Reverse beep frustrations!

The dealer can set it to just a single beep but not turn it off. It’s in the manual under configurable settings.

 

My dealer turned it off completely. Also the driver's side seatbelt nagger.

 

There is a scanguage Xguage you can configure to turn the reverse beep off, or there's a way to do it with Carista if you have some way (laptop/iPhone/Android phone and OBD connector) to connect to the onboard CAN bus.

 

Here's the Scanguage code, if you have access to one of those. It worked in our 2017 Prime Advanced, much to the delight of my wife,

Actually the Gen 2 codes worked for me in the 2017 gen 4.
Got the Prius under a car cover today, but if these don't work, I'll check the one in the ScanGauge because it does work. Here they are...

TXD: 07c03bac40 (change the last 40 to 00 if you want to re-enable it.)
RXF: 047b15ac0000
RXD: 2008
MTH: 000100010000

 

the reason it is there (safety concern) is because of the unconventional shifter. toyota believes some people are likely to move the shifter upward, thinking it makes more sense to them. then releasing the brake will back over someone.

in fact, we have had many members here question why up isn't forward over the year. especially on gen3, where the shifter is more vertical. (mounted on the more horizontal slope of the bridge.

 

I figure if you can't notice the backup camera video screen popping up when you shift to reverse you have bigger issues to deal with

 

Prius tweak and a cheap OBD2 dongle can turn off the beeping if you have an Android phone. If you have an iPhone or don't have a dongle already, you'll need to order the Carista dongle and use the free trial for $20. Takes less than 2 minutes.

Prius Tweak - Apps on Google Play

 

Is there another dealer nearby you could try?

 

Back in the depths of time....

US regulators were concerned that the Prius does not Clunk when you put it in Reverse, and the shift lever goes back to the Center, it does not stay at R. They pressured Toyota to add a mechanical clunk noise for what is an electronic function. The beeping and blinking R placated the Regulators so Toyota did not have to find a way to make something clunk.

 

It may not do much, but I’d suggest a complaint to Toyota Motor North America. Their dealers are able, and should be willing, to change any of the customizable parameters listed in the Owner’s Manual (PDF), of which the reverse warning buzzer—as @schja01 kindly mentioned—is one; see pages 732, 734, and 737.

 

The inside-the-car beeping is "supposed" to remind you you're in reverse. I can see the reason for it, the aforementioned return-to-center shifter, that's basically mute, as to what gear you're in. Yeah you can look up a the dash, see that "R" is highlighted, but all this is so easy to overlook, in the heat of the moment.

With a traditional mechanical automatic shift, you have physical/tactile cues, that work. This lab rat never got confused with that system. But with the Prius shifter, I've run out fingers on one hand now, enumerating the number of times I've momentarily lost track that I'm in Reverse, not Drive. And that's with the continuous warning beep. For me at least, it doesn't connect the dots: yeah I hear a beep, but it doesn't sink in.

So far I've been lucky, haven't backed into anything, over anyone's feet. Yet... Maybe a need a little computer voice saying repeatedly "You're in reverse..., you're in reverse..., you're in reverse".

 

It amazes (well maybe not) there is always a litany of users who complain just about anything safety related (seat belt warning, reverse warning). Knowing firsthand someone who took out a baby and stroller when he was in reverse and didn't know it I, for one, am happy it's there. If I was an insurance company and found a car owner disabled a warning and that contributed to an accident I would deny the claim. Same goes for motorcyclists who refuse to wear helmets (just because).
Here in Illinois I (the driver) can be ticketed if passengers don't wear seat belts. The nag serves a good purpose IMO.
J

 

When I went in for my first service at the dealer I knew (from this forum) that it could be changed to a single beep. I asked the dealer to change it to a single beep and they did it. Not sure why dealers in New York are different.

 

If the fact that the R on the dash flashing doesn’t let you know that you are in reverse, then I don’t know what to tell you.

 

I don't believe it flashes, just a steady highlighting. I don't think it's sufficient. The best alert is something physical, that where the old-style mechanical shifter is superior.

All I know is for me, there's not enough cues. I don't think I'm alone, and Toyota was sweating enough to add the beep, so I'm thinking there were complaints, or when the car underwent review they were called on this.

 

Personally I want to disable the constant beeping to just the one beep for security reasons.

We have an advanced and an elderly driver (77) who has difficulty differentiating the different beeps like rear cross traffic, proximity, and seatbelt from the constant beeping of the reverse warning. If you can’t figure out you’re in reverse with the 11.6” screen, the beeping is not likely to remind you. Just my opinion.

 

It flashes on my 2010, and a 2008 that I worked on for a family friend. I kind of assumed they all did.

 

It does in my 2012 v as well.