How I transformed the Yakima TopGrip OG accessory to carry fishing rods on road trip.
Tag: Toyota
DIY: How to Change the Engine Oil on Your 3rd Gen Prius
Learn how to change your own motor oil on your 3rd gen Prius. It’s quick and easy and will save you an average of $70-$100 from dealership or the local drive through oil change station.
DIY: How to Perform Tire Rotation on Your Prius, Prius c
The tires on your Prius or Prius c and pretty much any passenger class vehicle should be rotated every 5,000 to 10,000 miles to promote even tire thread wear. Do it yourself in 30~45 minutes with basic tools and put that $25~$50 back in your pocket.
Observed Increase in Fuel Efficiency For the 2012 Prius
As the 2012 Prius was approaching its 120k mile milestone, I noticed a dip in fuel efficiency among other issues (cold start rattle, struggling acceleration, rough ride). In its glory days, I was getting and average of mid 50’s MPG on a full tank. On rare driving circumstances, I was able to bump that number to beyond 60 MPG. Ever…
Pet Project: G’s Taillights With EDM OEM Style Rear Fog Lamp
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…
DIY: How to Clean Your 3rd Gen Prius High Voltage (HV) Hybrid Battery Cooling Fan
The hybrid battery cooling fan impeller needs to be cleaned from time to time, and a trip to the dealership can cost you $400. Do it yourself for $0.
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: Spark Plugs Replacement On a 3rd Gen Prius
Spark Plugs Replacement on a 3rd Gen Prius My 2012 Prius Four has reached 120,000 miles and symptoms of rough idle, cold start rattle, decreasing fuel efficiency and sporadic loss in power (especially during acceleration), has become almost a once-a-week routine. I figured it is time to replace the spark plugs. I am having major service as recommended by Toyota…
First “Real” Road Trip With Our Infant in Our 3rd Gen Prius
Many parents we’ve conversed with said that once our newborn enters the world, our favorite pastimes and routines will all go out the window. Instead, sleepless nights and nonstop exhaustion will take their place. While I do not 100% dispute that statement at all, I don’t agree with it completely either. Sure, our daily routines will be altered to accommodate the…
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…
JDM Prius ZVW30 Toyota Elegant Style Exterior Upgrade
I finally had time to order all the JDM Toyota Prius Elegant Style exterior chrome plated garnish upgrades, minus the lower rear bumper garnish since I have the Prius PLUS rear skirt installed. I originally asked my buddy back in July while on his way to Japan to pick me up a complete set of authentic JDM Toyota’s Prius Elegant Style package…
DIY: How to Blackout the Headlights On a 2010+ Prius
This is one of the very first mod I wanted to perform on the Prius when I took her home. I’m not a huge fan of all chrome headlights. Unfortunately because I commuted a lot during weekdays and go on road trips on weekends, this project took backstage. Fortunately, I’ve acquired a set of used OEM 2010+ 3rd gen Prius headlights…
NGJ10/KGJ10 Scion iQ mirror covers and turn signals fit Prius
It turns out that the USDM Scion iQ shares the same mirror covers as the JDM Toyota ZVW30 Prius (and Prius ν). Which means that if 3rd generation ZVW30 Prius or Prius ν owners want integrated turn signals on their side mirrors but don’t care for power folding function or 3-in-1 combo LED light features, they can order the LH and…
DIY: How to buy and import JDM car parts directly from Japan
NOTE: Due to ever-evolving technology and services, pay attention to individual services’ terms, fee schedules and guidelines as they may have changed since the writing of this article. The advent of the internet and social media has continued to make the global market place flatter and more accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Gone are the days where you’d…