Install dash light to show when ICE is on / off ?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by cDxA, Feb 2, 2026 at 2:54 PM.

  1. cDxA

    cDxA Junior Member

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    Imagine an LED that comes on when the ICE does.
    Install it in front of you on the dash.
    Just bright enough to not be distracting.

    Why not just look at the screen ?
    Well, because I like to focus on driving instead of the screen.
    My screen is also all clouded up and cracking inside.

    How hard would it be to find the wire going to the ICE that is powered on and off and splice into that with a low wattage LED ?

    Could that brick the car ? Also, as with everything, it's never that easy.
     
    #1 cDxA, Feb 2, 2026 at 2:54 PM
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    well, that depends on whether there is such a wire
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Feb 2, 2026 at 3:10 PM
  3. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    #3 Brian1954, Feb 2, 2026 at 3:17 PM
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Monitoring your engine RPMs via an OBD2 reader and an app on your phone will give you lots more info about your engine running or not then a light will.
     
    #4 PriusCamper, Feb 2, 2026 at 3:54 PM
  5. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Imagine an ODBII-port tachometer.





    As mentioned by a previous member, most of these devices supply plenty of other datapoints too.
     
    #5 fuzzy1, Feb 2, 2026 at 4:28 PM
  6. cDxA

    cDxA Junior Member

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    Thanks.
    I know these supply lots of useful data, but what I am needing is a way to look straight ahead at the road and know if the car is in ICE or not simply by seeing a light in my pereferal vision.
     
    #6 cDxA, Feb 2, 2026 at 6:36 PM
  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Why?

    What benefit do you perceive you will get from having this information?
     
    #7 dolj, Feb 2, 2026 at 8:17 PM
    Brian1954 likes this.
  8. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Many apps like "Car Scanner ELM" have a heads up display setting so your phone will reflect the screen on your windshield so you can look straight ahead at the road while keeping your RPM at 3500, which is the most efficient RPM to use when climbing mountains and doing freeway driving.
     
    #8 PriusCamper, Feb 2, 2026 at 8:23 PM
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