I successfully installed my EV button today that I bought from Sigma Automotive. The install went very smoothly with only a few very minor setbacks, in terms of time.
First, I had a little trouble getting the H14 plug out. It took me awhile to get out and seemed to kind of be stuck in there… however with persistence it was out and ready to be hooked up.
Second, Getting the dash on the drivers side apart. You have to be very forceful yet deliberate in getting the driver’s side vent off as well as the dash to come apart. I had particular trouble on the dash right by the steering will. The panel didn’t want to unsnap, but after applied pressure pushing in on the upper panel and pressure pulling out on the lower panel it seperated, you must pull pretty hard to get it to come apart.
Lastly, with routing the long wire across the cars dash it is best to thread the coat hanger, I found, low and right inside the panel once you take apart the glove box. This gave me the most success. When I tried sliding through a little higher and back further the wire was far out of reach by the time it reached the driver’s side.
These are the main particulars when doing the EV button install and actually it is a very simple install. I have no prior electrical work experience and was able to do it all… taps, disassembly/assembly, and soldering a connector onto a long wire for the HV ECU pin.
For the long wire you must find on your own. I simply had some extra ethernet cable. I stripped the cable and unwound one small cable from the ethernet bundle, roughly 5-6 feet (I trimmed some during the install, better too much than too little). I then stripped a quarter of an inch of one end and crimped and soldered a pin connector from the flasher plug. I had absolutely no trouble inserting the pin from the flasher plug into the HV ECU plug, it fit perfectly and snug.
As far as the wiring goes I tapped all the wires. The Sigma kit comes with the EV button, wire harness, and 4 red/white wires. From there I tapped pin 1 to the white/black dimmer wire (ground), pin 2 to the gray dimmer wire, pin 3 to the red dimmer wire, and pin 4 to my long ethernet wire I made. The job was as simple as that.
The EV button fits into the middle slot, or just to the left of the dimmer switch. If you apply a small amount of pressure from the inside the cover to the middle slot will pop right out. I will upload a picture of the finished result a little bit later. Sorry I couldn’t take pictures during the install. However, with the instruction already posted in Priuschat.com you should have no problem doing this install yourself.
Also, the button does light up and glows green when you have your headlights on. However, it does not light up when it is on and darkens when it is off.
If you have any questions about the install please drop me a line, I will be more than happy to help you. And as of course my install was on a 2007 prius so if your prius is older I’m not sure if any of the wiring is different.
7 Comments
July 24, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Can you explain what this EV Button is for? I followed your instructions to disable those annoying beeps; now I am real curious about your EV button.
July 24, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Hi, The EV button forces the car into “Electric Vehicle Mode” or in other words, it shuts off the gas engine and the car runs on the battery pack only. If you look in your Prius you’ll see an empty square or two next to your dimmer switch for the instrument lights where the EV button is supposed to be installed. I ordered my button through SigmaAutomotive.com and they get the button from the Toyota factory in Japan.
October 5, 2007 at 6:27 am
Kurt,
I am considering the EV mod from Sigma but have a few questions would mind emailing me.
June 24, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Great blog, even if I’m late to find it. I have a new 2008 package 2. I get 51-52 regularly. I have read many blogs on the EV switch, many folks saying it does little, and many say they don’t use it much after the novelty wore off. The dealer said because of the USA’s and especially Cailf.’s insistence of a much longer warranty, the EV switch was removed because it taxes the batteries too much. Toyota feared replacing too many battery packs under warranty thus they removed it. Does the install of this switch void your warranty? In Calif. my drivetrain warranty is 150,000 miles/15 yrs!
May 30, 2009 at 5:48 am
In all honesty I do not know if it would affect the warranty or not. My logic would tell me no. This simply by the fact that the “software” for this mod is already built into the car. The modification is simply just installing a button that they left out of the North American model. As far as the usefulness of the button, it is very little. The car itself has a very limited battery supply (roughly 0.5 – 1 mile range on battery only). I simply did the modification because I like the looks of it. =) It also makes me feel like my prius is a little more “complete” and not inferior to the foreign versions, haha.
August 27, 2008 at 1:45 am
The EV mod from coastaletech doesn’t use the wire and switch. You enable or disable the EV feature by pulling on the cruise control stalk for three seconds. My hands never leave the wheel.
Still requires pulling a plug apart over on the far right side, and pulling off the glovebox and vent cover on the right.
I might get one of the switches you mentioned just to control something else . . .
May 30, 2009 at 5:51 am
Yeah, I’ve heard good things about the capability of Coastaltech’s EV mod. I think it is a good route for those of you who may want to keep your modification “hidden” in reference to any warranty issues. I personally wanted the vanity of having my glowing EV button. It has been almost 2 years now since the install (wow) and haven’t had any problems what-so-ever. I also RARELY use the button, like I said I enjoy it more as an upgrade in looks rather than function.