Disabled reverse beep today ==> Serenity Now

Great example never thought of it that way. Now I am not going to disable that uber important beep. It will be just one of the many strange voices and sounds in my head

 

This is exactly what's wrong with people, your in a car, pay attention to the road. The fact that your in the crosswalk means your not paying attention in the first place.

 

This thing actually happened to me, when taking dealer's car for a test ride. Fortunately, it all ended well. There was no car behind me. However, I got really surprised when the car started to move the opposite way than expected.
I was new to Prius back then, it was the first time for me to drive automatic transmission, and I had no idea what the beeping is trying to tell me.

Now I own mine and this reverse beeping is driving me crazy. I've asked the dealer, to turn it off before I even come to pick up the car. They've explained to me, that a firmware upgrade is required to do that on EU models and we agreed to do it when I bring back the car for the oil change after 500km break-in (I do that on all my vehicles).

Anyway, what was Toyota thinking when they implemented that beeping??? To me the reverse driving and parking the car is a stressful experience alone. The last thing I need is annoying beeping "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!" in the moments like that.

... I can easily silence the radio and ask my family to keep quiet at least.

 

It always seemed like a lame idea to me anyhow. If the Prius is backing up silently, the beeper should be on the outside. Inside, all it does is annoy the hell out of a driver. One of my friends, who works in a warehouse, doesn't hear it at all, because that's all he hears all day anyway.

 

As mentioned above, the reason for the beeps is to remind you that you are in reverse. If you don't want the reminder, you can have it set to only beep once. As usual, Toyota defaults to the more cautious side.

 

I'm already fully reminded I am in reverse from several key factors:
1. The shift indicator is in "R."
2. The car is going backwards.
2. I'm looking in the mirrors, over my shoulder and at the backup monitor.

The beeper did nothing to help remind me of anything except to make an appointment to have the damned beeper disabled.

 

Regarding point 1, unlike with conventional transmissions, where the shift lever's position indicates which gear you are in, the only indicator that you are in R in the Prius is the display. Regarding point 2, when you really need to know that you are in R is BEFORE the car moves. I had the beep turned off right after I got the PiP, but sometimes I actually miss it. Like when I am done backing up, swipe at the shift knob to put it back into D, but "miss", step on the throttle, and lurch backward. Not all of us are as good drivers as we would like to be. They made it a programmable option so those who are annoyed by it can get rid of it, but it is not inherently pointless.

 

OK, can you be more specific? I have an Android Device, specifically a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1.

1. Where do you get a "bluetooth ODB2 adapter" and how does it work?
   
2. Where do you get this Torque application (web URL? Google Play Store?)

Thanks in advance.

 

well, you could look here, edit: just in case the amazon linl didn't show up here, just copy and paste bluetooth ODB2 adapter onto amazon's website.

I connects to the plug underneath the steering wheel.

 

Thank you. I just now ordered this one:

I also downloaded the ELM 327 app from the Android Play Store (the one with the picture of the same device on it).

 

yup, that'll work

 

I asked a local dealer, and they did mine for free... easy-peasy!
If anyone is in the Twin Cities area looking for this, reach out to Walser Toyota in Bloomington...

 

P.S. I asked at my local dealer (Toyota of Tampa Bay) and the the answer was, "I think you can do that, just look in your owner's manual." Of course the Prius Plug-In Hybrid 2012 Owner's Manual, Page 646 says, "can be changed by your Toyota dealer." After going in that circle, I gave up with them.

 

My local dealer changed the reverse beep to a single beep but refused to remove the seat belt beep. I used an OBDII device via an Android Nexus to disable that.

 

Warning! Do not attempt to use this ELM327 adapter from Amazon

It sometimes has a communications failure which puts the Prius into Fail Safe Mode.
For more information see:
ELM327 Bluetooth put my car into Fail Safe Mode, how to fix? | PriusChat

- Rich

 

I originally assumed that it was audible outside the car, and wondered why the idiots out there ignored it. Then I discovered I was the idiot. It may be more of a liability due to the tendency to assume outside audibility than not being there at all. The faint noise the vehicle makes at low speed in electric mode also seems to be either inaudible or ineffective at warning slow-moving pedestrians in parking lots et al. Someday I will have someone else drive the car while I pedester to see if it is noticeable or not.

 

Geez. I didn't know this possible. I skimmed through half the manual but never got as far as the part about the beep. I've had the car a year now, and have been suffering through that beep, only to realize part of the way through the year that nobody can hear it outside the car. How stupid is that?!?

So, next time I take the car in I'll have it changed to one beep. If I have to pay $50, then so be it.

 

What Android software is recommended to do this now? I see Torque Pro for $4.95 on GooglePlay, but I have had no response from the vendor regarding whether or not his software has this function. I see another forum that recommends Carista, free download but $20 premium version required to change this setting.

Any current recommendations?

 

Just be aware if you pay to have it changed that it resets every time the 12V battery is disconnected (at least I think it does). That is the main reason I wanted the ability to do it myself.

 

If anyone in Southern California ever wants this done let me know. I'll do it free of charge if you can make your way to me. I have the Carista adapter and app. I'm near Pasadena.