Dr Frankenstein (modifying Prime systems)

Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by mitcheli, Sep 24, 2020.

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  1. mitcheli

    mitcheli Junior Member

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    It's Frunk-in-steen!!!!

    So, I was thinking the other day, while I was sitting, waiting for my car to charge, that it seemed a bit of a bummer that the Prime can only use about 2/3's of the amount of power that a level 2 charger puts off. Caps off at about 4.0kwh. Level 2 chargers go up to 6.6khw. If the Prime could go up to that level, then the full charge time would be about an hour and a half. Much nicer... So I am curious, has anyone swapped out the inverter that is located under the rear seat with a 6.6kwh capable one so that the charge could go faster? I noticed that the new 2021 Rav4 Prime's are going to come equipped with such equipment.

    My next question falls on the entertainment center. I find it particularly interesting that the firmware update for the 11.6 screens for the 2017 - 2020 models was the same file. The 2020 models have CarPlay. The 2018 does not. If the code is the same, then what differentiates the availability of CarPlay? Is the head unit different? I did notice that in the Op Codes there is one that defines the year and make of the car. My thought process here is that if you simply swap the head unit for one in the 2020 line, you might be able to get CarPlay working. But my fear is that dropping 5K+ on a head unit might be a moot point if the head unit is reading the make and model from the ECU. Has anyone managed to Frankenstein this to know? $5K is a lot cheaper than $15k trade in loss. ;)

    Warrantee folks be warned, pretty sure none of the above considerations are covered.
     
    #1 mitcheli, Sep 24, 2020
  2. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    I doubt it; besides the differences I mentioned before, I’d be very surprised if the software would work.

    By the way, the device under the rear seat—the electric vehicle charger assembly, to its friends—is a rectifier, not an inverter: it takes AC from the EVSE plugged into the car and makes DC to charge the HV battery.
    I haven’t looked at it closely, but I wouldn’t assume that the code on earlier and later head units is the same merely because the same update package can be used. Perhaps the CarPlay features are provided by software that the update doesn’t modify, or for which the update package includes versions with and without CarPlay, installed according to the software already in the head unit.
     
    #2 Elektroingenieur, Sep 25, 2020
    jerrymildred and Salamander_King like this.
  3. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I don't have answers to your two questions, but from my own experience, trading in my previous 2017 Prime Premium with no CarPlay to buy a brand new 2020 Prime LE with Carplay cost me $1,000 out of my pocket not $15,000 you speculated. But I don't use iPhone, so CarPlay is a moot point for me. I just wanted to get rid of the dysfunctional 11.6" display and Softex seats. Plus, I got new tires I needed to buy and 2 years of free maintenance, so $1000 out of my pocket is actually a wash. ;)

    BTW, Toyota will be introducing 2021 Prius Prime LE with Android Auto. AA is only available in LE model with 7" display not on higher XLE or Limited trims. I may trade in my 2020 LE to new 2021 for no money, if they offer the same level discount and fed credit is still available next year. I do use Android phone.

    You may wan to consult this thread on the topic of 6.6kwh charger upgrade on Prius Prime.
    Can 3.3kw charger be upgraded to 6.6kw on Prius Prime or RAV4 Prime? | PriusChat
     
    #3 Salamander_King, Sep 25, 2020
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2020
  4. mitcheli

    mitcheli Junior Member

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    Man, you must have a really nice dealer who took a 3 year older car for nearly the same price as a new one. That doesn’t work where I live.
     
    #4 mitcheli, Sep 25, 2020
  5. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Prius Prime sells ~10K off MSRP in our area. There are people who have made money by switching.
     
    #5 Salamander_King, Sep 25, 2020
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