Hi,
The Prius does have an extensive set of 'idiot lights.' Regardless, there is at least one 'hack' to add a temperature gauge:

http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/ect/

I also have an NHW11, 01-03 Prius, and use an OBD scanner and recently have started monitoring ICE temperature. This is part of baselining performance before changing to 0W-20.

I also have a temperature probe not found in any Prius, a transaxle oil pan temperature probe:

http://home.hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_tt.html

Hopefully, this gives you some ideas.

Bob Wilson

 

I'm sure you've seen it referenced here and on the Prius forums, but if not ... Consider a ScanGauge:

http://www.scangauge.com/

It can display up to 4 of 12 possible gauges at one time, including RPM and coolant temp (though not all 12 are part of the OBD stream on the Prius).

 

I you can add anything to any vehicle. I'm just trying to understand why Toyota didn't include gauges that obviously are important. Seems like these gauges could have easily been incorporated for view into the MFD via a simple program and costing Toyota hardly anything. Heck, even the idiot lights could have been done this way. But idiot lights tell you nothing until it is to late and the damage is already done.

 

Sorry, I can offer no insight into the corporate mind of Toyota on this issue, only a workaround that's worked well for me.

 

Ah yes, the problem of the inscrutable oriental mind (sorry Ken) matched only by GM's "What were they thinking?" as they crushed the EV1s (sorry Martin.)

Oh well, you can lead a horse to water . . .

Bob Wilson

 

priusoHave you ever seen/heard that Prius engine was damaged by over-rev or over-heat?
For me? Never.

Ken@Japan

 

Being ignorant about one's engine numbers doesn't make them go away. I for one, like to see this information.

 

Someone once posted:
Now to put my new vanity plate on the car: "C-52MPG".

BTW, over in Prius_Technical_Stuff we are looking at a thermister hack for the NHW11, 01-03 Prius that may improve ICE auto-stop in the winter. With luck, it will make the NHW11 Prius warm-up cycle behave a lot like the NHW20 warm-up cycle. "Clive' came up with the approach and we're working to refine it.

Bob Wilson

 

Does anyone with a 2005 Prius have a problem with the rear windshield vision? I have trouble backing up because of the blind spots on each side as well as the fact that the back windshield is divided by a panel. When I asked Toyota if I could buy a device to assist me with back-up vision, they said it would not be responsible for any off market device and they could not put in a device like the new models have. Any suggestions?

 

Barb, i had trouble getting used to the "different" visibility out of the front of the car when i first got mine in 4/04. i almost creamed at least two pedestrians legally crossing in crosswalks in front of me until i got used to the thickness/width of the "A-Pillars" between the front windshield and the side windows.

in all optimism, i'd suggest you go somewhere safe, like an empty school parking lot, and practice backing up and things like that until you feel more comfortable with the car and "how things look from inside."

there ARE aftermarket backup tv units that can be hooked into the dash's touch-panel, with a tiny tv camera mounted near the rear license plate.

if you have the side-mirrors positioned properly, they can also be a great aid in helping you back up, too. and practice should really help.

actually, sometimes i really enjoy having that divider-bar in the rear hatch's window... it often lines up with the headlights of cars behind me and reduces their glare in my rearview mirror!

try http://www.coastaletech.com/universal_video.htm for starters for rear-view video and lots of other things at Coastal Tech. i added their tow hitch and modules for automatic door locking and making the NAV system accessible when the car's in motion. they do good stuff!

all the best and happy motoring!


ps.
i HATE the way the cruise-control so easily forgets its setting.... i rented a mid-size chevy on vacation last year, and it could remember the speed AND the fact that that cruise control had been turned on.... even when the engine was shut off and the car parked overnight. chevy can do that and Toyota can't????? for shame!