"Artificial Engine" sound on prime

PRIME's VPNS is indeed very quiet. I had hard time hearing it on my 2017 PRIME and that has not changed on 2020 PRIME. As @Tideland Prius commented, compared to my Prius Prime, my friend's 2019 RAV4 Hybrid VPNS is very loud. I can hear his car pulling into our driveway from my house with windows closed.

 

I disconnected mine but a warning comes up to get into your repair shop so they can repair it! I plugged it back in and the warning went away!

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I like it, it sounds like a space ship.

 

Little known fact about the VPNS. By default the volume of the VPNS is set to low in techstream, however, you can still make it slightly quieter by disabling an option that makes the sound louder when the vehicle first starts to move. This setting isn't mentioned in the manual, but can be found under customizations in techstream.

 

Probably better too leave it alone! But thanks for the information.

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I remember seeing that and I think it was set to what I assumed was the max. But I don't remember if it was 1, 2, & 3; soft, medium, loud; or what. If it was 1, 2, & 3, maybe I guessed wrong which is loudest. Going to have to check on that. Maybe next weekend if I remember.

 

My 2020 PRIME's VPNS was set to "VERY HIGH" and I did not change it when I checked it by CARISTA. Still the sound is very low. Hardly no warning unless you are really trying to listen to the low humming noise. BTW, I am one of those very few Prius drivers who prefer to leave the constant beep in Reverse option. Only one I changed was the passenger seat-belt warning. I found Carista customization and diagnosis to be mainly useless, I discontinued the subscription after the free 30 day period.

 

"Very high" looks very familiar now that I see it.

 

I did not change this option using Carista. I no longer have subscription, so I can't even check what optional choices are there under this selection. Assuming the VERY HIGH is the loudest setting, anything lower would be inaudible. LOL

 

I used both Techstream and Carista at different times, but it seems like they used the same words iirc.

 

Honestly, I didn't even realize my prime had this feature until I was driving in a parking garage with the radio off and the windows down. It's this a mild whirring sound (like mentioned previously, kinda like a spaceship). With the windows up, I can't hear it at all. The sound stops when you stop. If it means I don't run someone down with a white cane, then it can stay. I can deal with the minor inconvenience of hearing a distant space ship while I'm rolling with the windows down in a parking garage.

 

I agree; like my old 2011 Prius, the 2020 Prime makes a number of "mystery" noises, so I always assumed it was just electric "stuff" initializing or running. It's so quiet from the inside, it sure doesn't bother me. Here's a sound sample, for comparison:

 

I turned mine up from the default to the highest level using Carista, and I didn't notice any difference.

 

Me too. I've decided mine just doesn't work. Can't hear it in the garage with the windows down. And I had a recent hearing test; the audiologist was impressed at how well I hear.

 

I can still hear mine when I'm stopping with the windows down in town or pulling into the garage. This is with Gen X ears that have had a steady diet of Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Blind Faith, Soundgarden, Pixies, etc!

 

Mine does work, it's just not loud enough to alert clueless distracted pedestrians.

The best way to hear it would be in a garage with the windows down. Come to a stop, then just barely start rolling. That is when it's the loudest. I think it might make the sound in neutral too, when you take your foot off the brake, but I can't remember.

 

Yeah, compared to Rav4 Hybrid my friend drives, my PP's VPNS is diminutive volume even when set to the loudest. I can hear my friend's Rav4 Hybrid VPNS with our house windows closed and 50 feet away when he pulls into our driveway with engine off on EV mode.

 

My PiP was plenty loud. Rather a unique sound. I have no idea what the Prime is even supposed to sound like and I have also put it a full volume using Techstream.

 

If you don't install a resistor, you'll receive error messages upon turning on the car. After you install the resistor and check you're not getting errors when starting the car, you'll want to get liquid electrical tape to seal it up so you don't have to worry about moisture. There was another thread about this some years ago with better, more in-depth information.

 

Yesterday, I had my wife drive my Prime. It was in the garage and I stood in the driveway just to the right side. As it started moving, I clearly heard the familiar sound my PiP made (or close to it). It lasted about 2 seconds. It faded to nothing as she passed me and it never was nearly as loud as the PiP. So, if a pedestrian doesn't hear my tires, he or she won't hear the noise maker either. And I checked again to verify that it's at the loudest setting.