coastal tech mode

They're legit, but often unresponsive it seems. Folks around here seem to either love 'em or hate 'em. Many have had good success with useful products and timely delivery and response to inquiries. Others have similar experiences as you. Frankly, there've been too many reports like yours for me to do business with them. I don't want to make a purchase and then, given their spotty record, be dependent on trying to reach them for technical support or returns.

 

They have failed to respond to two e-mail attempts of mine also. I have a product sitting here that just doesn't want to work. I am a little nervous now also.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jag @ May 7 2007, 11:11 AM) [snapback]436968[/snapback]</div>

In answer to your question, Coastal's EV mod piggybacks onto the Cruise Control stalk. You patch on to a couple of wires and feed an additional wire into an open pin connection. When you pull the Cancel for a couple of seconds it will activate the EV mode (assuming the conditions are right). No other switch is needed. If you want the OEM version, yes, that includes a switch, but that's from a different company.

To give you a history of my dealings with them, I ordered the Auto-Lock kit and NAV enhancement kit (pre-Lockpick) in April '05. I received the Auto-Lock in September '05 and the NAV kit in January '06. I ordered the EV mod in February '06 and it arrived a little over a week later.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ May 7 2007, 01:54 PM) [snapback]436990[/snapback]</div>

We need help! We have double checked all connections and we can't see what's wrong.

 

Welcome to the nightmare. You're not alone.
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http://www.calcars.org/prius-evbutton-install.pdf might help.
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_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jag @ May 8 2007, 06:56 AM) [snapback]437434[/snapback]</div>

The Cancel part of the CC stalk also turns it off, but the EV will drop out if you accelerate too much. I have a 2005 so I know I'm in EV when the screen changes to Energy. It'll do the same on your Prius, but you have the addition of a display saying "Unable to enter EV Mode" (or something like that) if it can't.

Really all that's necessary to enter EV (assuming conditions are right) is to do a short to ground on a certain pin. Coastal's does it when the Cancel is held over 2 seconds and is probably the easiest to install. The OEM installation comes with a sbutton. Some have unplugged the "Flash to Pass" on the headlight stalk and ran (after extending the wire) to the pin. You do lose the "Flash to Pass" function when you do that. And still others just bought their own button and put it anywhere.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jag @ May 8 2007, 06:56 AM) [snapback]437434[/snapback]</div>

Costal Tech's EV switch is just the little thingy you see in their picture. You have to open up part of the dashboard and get into an extremely restricted area, clamp onto two wires, and insert a pin in a hole. No cutting or soldering.

The c/c stalk both activates and de-activates EV mode. There is no indication other than the behavior of the car, and the fact that if you are NOT looking at the Energy screen, going into EV mode will switch the MFD to the Energy screen with a beep.

There is another way to implement an EV switch, described in detail by Evan in the Knowledge Base here on Prius Chat. It involves putting a pin in the hole mentioned above, and running a wire to any momentary-ground switch you care to purchase, and grounding the other side of the switch. If you buy a cheap switch, rather than the expensive OEM switch, you can do it for pennies. But installing a physical switch is a lot more work than the Coastal Tech version.

You can also use the headlight flasher as the switch, but that affects the operation of the headlights.

I have the Coastal Tech switch and I think it is the best implementation, as it puts the switch right at your fingertip where you can operate it without taking your hand off the wheel or your eyes off the road.

 

P.S. I forgot to mention that if you try to go into EV mode and the computer decides not to permit it, it will sound three quick beeps. So, although you do not have a positive indication of being in EV mode, you do have a positive indication of the EV DENY condition.