOOO tired of hearing this. Making a modification to your car CAN NOT void your warranty. The change has to be proved to be at fault. If anybody is really interested, you can even read the law (Magnuson-Moss Act) instead of listening to the dealer squids. Then we can maybe stop keeping this myth of voided warranties alive!

 

and for the record, the Prius does indeed have a MAF sensor. And
an IAT sensor tucked right in next to it in the throttle body.
But no MAP sensor.
.
_H*

 

'obbit, can you explain the acronyms, if you please?

 

I browsed around about the Magnuson-Moss Act, but there is aweful lot written...

if anybody finds the part that specifically speaks about modifications not voiding warranties... copy the site address and maybe even the specific phrase and lets make it clear.

 

There's a tremedous amout written if you want to do a search on the EV switch. Its great and its already built into the computer and system, all the EV does is access what every other prius user in the rest of the world already does.

Its one mod thats not tinkering and altering with the existing system, its merely accessing what you already have.
Kaboodles of people already use it, although I've seen a few admit they don't use it much,
I've never seen a post yet of someone who regretted it or even wanted to take it back out after installing, or ever got burn't by a dealer giving them a hard time about it.

Its simply an unfounded concern based on all I've read.. and I've read a fair amount.

 

I was able to install the Coastal chip on my lunch hour - I tend to engage it while looking for parking, and in my level industrial park. I do lots of highway driving with short back-road jaunts at either end, and the EV switch lets me draw on that full battery just a bit more.

(I have an extra new Coastal chip, which I would sell at their advertised price and throw in free shipping - long story but I ended up buying two due to miscommunication and didn't want to hassle them and send it back - they make good products, and I am greatful for their add-ons!)

 

MAF -- mass air flow, grams/sec or pounds/minute or ...
IAT -- intake air temperature
MAP -- manifold absolute pressure, aka "vacuum" but usually measured
from zero as opposed to 14.whateveritis atmospheric
TLA -- three letter acronyms
M-O-U-S-E -- vacuum applied to your wallet
.
_H*

 

:lol: And thanks!

One that I liked was the Exhaust Gas Oxygen sensor, aka EGO sensor. Right, a device to search for egos.

 

Here's what made me decide to go ahead with the mod. Since the only way to know about the EV switch mod is from the Prius forums, and I have never seen a forum post about a rejected warranty claim based on the mod, I assume no dealer has ever voided a warranty claim based on the mod. I find it hard to believe that if a claim were denied, that the person involved would not have made a statement about it on the forums.

 

Thankee. That clears up the mystery.