fotomoto

This was just posted in another thread: http://www.venturatechnology.mx/products.asp?product=VT-MFTNAVLINK-01 This thread got me to get up off my butt and order a monitor/camera system for my wife's civic. Got two cheap units with decent ratings off amazon for $32 shipped. We'll see.

Nice find Homey! This may also be a solution for those who want to add a backup camera.

I was also thinking about this last night. This is traditional vacation time for many workers and their school age kids. For that auto supplier company(s), can you imagine being on an overseas trip/cruise/road trip and getting a text from your supervisor saying we need EVERYONE back at the factory NOW! :redcard: :gaah:

Yeah, a backup camera should have been part of the SEL trim level not part of a package. That said, 302a has a lot of other nifty features to make it worth getting to me. Anyways, I have been contemplating getting a backup system for my wife's car which doesn't have a built in screen so I'm looking at a separate monitor. Although not as tidy as tying into the factory screen, an external setup may be your best bet. Lots of choices for the DIY'er on Amazon, ebay, etc. If you're not a DIY'er, installers like Best Buy should be researched.

Umm, watch the iPad instead? :) (just kidding but only slightly) As others have said, all video is disable once moving. There are companies that sell electronic work-arounds (lock picks) for other vehicles in the $100-300 zone. Here is one for Toyota's: http://www.coastaletech.com/APPLICATION%20GUIDE%20REV2.htm

From a fuel economy standpoint, 70mph is not cruising it's hauling @$$! :)

I think (OK, I hope) this higher EV threshold will allow more blending of EV motor power at highway speeds making it easier to achieve better hwy FE. I have a big highway trip scheduled for mid-August. If the update is available by then, I'll gladly be a Guinea pig.

Yes the pre-2008 ratings were even further off. For instance, the second generation Prius was rated at 60mpg city by those older standards. Basically no one could get those numbers as real world is more like 45mpg. HUGE difference.

Gary, copy/paste your post into the welcome forum so many, many more folks will see it. Not everybody wants to read yet another mileage thread so they will miss your nice intro. I come from a Volt so I know what an amazing car it is. Only the lack of rear passenger room/utility made me trade it in on the CMax. I was at 162mpg lifetime. Too bad you didn't further check into the financial side of the equation as the car is no where near $42k with all the discounts and financial incentives, particularly in California (HOV access too), since most folks are getting them for $25-29K. Add in the huge gas savings and the car becomes incredibly affordable to drive. Plus it handles like a sports car (to me). We'll be getting another one when it's time to get the wife a new ride. Anyway, sounds like you will do fine with the CMax as hybrid owners who live in the SoCal climate typically have the best stats.

Although avoiding the first year of a new car is common advice, recalls can affect all years of production. One of the biggest recalls on the Prius affected all years of the second generation (2004-2009): http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2012/11/14/toyota-recall-steering-pump/1703953/

We used the rear a/c outlet to keep a crockpot going on the "keep it warm" setting while we traveled for a couple of hours to a pot-luck luncheon. :thumbsup:

I did a 400+ mile highway day trip this weekend. Car was loaded down with 4 people, luggage inside, and a new hitch and cargo carrier installed on the back with a load of camping equipment. Temps range from 85F in the morning to 105F while idling in a parking lot during the afternoon. A/C set to 72-74 auto/recirc. Eco-cruise set to speeds from 65-73mph with a headwind on the return leg. 85/15 hwy/city. Got 40 mpg for the day.

Yeah the "C" could possibly mean computer but manufacturers can also have proprietary codes, especially for hybrids, that aren't part of the standard OBD-II format. Please inform the service writer/desk that you want to know specifically what the codes stand for, otherwise, they may just give you some generic answer.

yup. page 281 in the OM: Resetting the Oil Life Monitoring System Note: Reset the oil life monitoring only after an oil change. 1. Turn the ignition key to the on position. Do not start the engine. For vehicles with push-button start, press and hold the start button for two seconds without pressing the brake pedal. Do not attempt to start the engine. 2. Press both the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time. 3. Keep both pedals fully pressed. 4. After three seconds, the Service: Oil reset in prog. message will be displayed. 5. After 25 seconds, the Service: Oil reset complete message will be displayed. 6. Release both the accelerator and brake pedals. 7. The Service: Oil reset complete message will no longer be displayed. 8. Rotate the key to the off position. For vehicles with push-button start, press the start button to turn the vehicle off completely

For the Prius Gen 3, max electric speed in HV mode is 42mph. The Plug-in model can achieve 62mph in EV mode.

Stock is a semi-syn. Tire rotation but I'm waiting till 10K.

Many questions can be readily answered by reading the owners manual before it arrives. It's online and searchable (very cool): http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/1603-on-line-owners-manual/ CONGRATS on your new car!

Got in the Curt Class Two hitch, a Draw-tite 24x48 cargo carrier, and assorted accessories in two large boxes (free shipping) within 3-4 days of ordering from etrailer! Great service. Downside is while looking for additional info on the Curt site after ordering, I found the hitch $25 cheaper at e-hitch.com which, I suspect, is a web storefront for Curt as they only sell curt products. FYI. Anyways..... Fairly easy hitch install. The CMax has two threaded holes on each side of the chassis that are used and a third, larger hole is drilled for a beefier bolt. This is a Class TWO hitch. Contradicting the installation instructions, I kept the hitch bolted to the frame while I drilled the two larger holes so there wouldn't be room for error. Fishing these bolts through the frame with the supplied tools was much easier than I imagined. Install time was slowed by using a dull drill bit and took about an hour/1 beer. IMPORTANT NOTE! This hitch is not "certified" as hands free liftgate approved by Curt like other Class ONE choices. I was very dismayed to learn this AFTER I ordered (my fault). The good news is the hands free feature still works but even better now!!!!! I'm not sure why but I just target and kick the accessory rubber hitch plug seen here: and it pops open. Sometimes while the car is "asleep" I don't even need the two kick method. <shruggs> Got Lucky Thought I was going to have to go through a return shipping/exchange hassle for a lower spec class one. The Draw-tite cargo carrier is well made and doesn't need to be assembled because it's welded and not a bolt together design. http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Cargo-Carrier/Draw-Tite/6500.html It does have two adjustable bolts that fit on the angled shank to adjust distance from the bumper. I currently have it all the way out so the lift gate can clear larger items like igloos. That also leaves enough clearance/legroom for us to get between the carrier and the car bumper to remove items from the open hatch. Very impressed with build quality and have no doubts as to load capacity but one most remember that further out the carrier is placed on the shank, the more force/leverage it puts on the hitch. The heavier the load, the closer in to the bumper it should be. Here's a tip I picked up on another forum for a cheap and effective stabilizer. Found at lows for $4: http://www.lowes.com/pd_45684-53911-ZU501_0__?storeNumber=2714&Ntt=beam+clamp&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%4017541754%5D&pl=1&productId=3278867&ipTrail=208.80.171.251&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dbeam%2Bclamp Sorry, I forgot to take a pic of it installed. I will use this for heavy hauls over long distance like trips but not necessarily locally. Speaking of trips, I took this setup along on a 400 mile trip this weekend as a test. With the clamp bolted on, it worked great with no issues, swaying, creaking or lost items! LOL I used two small ratchet tie downs and a large cargo net. We Griswalds can't wait to take it on our summer vacation in August!

The Prius EV mode/button was added by Toyota to the third generation (2010+) but is limited to 25mph, less than one mile range, and temps above 68f (won't activate below 68f unless ICE is all ready warmed up). A plug-in powertrain with its larger battery pack solves the short trip scenario but even those have temperature limitations when the driver also requires heat/defrosting on the trip and will call upon the ICE.

Here ya' go. I didn't install it to tow. Instead I'll be using a cargo carrier for additional carrying capacity. Here's a test load for a future family camping trip this summer. I'll post more in the cargo section which is where questions about towing/hauling are more appropriate.

Installed a hitch receiver. Took about an hour due to dull drill bits.

The fuel pickup/inlet is always at the bottom.

I have read of Prius owners who pushed their range with disastrous results. Attempting to make it to a station, they drove too far on the battery/EV mode with the system, in emergency mode, allowing them to dip further than normal into the battery levels until the car was barely moving. Even with more gas added, failsafes didn't allow the car to restart and required the car be towed to a dealer where a special factory charger had to be ordered and shipped in to "revive" the dead pack. Ford's protocol may be completely different and not allow this. I don't want to find out.

More info here: http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/2473-seat-belt-mod/

Funny, I had been thinking about staring the exact same thread. 7,000 miles @ 97% but was 98 until my wife took it on one long highway trip. She has a leadfoot on both the gas and brake pedals!