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Is that correct?, because when I am coasting, it reads 99.9, never 100. I know this is a petty point, but I think it is pretty cool when it shows 100 MPG to a passenger.
The system Coastal sent me includes a new Toyota radio with all the factory-provided installation hardware and a cable that allows direct connection to the Display system via the AM channel. The system was designed to place the radio in the rear of the car, and with it came a CD with photos (not completely current) and a brief paper summarizing changes for the 2007 model Prius. That information allowed me to make short cuts that suited me better than the original installation instructions. I chose to use the simplest possible installation location at the front of the car, and I am posting my findings on this forum for others to use. Please forward to anyone you wish.
All told, it took me about an hour to complete this job, but if I were to do it again, I could probably do it in less than half that time. I used the following steps after reading and studying several renditions of how people installed their XM systems. If I had been provided a short (two foot) cable, this would have been even easier. Here is what I did and what I have learned:
1. Remove the lower center console/dash panel by first removing the plastic ribbed pin at the bottom right and gently prying the panel off, pulling straight out. Unhook the wires to the power outlet and set the lower dash panel aside. This provides access to the right center vent panel.
2. Remove the right center vent panel by pulling gently out at the bottom and lifting up (there are hooks at the top, so don’t pull outward). Set it aside.
3. Remove the lower glove box using this same method, opening the glove box and pulling the bottom straight out to loosen. Unhook the damping cylinder on the right end of the glove box and lift the box out. Set it aside.
4. Using a long Phillips-head screwdriver (the only tool I needed), remove the screw holding the white plastic computer wiring bundle in place and shift the wiring module as far right as it will go.
5. Locate the jack at the rear of the radio for the cable. (Note: the photos I was provided were of an older model radio and did not match my 2007 model. The XM jack is between the two existing cables, with all three on the right side of the radio, close to where I was already working).
6. Using the cable bundle provided with the XM kit, unwrap one loop of the cable from the foam end and two loops from the bare end of the bundle; use the end with foam for the main link to the back of the car radio. Re-tie the cable bundle, leaving about 12-15 inches on the bare end.
7. Plug in the foam end of the cable to the car radio by reaching in from the right end; this is easy from this location if the cable is bent at 90 degrees with the guide-latch facing downward. Tuck the remaining cable bundle behind the radio. There’s room to do that if existing cables are tucked toward the front of the radio and care is taken in pushing the bundle to the left.
8. Route the other end of the cable bundle under the computer wiring module and replace the computer wiring module, taking care to lock it into place using the pin in the lower body. Replace the Phillips-head screw and tighten.
9. From here, the user has some choices about where to place the radio. The older system routed the cable to the rear of the car. I chose to the XM unit as close to the main radio console as possible, using the lower glove box as my mounting place. This is how I did it:
10. Using a small knife or other cutting tool, notch the left-hand drain hole at the rear of the lower glove box. This is where the XM cable will enter for connection to the XM set.
11. Replace the lower glove box and route the XM cable up through the rear section of the glove box. Place some of the foam from the mounting kit on all sides of the XM set, then plug in the XM cable.
13. At this point the system is “live” and you can test it by plugging in the antenna and turning on your power (use the auxiliary power setting and test your system with the antenna plugged in from a temporary location).
14. Once you confirm that the system is operational, complete the installation by routing the antenna wire from a spot about 6” in from the right side of the dash, placed where you think it will work best. (I used the upper end of the dash where it meets the display light for the “Passenger Air Bag” warning).
15. Clean the area where you want to mount the antenna, remove the protective paper from the back of the small metal plate and glue it to the top right corner of the dash. Place the antenna on this plate and run the wire to the front of the windshield, tucking it into the front dash area using a small wooden or plastic wedge to push it into place. The foam pieces on the cable help retain it as it goes between the dash and the windshield, hiding it completely but making it possible to remove it easily if reception is a problem (I don’t know about that yet).
16. Route the antenna wire around the dash at the windshield, down under the right small window cover (you can pry it up enough to squeeze the cable in), then down between the front door frame and the dash, under the main dash and up into the right side drain hole at the rear of the glove box. Tie it off and plug it in to the XM set.
17. Re-set the glove box completely into its location, remembering to connect the damper on the right end, and the installation is complete.
This is NOT a tough job, but it is also not an approved location or a particularly professional method. It worked well for me because I wanted access to the XM set for testing, and I can move both the XM unit and the antenna if I decide it isn’t working well. The 2007 Prius has a very large lower glove box with two compartments. The rear compartment is just about perfect for holding the XM unit, so I chose to lodge it there without tying it down. Other locations behind the dash appeared much more difficult to use because of structural restrictions and wiring runs. So far this is working well for me.
If you have other suggestions or comments, I'd be very interested in hearing from you. As I noted, I am very satisfied with Coastal, their prompt delivery of a quality unit, including activation, etc. I love the car and am even more pleased with an integrated XM system that works as well as a factory-installed unit.
Happy New Year everyone!
Al Koller
So you can either swallow the fees, try to negotiate a lower selling price of the car to compensate, or buy out of state. BTW, my state (VA) is in the Central Atlantic region, and doesn't have these fees.
Fast-forward to this year: I test drove a Prius Touring Edition, and noticed the firmer, more responsive suspension. I ended up buying one, and, now, 1,700 miles later, I'm very happy with it. It exhibits none of the bad behavior of the standard model which I'd rented.
As I understand it, the Touring Edition suspension is the standard setup they use on all non-U.S. versions of the Prius.
Hope this helps.
Ed
First of all, let me state my qualifications for giving this advice:
1. Have been a hybrid owner since July 2004, first a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid and now a 2007 TCH owner. Also drive a Segway 8 miles per day of my commute.
And piece of info you need to know upfront is that almost NO ONE is getting 60 MPG City in a Prius. Very few people are, and they are extreme "hypermilers" who drive with the sole intent of milking EVERY OUNCE of gasoline for it's best performance. Only about 15-20 people in the USA who I know about can get 60+ MPG in a daily drive Prius.
Let me begin by saying that it's almost a guaranteed certainty that your mileage will improve over time.
This is because you will learn how to drive your Prius more efficiently and how to take full advantage of the great HSD technology in the car.
This is also because your car will "break-in" over the next few thousand miles and you will see a normal, "happens to every car" little MPG boost once the break-in period is complete.
The one question you need to ask yourself is:
"Am I willing to learn how to drive this Prius in the utmost fuel-efficient manner to get full benefit of the technology?"
If that anwser is YES, then you can surely achieve higher MPG numbers in the future and keep them there.
Search the web for a technique called "Pulse and Glide" and you will be able to learn a very handy and revolutionary technique which can milk 5-10 more MPG out of your Prius for every tank if executed perfectly.
If you have bad habits (like most drivers in America) and you GAS IT to the next red light then SLAM the car to a stop then repeat to the next light, you will never get acceptable mileage from your Prius. That's just an awful habit and far too many people have it.
You need to TRAIN YOURSELF to drive more efficiently by using the fuel consumption display (FCD) in your Prius to understand when and how your car is getting the best MPG.
Just by paying a LITTLE BIT of attention to the handling of the accelerator pedal, you can save gas.
Browse around to other hybrid websites and look for tips.
Your car will do fine. Congrats on the smart purchase !! :shades:
I love having the radio in the glove box; it's out of the way but accessible, and I was able to get to it and re-route the antenna wire without any further disassembly of anything. The aluminum plate that was stuck to the dash pealed off without leaving any glue residue, so this installation is now complete. The XM radio integrates directly into the display and provides 18 preset channels. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting an XM upgrade and think Coastal did a good job in providing everything needed.
Al Koller
Good Job Roy!! :shades:
The first time I tried to start my Prius, I made that mistake.
I was expecting to go as soon as I pushed the button, but you have to wait for the ready light to come on, otherwise you cannot select any of the "gears". It is a car that you have to get used to.... so far I love it
After a highway trip and a bit of regenerative braking that we discovered in the last few miles, our new prius averaged 34 for the first gas refill.
We are absolutely loving our new car
Secondly, check out your Touring model's grey alloy wheels. Toyota tends to cover up the grey alloys with, believe it or not, plastic wheel covers. Upon discovering this, I asked the dealer to take them off and provide center hubcaps. Both of ours look great.
Use compartment under rear carpet for storage. I hauled bags of lime and seed. The rear loading is just like my old SUV. In fact I can find nothing bad about this car. It is great.
Let me know if this helps. It takes a bit of getting used to, and the Nav handbook gives a lot of information.
One of the problems with mine is it won't let me type in listed land line phone numbers to get the address. It will say there's no such number or the next number I need to type in will stay dark so I can't finish the number.
Also, when I put in my home address(which I'll remove tomorrow-thanks for the tip on that) it keeps sending me to another part of town or on a convoluted route. I've only had my car a couple of weeks-could it need updating already?
One last question-have you ever pulled up to a light and stopped and heard a sound from the rear driver's side? The first time it happened I looked around to see if I'd been nudged by another car. It doesn't always make the sound. Just once in a while. I appreciate any input.
I was wondering about the GPS Nav... you don't live near a military or airforce base do you.. as these can scramble your GPS receiver... making your location wander around the map... Generally maps are updated every couple of years. The cartographers rely on counties and cities to provide updates. I don't think the mapping software needs updating at this time. New sub-divisions for instance may not appear in map software for a year or so. Hope this helps.
His lifetime average is 48+ mpg also.
A 'neighbor' in the next city, VA Beach, VA has had his since summer and is averaging 63+ mpg over the first 5000 miles with several tanks in the 70+ range.
Weather, length of trips and your direct input have the most effect on the results. As larsb noted above this is a whole 'nother way of driving....and it doesn't mean poking along. Frankly no one but no one gets off from a stop light faster than I do with this vehicle. Well, OK some vehicles have lots more power and can smoke me but it's rare. However when I'm cruising and fully warmed up I often note that I'm coasting by a huge SUV at say 60-65 mpg and I'm getting 50-100 mpg while doing it.
It will teach you to drive better. Keep the bar above 50 as much as possible and voila, your average is 50.
For larsb, on the TCH do you feel that the FE dial on the far left is better than the 1 min bars on the FE chart?
Good foresight. I've suggested this to lots and lots of new Navi owners since then.
The inability to type in all phone numbers is really odd too. It simply blanks out certain numbers as if they aren't an option based on numbers already entered-yet I know the number exists as a published land line(versus cell phone).Sometimes it says a number or address exists when it does(and has for years). Could Toyotas' nav software be below parr compared to other dealers? Since I paid a lot extra for it I am really disappointed.
......
Toyota sold 106,971 Prius models in 2006, down from 107,897 sold in 2005, according to the Automotive News Data Center.