By Christopher Maselli | May 31, 2016 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
So my door actuator just failed on my third generation Prius and I found Steve’s excellent post on how to remove the door panel (here) and used it to get me half way there. Here’s a “Part Two” for anyone wanting to go to the next step and fix their actuator themselves. First of all, […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | December 7, 2014 | Category Automobiles
It has been a while since I had to install snow tire chains on a car, but driving up to Vancouver, B.C. in late December, and doing multiple side stops along the way, I figured I grab a pair for those “just-in-case” moments (even though Vancouver is known for mild but wet winters). This article […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | July 10, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
The answer is a resounding yes! So after our week long road trip over July 4th weekend, spanning over 1,774 miles and using only 2.75 tanks of gas ($103 total spent in gas), I picked up our new Samsung 51″ plasma 1080p HDTV, new in box, from Best Buy and loaded it into the cargo […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | June 22, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
In the quest for organization and to make mods appear as OEM as possible, I revisited the illuminated mirror switch project and ordered a male 16-pin mirror switch coupler and 15 corresponding male terminal pins from hi-1000.com. I’ve recently discovered that they opened up a Global Rakuten shop and ships to the U.S. Toyota consider […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | June 21, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
Just gave my colleague a shopping list of JDM Prius parts to pick up for me while he is on his short-noticed business trip to Japan. They include: Prius rear step guard Part #: 08475-47030 Interior console lid (black) Part #: 08471-47060-C0 Chrome plated door mirror covers Part #: 08409-47040 Interior door pocket illumination kit Part #: 08527-47050 […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | June 14, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
Don’t you just hate it when you spend a good amount of cash to import your JDM Toyota genuine Prius parts only to have the importer destroy the Toyota label that reveals the part number so they can maintain a monopoly and charge a premium to get you the part you’re after? Or even fellow […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | June 13, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
I’ve been considering an electronic shifter for the Prius for quite some time and finally jumped the gun. Only thing that held me back was the pricing. At $240+ USD, the switch is a costly investment for a purely cosmetic upgrade. I was ready to order the Electronic Shift Switch (ESS) by Stage-10 and was […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | June 1, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
Here’s another mod I’ve performed on the Prius, specifically useful for 2010-2011 3rd gen Prius owners, that’s a spin-off from a past project done on the Acura RSX. I started this mod some time in early May, but got side tracked with the JDM Prius power folding side mirror project and then became inundated with projects at work, […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | May 13, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
Here is a step-by-step DIY guide on how to install JDM power folding side mirrors onto your 2010+ 3rd gen USDM Toyota Prius or Plug-in Prius (PiP). As an added bonus, this guide includes instruction on how to wire up a set of 3-in-1 combo welcome winker LED lights. Since I’ve wired up JDM power […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | May 11, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
There are times when you need to access the door frame. Replacing your OEM speaker is usually the primary reason, but you may also need to remove the glass, replace the actuators, remove your side rearview mirrors or install JDM power folding side mirrors. This guide will show you how to remove the door panel […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | May 9, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
Update: DIY guide is now up, DIY: How to install JDM Prius power folding side mirrors I am making decent progress in sketching the wiring diagrams to help assist in the installation and wiring up a set of JDM Prius power folding side mirrors on your USDM 3rd gen Prius. More work needs to be done […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | May 7, 2013 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
Update: DIY guide is now up, DIY: How to install JDM Prius power folding side mirrors I generally do not have time on a weekday to entertain Prius projects. Heck, I rarely have time on the weekend and it looks like I’ll have this weekend booked ahead of me. Today, I received my JDM Prius power […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | August 30, 2012 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
No rocket science is involved when it comes to installing modern aftermarket high intensity discharge (HID) xenon kits since most contemporary kits are manufactured with updated technology, standardized and almost 100% plug-n-play. Most kits these days can be purchased for as low as $30 whereas you couldn’t find a kit cheaper than $250 seven years […]
Read MoreBy 5teve-0 | July 29, 2012 | Category 2012 ZVW30 Toyota Prius Four
In writing my do-it-yourself guide for adding OEM-style aftermarket fog lights onto a 2012 3rd gen Toyota Prius Two, Three or Four (non-Five models), I prepared a diagram in Adobe Illustrator to help weekend do-it-yourselfers understand the wiring component of their fog light kit. The diagram is included below but a comprehensive DIY installation guide […]
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