Questions re: Nav/Speed Sensor modification First thanks much to Evan for putting this together. It's of tremendous benefit. I just had a couple of questions: 1) Has anyone ever installed a timer switch for this in the 2004 Prius? (so that the passenger doesn't have to keep flipping the switch to type on the screen) I found an article showing how to do so for the classic Prius - http://www.priuscar.com/nav_speed_disconnect.htm - but I'd like to know that it would work for the 2004. Also, does there exist a single device that combines a timer and a switch? It might be helpful for saving space... 2) In Step 4, through what opening do you thread the wires into the console? When I took a look at my car, I didn't see offhand where this would go... Thanks much, Dave.
Re: Questions re: Nav/Speed Sensor modification You're welcome, I'll do my best to answer the rest of your questions. No one, that I'm aware of, has done so yet on an '04. But, there is absolutely no reason it wouldn't work the same way. That's a good link that should probably be included in the next update. No idea, a good electronics store should be able to find you something. Pull off the front facing/cup holder unit and you'll see a slot all the way down both sides. It's no problem at all to thread the wires up. In the next update I'll include the link to the timer switch install. Also, I think I'll recommend using longer wires (2'-3') and/or using some sort of connector so that the center console can be removed by just unplugging the connector. As it stands now, if I need to have any work done or need to get access under the console I'm going to have to cut and splice the wires. Now that I think of it...I might just try to find a connector/plug and install it just to show what can be done.
Side Effects? Thanks for this great update; I've been waiting for someone to post something like this! I was curious though if clicking this button will have any side effects such as [more] incorrect mpg readings, or anything else I can't think of. Thanks!
Re: Side Effects? That wire has no effect on anything else. It has one job and one job only--transmit speed data to the nav. You interupt it and the nav gets briefly disoriented, sends and error code, the GPS takes over the speed sensor roll until you reset the system.
Here is a photo of both speed sensor defeat switches installed. (GPS & Bluetooth phone) The black NC push button (lower left of photo) is for the GPS. The red push on/push off (in glove compartment) is for the phone.
Thank you Evan, This is excellent. I had ignored this hack until today because this weekend my wife and I were out on an adventure and got quite lost. We were not in a place where we could safely stop to use the NAV, so we had to continue for a very long time until we could stop and use the system. In a frustrated tone, my wife said "I wish there were a way to have the passenger use the NAV while the car was in motion", to which I sheepishly replied that Evan had already posted the mod, but I ignored it thinking we could always pull over to use the system. OK, so I was wrong, let the hacking begin
