Possible Warranty Voiding

when a warranty issue is under question, the tech is the one who usually makes the call. if it's iffy, the service mgr gets involved. obviously noone wants to get on the boss's bad side...

DH discussed the EV switch with his regional rep when he came by, before he installed the switch on our car... was told it really shouldn't be a problem. he thought it was cool, actually.

the link to the toyota website is referring to plug-in mods, and does not specifically state that addition of the EV switch voids warranty.

then we have the magnuson-moss act on our side. the oem switch is made by toyota. end of story.

 

galaxee,

I was thinking the same way (about how the fact that the OEM EV switch is made by Toyota would relate to the Magnuson-Moss Act).

So.....what kind of cookies would DH like? And did he hire that secretary yet? As far as the office supplies....I work inpatient psych, so would leather restraints qualify for the "office supplies" part of the deal?

 

the EV mod is allowed to use the battery only within the prescribed limits (40-80% of capacity) that Toyota has allowed it to be used within. They programmed that into the computer. If you decompiled the code to change those limits that would be an entirely different situation. But to use what they provide to all other jurisdictions but not others, it's like saying no one can go to the bar at lunch but Gerry.

 

The bottom line is that the Magnuson-Moss Act puts the burden of proof on the dealer and Toyota.

 

I would love to have an EV switch.

However, personally, I feel that it carries too much risk. The hybrid system warrenty is pretty good, IMO, and I think that Toyota could easily claim that I voided the warrenty by installing it.

It really doesn't matter ONE BIT what Toyota offers in other countries/regions. The warrenty that they offer in the United States has probably been written in a very specific manner to comply with US laws, taking into account the model of car that is offered in the US.

Yes, fine, you can go to court. You can get the Japanese engineer to fly over from Osaka and testify on your behalf. Yes, sure, you might win... all so that you can have EV mode.

Doesn't seem worth it to me, personally, but I am incredibly risk-averse.

 

Yes, remember, people do not want a plug-in hybrid, well least according to what I read somewhere else on Priuschat.com that was quoteing some Toyota official.

I told my dealer that they should offer Lion batteries, plug in, maybe even a way to power your house during power outages. So sad that it seems the closest vehicle to being able to do all of that is the GM Hybrid Pickup.

 

"I told my dealer that they should offer Lion batteries, plug in, maybe even a way to power your house during power outages. So sad that it seems the closest vehicle to being able to do all of that is the GM Hybrid Pickup. "

Sure, if you are willing to throw out the fundamental Prius features of high mileage and lower emissions.

 

A switch that allowed the car to operate in electric mode only is a far cry from a switch that allows the car to do what the car was designed to do! The EV switch does one thing only: it tells the computer, "Please Mr. Computer-san, sir, I would like to operate in electric mode if you would be so kind as to allow it." *Bows in respect to computer, hands clasped together and eyes respectfully on the ground*.

The EV switch does not modify anything, nor does it force the car to operate in a way it would not otherwise do. It puts a pin in a socket already provided, and grounds that pin when pressed, exactly as the car was designed for.

The ONLY argument above, against the EV switch, that makes the slightest bit of sense, is the argument that perhaps Toyota priced the car lower in N.A., anticipating fewer repairs to the hybrid system due to there being no EV switch. But personally I find that argument extremely weak, because the hybrid system is so incredibly reliable that to my knowledge the only failures there have ever been in 6 or 7 years of Prius history, have been computer failures, which happen (rarely) regardless of whether there is an EV switch or not.

And the only two reasons for not putting the EV switch in your car are: 1. that you simply don't want one (an excellent reason); or, 2. that the vague fear over the warranty bruhaha would cause you to lose sleep.

The statement on the Toyota web site does not refer to the EV switch. What part of "and" do you folks not understand?

As far as one single tech putting a "void warranty" in your file and thereby preventing any other dealership from making a different decision, that's just ludicrous. That kind of blanket decision would have to be made at the national level. And, a few anal-retentive service managers aside, I don't believe Toyota cares if a few techno-geeks install EV switches.

 

I really don't know where people keep getting this bunkum argument
that an EV switch "abuses" the battery. The lower limit, at which
EV cancels itself, is the SAME lower limit you can hit if you
drive in just the right way, or in fact simply leave the car sitting
there powered up long enough. Two pink bars, and the system
self-corrects from there. An EV switch doesn't muck with any of
those limits, it just makes your path between them slightly
different. And very likely, LESS efficient for most purposes.
.
_H*

 

Thanks Hobbit!

What we need here folks, is a dead-horse-beating icon.

A Toyota dealer can say all they want, but they're still bound by the same federal laws that protect all US consumers. There is NOTHING you can do to your car that will void the warranty if what you do can't be proved to have caused the failure. That burden of proof is put on the car maker.

And as far as "stressing the battery" - my main car doesn't have ANY safeguards on the battery - no way to charge it while under way - and I drain it all the way to NOTHING. Still going strong.

 

Huh, that's a really good point. I had forgotten about the laws that restrict car makers from being especially piggish when it comes to warrenties. Otherwise, they could say that unless you've always had your oil changed at the dealer, your warrenty is void, because you might have "screwed something up".

Hmmm. Maybe you've convinced me (I really would like an EV switch!)

 

My 04#6 the ICE starts at 20-25 mph but my 06#8 the ICE starts at 10-15 mph. Has anyone notice the difference besides me? I would like the battery to run the car for a longer period to get better MPG. I am thinking of adding the EV to keep the ICE off longer but Coastal has not supported the 06 EV switch yet. I have the electrical manuals and it looks like the pins are different in the computers and all I need to do is wire the EV switch to a different pin and send the other side of the switch to ground. That's my next project.

 

some of you dont post your location but if you are concerned about it, Mike (ifixem) is the Prius Pro locally and he will install the switch for you. he has done it on a few Priuschatters cars and if there was any question about the warantee, i seriously doubt that he would have done it.

gotta remember, the EV switch doesnt change anything. you can not force it to run beyond its preset parameters.

 

I am thinking of adding the EV to keep the ICE off longer but Coastal has not supported the 06 EV switch yet. I have the electrical manuals and it looks like the pins are different in the computers and all I need to do is wire the EV switch to a different pin and send the other side of the switch to ground. That's my next project.


Coastal's EV mod works on the 06... same pins as previous models.

Rick S

 

I'm just the second rung from the bottom of toyota's corporate ladder, but in my 15 years of working for this dealer, I have seen the roadmap for toyota's global expansion and it is simply this.....your problem, our problem, nobody's fault, just fix the car. Perception is everything. They would not risk the bad press and blogs to stand thier ground on not replacing an hv batt even if the ev caused it!!! Think I'm kidding? A few examples: VO6 ssc Head gaskets began to fail at 60 or 70k on v6 trucks. Well out of the 3/36 at the time but toyota initiated a voulantary recall (feds cant mandate a recall on head gaskets)no mileage limit, we replace them, if they were already done, we reimburse you for the past repair, and do it again for free. You get a rental car and if the pistons or rods were damaged, you get a new engine. repair cost $1800 per unit, 6500 if it needs an engine.
Toyota truck loyalty is something other manufacturers only dream of, and our sales are thru the roof. It is the long view toyota takes that makes them great. Sienna and camry v6 engine sludge issue......never a single engine torn down with a problem where the customer could supply lof recipts at 5k interval. Most were more like 10-20k intervals because some soccer mom cant be bothered with getting an oil change twice a year. We stuck long blocks in at a unit cost of $6000 each, but a sienna thet belches blue smoke from a stop light is bad advertising. Long view. They don't want to sell you a car, they want to sell your familly cars for generations to come.
Don't fear the EV.........
Regards, Mike

 

I agree......
Toyota stands behind and will not give you the merry-go-round crap that other loser car companies do.

My personal experience......
In 1997 I received a head gasket recall notice on my 1990 toyota 4x4 Pickup with 120k on it.........no problem.....Toyota took care of it!

 

i have to agree with the family thing. my family has purchased a small fleet

 

When I was signing the papers, the finaince idiot told me that if I got the oil changed anywhere other than by Toyota, it would void the vehicle warranty. I actually laughed out loud. These bozos will tell you anything.

Fact is there is a federal law that keeps them from doing just that, and it's up to them to prove that any mod caused the failure.

 

I'm looking forward to the day these warranty scares are laid to rest. <_<

 

In most cases Toyota does do its best for Customer Service.

But did anyone remember the whole oil sludge problem back in 2002-2003? Both Lexus and Toyota v6 were blamed to be customers' fault. That is even though customers had proper document that they changed oil regularly.

After a year of bad Press and Internet bad mouthing about Customer run around to avoid replacing Engine. Toyota (without admitting fault) decided to extend engine warranty to 7yr/100k. The customers that paid to replaced the engine, they got royally screwed without reimbersment.

So buyer beware. Toyota has a history of playing warranty games too. Just that they are not as bad as others.