I had a pair of authentic UKDM Prius G’s taillights with integrated rear fog lamp supplied by LS Japan and ordered through Tenso around late 2013’ish (or 2014? I cannot remember), but never gotten around to install it and ended up selling them to raise funds for our wedding in 2015. I’ve been building, organizing and stocking up our garage…
Tag: 2012
DIY: How to Exchange the Engine Coolant On Your 3rd Gen Prius
Before you proceed with this maintenance procedure, make sure you have access to a flat and level surface area. You will also need two jack stands to support the front end of your car so you can gain access to the inverter coolant drain plug. Toyota recommends inspecting and topping off the inverter coolant reservoir every 5,000 miles and a…
DIY: How to Exchange the Inverter Coolant On Your 3rd Gen Prius
Before you proceed with this maintenance procedure, make sure you have access to a flat and level surface area. You will also need two jack stands to support the front end of your car so you can gain access to the inverter coolant drain plug. Toyota recommends inspecting and topping off the inverter coolant reservoir every 5,000 miles and a…
120k Mile Recommended Services For The 3rd Gen Toyota Prius
So I just took my 2012 Prius Four into the local dealer to perform the routine major service (done every 30,000 miles) as it was approaching 120,000 miles and I received a recommended laundry list of pricey maintenance work. Spark plugs replacement was suppose to be on this list, but I replaced them myself and saved ~$300. Here’s the list…
DIY: How to Replace the Door Lock Actuator on Your 3rd Gen Prius
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, it’s pretty easy. And I…
DIY: How to Install Winter / Snow Tire Chains On Your Prius
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 illustrates the basic of how…
Will a 51″-55″ flat screen television fit in my Prius?
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 with absolutely no problem. More…
Update: 2012+ 3rd gen Prius power folding mirror connector
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 most male connectors as “standard…
Upcoming JDM ZVW30 Prius projects
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 or 08867-00230 Interior illumination kit…
List of JDM and USDM genuine Toyota Prius ZVW30 part numbers
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 enthusiasts who make up outlandish…
Review: OGS Intelligence Position Switch IPS for 2010+ Prius
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 seconds from ordering a silver…
First year anniversary of Prius ownership
A year ago today, I drove my 2012 Toyota Prius Four home. In a year, I’ve clocked exactly 15,000 miles, gassed up 36 times and spent a collective $1,241.22 in gas. That’s a savings of $1,559.00 vs. the 2005 Acura RSX Type S. Of the 15,000 miles driven, 65% of it were spent on road trips while 35% were spent…
DIY: Illuminated Prius mirror switch with JDM folding mirrors
If you have installed a set of JDM power folding side mirrors following my DIY guide on a 2012+ 3rd gen Prius, then you are fully aware that one of the trade off is losing your illuminated mirror switch. 2010-2011 owners do not have to worry since the mirror switch isn’t illuminated to begin with. Of course if you’re feeling…
DIY: How to install JDM Prius power folding side mirrors
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 folding mirrors on a DC5…
DIY: How to remove the door panels off a 2010+ 3rd gen Prius
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 from your 3rd generation Toyota…