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What's this little black box?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Max Camacho, Oct 8, 2016.

  1. Max Camacho

    Max Camacho Junior Member

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    Does anyone know what this little black box is? I want to see if i can tap the wires to install a dashcam and a radar detector but I need to know what it's wired up to and see if it can handle the load. I can't find it on TIS, but I'm sure once I find the name of it I should be fine.
     

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  2. JennieB

    JennieB New Member

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    I think it's the windshield wiper sensor. (I could be wrong.)
     
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If you're signed into TIS, you ought to be able to find it in the Electrical Wiring Diagram viewer, if you start in the location and routing section. You'll see little drawings of the cabin, with letter-numbered callouts pointing to things in different positions. If you click the right callout and hit the Info icon, you can be taken straight to the circuit that includes it, and find out what it's there for.

    One trick with those location drawings is they might be split into several pages, just because of the number of things needing to be called out. Each page shows the same drawing and all the same items, but only some of them are called out on each page; you just keep switching pages until you find a callout pointing to the thing you're wondering about.

    -Chap
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm pretty sure there's a thread here, someone wired up a dash cam getting power from those wires in the rear view mirror. Likely 3rd gen, but I'd suspect it's similar. I looked a bit, got couldn't find it, so fwiw.
     
  5. sttkailua

    sttkailua Active Member

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    max,

    I believe it houses the lane departure warning, where camera/sensor sees lane makings, and gives you a beep and pulls steering a little towards the opposite direction you car is drifting to.
    I have a 4 with this feature. Not sure if your car has this.
    It even beeps/pulls steering back if I change lanes without signaling.

    Read you manual if yours has this feature.
    Be aware that touch electrical things, may cause other problems, and void
    your warrantee.

    stt
     
  6. Jorge L

    Jorge L Junior Member

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    That's the rain sensor.
     
  7. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    There is no rain sensor on his Two model. I asked that same question a few months ago. My Three has the box.
     
  8. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    sensor for the blinker fluid level?
    you never want to run out of blinker fluid.
     
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  9. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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  10. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I think somebody told me that black box up there by the mirror, has something to do with the climate control/humidity.

    I don't have the Advanced Tech Package, or rain sensors, etc. Maybe it's just an empty box?
     
  11. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Just a shot in the dark, but could it be the camera for pedestrian detection?????
     
  12. sttkailua

    sttkailua Active Member

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    For cars so equipped.

    stt
     

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  13. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Thanks stt
     
  14. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    The OP has a Two model,which I believe doesn't have any advanced tech features.
     
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  15. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    You could disconnect it and see what happens.
     
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  16. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Great idea, Oddjob. :D

    Mine in a skinny box, about 4 inches long? People with the ATP have a bigger/wider box up there, I think.
    As long as I keep getting 64 mpg, I don't care what it is!! :ROFLMAO: (But it might be nice to have a factory-installed dash cam up there. Toyota should offer it.)
     
  17. Max Camacho

    Max Camacho Junior Member

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    Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention that it's a Prius 2 eco. I was thinking it could also be the GPS tracking device, since I have an app for that as well and it seems to be the perfect place for it.
     
  18. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Your photo shows 2 wires coming out - was there a cover over the wires - it doesn't look like a factory installed item.
     
  19. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    You know, Toyota does tend to stamp a part number nnnnn-nnnnn on pretty much every odd little electronic part. If you dismount the little thing and look closely you may well find the number, which you can then often google.

    -Chap
     
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  20. Ogo

    Ogo Prius Owner since 2008

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    It's a humidity sensor used by A/C unit.
     
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