How to access the DCM

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by soft_r, May 31, 2025.

  1. soft_r

    soft_r Active Member

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    2024 Prius
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    You need the center console out. Which means you need the trim piece above it out first. You will then be able to see the underside of the DCM and the wires in the rear of it will be accessible.

    To work with the wire harnesses plugged into the DCM:
    • You need the glove box out for visibility.
    • The passenger inner kick panel should also come out because it's a great area to have a flash light pointing directly up and lighting up the work area.
    And that's it. Using a pick tool (google "curved pick tool mechanic" without the quotes) you can stick your head in through the glove box opening to see the back of the DCM while your hand comes in through the center console area with the tool to unplug whatever wire harnesses you desire.

    If you decide to do anything with the wire harnesses make sure to secure them tightly so you do not introduce any rattles to your dash area. You can put some felt tape around that area and zip tie the floating harnesses to the main wire run.
    0df3bd719d674d89ce26491b9709f8b79c952b40-1.jpg 95f86f0f293b8d3a078eb979e2534f7961b181a3-1.jpg
     
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  2. mva

    mva Member

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    I like the looks of your seat covers! What are they? Are you happy with them?
     
  3. soft_r

    soft_r Active Member

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    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius
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    Amazon item B0BPSB41CW. Coverado seat covers purchased about a year and a half ago.

    They're holding up alright. I think I've seen a small stitch come loose somewhere but overall they're holding. I also used a seam ripper to remove the emblems on the seat back covers. No logos for me.

    My car does not have power seats so I have the manual adjust handles. Those seem to interfere with the fit slightly. But again, overall they work well. They're just not great. I'm sure other covers have better fitment for my seat bottoms.
     
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  4. soft_r

    soft_r Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    A note for a side effect of unplugging the DCM: Wireless Android Auto will fail to pair automatically. The microphone, while it's not getting power, still registers a physical connection when the harness is plugged in. Likely through some resistance check. If the head unit can't find it, the head unit can't pair to your Android phone in PHONE MODE. It can pair in MEDIA MODE though. And from MEDIA MODE, you can then pair to Wireless Android Auto.

    If you try to manually pair in PHONE MODE with the microphone disconnected (because the harness is unplugged from the DCM) the head unit will scold you and tell you it can't because it can't find the microphone. And apparently Toyota did not think to do an if/then statement for this edge case. "If microphone not found, then pair in media mode to initiate android auto pairing". Instead it just fails over and over.

    This does not happen if you only pull the fuse for the DCM but leave the harness plugged in.

    You can make your own dongle to bridge it or you can pay for a DCM dongle.

    Does this happen for iphone/carplay? Don't know, don't care, didn't test.