What's with all the warning beeps?

<_< At least, you tried to read the Owner's Manual. Seems many Prius owners don't even attempt.

You might want to log on to http://john1701a.com/ where you will find John's version of the Manual and much more useful Prius information.

 

I don't share your disdain for the manual, but I do sympathize with not being able/caring to memorize all the beep/light warnings. I think you'll find that in most situations you'll only hear or see one of 3 or 4 different light/sound combos that are easy to understand: Doors Lock, doors unlock, key in car, doors fail to lock.

The last two are pretty important as both can lead to situations like your car being stolen, or rolling down a hill and hurting itself or someone else.

I would say the smart key stuff deserves at least a few pages because 1) most of us have never owned a car with that feature, and 2) there is a lot more you can do with it than it seems at first. E.G. Reprogram the car to open all doors when any handle is touched, use the SKS switch under the steering wheel, replace batteries, and all that fun stuff.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Mar 28 2007, 01:25 PM) [snapback]413606[/snapback]</div>

I know the beeps of doors locking and unlocking. If it beeps other than that, I check to see if a key is inside. Usually, that's the case. If not, you can check other stuff like not turning the power off etc. If you really cannot figure it out, you can always consult the manual which should be in your glove compartment.

I think we have talked about the park button somewhere in PC before.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kman42 @ Mar 28 2007, 09:29 AM) [snapback]413568[/snapback]</div>

It is done automatically when the power button is pressed.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kman42 @ Mar 28 2007, 11:29 AM) [snapback]413568[/snapback]</div>

Console yourself that at least it's an attempt at American English. No real English version was supplied when I bought mine in 2005. Mine refers to "gas" when it means a liquid (petrol) rather than a gas; it doesn't mention the bonnet or the boot and it spells tyres wrong, i.e. 'tires'. These are only the examples I can remember; there are others.
I wonder if anyone knows the history of this manual. Presumably the original was in Japanese and then it was given to someone to translate. Was he/she a native Japanese speaker? many foreign manufacturers are guilty of issuing poorly written manuals. I always assume this is because they are translations which have not been vetted by a native (preferably a journalist) of the country where the goods are sold

 

Just drive it, don't worry too much about the beeps. Its just a car. If you just keep the key in your pocket or purse, you'll never have a problem with it. (At least I haven't, so far.) Congratulations on at least reading the manual. I never can find the "Turn off Maint. Light procedure", though I know its in there somewhere. Do you know how many people can't program a VCR, or get the VCR clock to stop blinking 12:00? The same guy probably wrote those manuals, too. Hang in there, the car drives better than it "reads".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oxo @ Mar 28 2007, 12:10 PM) [snapback]413670[/snapback]</div>

Touché.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kman42 @ Mar 29 2007, 09:10 AM) [snapback]414181[/snapback]</div>

Yes, it's like Park on a "normal" car. I heard it locks the wheels somehow with a little pin. It sounds like there may be more "play" on this Park position than in other cars. I've heard of the car "jumping" a couple feet when it sounded like it was probably in Park. In any case, just like in other cars, I'd think you'd still want the emergency brake on to prevent rolling.

 

It's not the worst manual ever. Have you ever read a Microsoft manual? They might be better written, but contain less information. If Microsoft wrote the Prius manual, under the beep codes section, they would say: "Beep Codes - beep codes indicate a non-normal event", as if you didn't know that before you opened the manual.

The "P" setting in the Prius is just Park. It works like Park in any automatic transmission, and engages a parking pawl to keep the vehicle from rolling. Park is engaged automatically any time the Prius is powered off. While all of this may seem pretty obvious, it's easy to forget that a Prius is running and in drive, since it can sit there quietly without any fuss or bother, just waiting for you to get out and have it roll away.

Tom

 

QUOTE: "Is there a case when you would not want it in P?"

I can think of at least one case where you wouldn't want it in "P" which has been discussed a few times on PriusChat. Envision the Prius parked in a limited access space - garage, parking garage, etc. - with the 12v battery depleted or the Prius otherwise disabled. "P" being automatically engaged when you power down and the Prius' design prevents your disengaging the parking pawls, so you can't hand push the Prius out to a more accessable location.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kman42 @ Mar 29 2007, 12:10 PM) [snapback]414181[/snapback]</div>

They *do* say it in the manual.

Quite clearly.

Search my recent posts for the reference in the manual.