Speed Sensor Defeat Update

[efusco]

I finally got up the gumption to start pulling stuff apart and cutting wires and got the speed sensor defeat switch installed. Wasn't all that hard with the exception of working with a small short wire in a very tight space and figuring out how to get the center console out. Still, I completed the job in about 1-1/2 hours total time (my kids were napping and the first one got up just as I was picking up the tools to put them away.

So, once they were both up I loaded the car up for a test run to be sure everything worked.

I first tested the Bluetooth phone...b/c that's the main reason I wanted the switch in the first place since I have little need for the NAV itself. It didn't work. Flicked the switch multiple times, tried multiple screens and still I couldn't get the Phone Book or Direct dial to work. At that point I started sniffing for smoke and hoping that the brakes still worked since I was SURE I'd cut the wrong wire and now had a defeat for the entire Hybrid ECU or something!!!

The rational side of my head took over again and I switched to MAP---flicking the switch, sure enough, seemed to freeze the car icon on the map screen for about 30 sec. then it jumped to position when the GPS detected again. Seemed something was working. I switched then to the NAV page and sure enough, all direct entry functions were available just as if I was stopped!

So, I wrote to Wayne Brown, the first to do this mod. Turns out he doesn't have a Bluetooth phone and never tested that feature! It seems that a second switch or maybe another wire will need to be defeated to make the phone work. If I find that I think I'll just cut the wire permanently, can't think of any reason I'd ever need it to have those features disabled.

Anyway, I wanted to post this for the archives so that others considering doing the mod will know that it won't work for the Bluetooth. Wayne's promised to check the wiring diagrams and get back to me if he can figure out a defeat for the Bluetooth.

[zilch321]

I'm still learning about the Prius as my fiancee really needs a new car.

Anywa, to the point. You mention you wanted this kill switch for the blue tooth. Are you saying that you can not get to the phonebook with the car moving? Can you cycle thru the phone book via the many buttons I see on the searning wheel? I like the bluetooth idea very much, but if you can't make a call without without talking to the car, I may skip this feature set all together.

I guess this is more of a function question, but i'm sure you can help.

Thanks much,

--z

[efusco]

I'm still learning about the Prius as my fiancee really needs a new car.

Anywa, to the point. You mention you wanted this kill switch for the blue tooth. Are you saying that you can not get to the phonebook with the car moving? Can you cycle thru the phone book via the many buttons I see on the searning wheel? I like the bluetooth idea very much, but if you can't make a call without without talking to the car, I may skip this feature set all together.

I guess this is more of a function question, but i'm sure you can help.

Thanks much,

--z

You are able to program 17 preset buttons that are "live" while the car is in motion. But if you want to dial a number not in those presets or use another number in the phone book you have to stop the car. Usually you can accomplish this at a stop light.

But, as you can infer from the fact that I'm trying to defeat it, I would like to be able to override the safety feature so that I, or my passenger, could dial a number from the screen or from the phone list while in motion. One thing, you can still dial the number directly from the phone and then carry on your conversation via the bluetooth. But to me that's even less safe than using the touch screen.

[smlasers]

I would be very interested in the override for the bluetooth as well...I was going to do the NAV mod, but am glad to wait until can do both with a DPDT switch...

[efusco]

Originally posted by smlasers
I would be very interested in the override for the bluetooth as well...I was going to do the NAV mod, but am glad to wait until can do both with a DPDT switch...

I have no idea what a DPDT switch is, but I don't think a switch is likely to be necessary at all for the BT. When would you NOT want to be able to use the BT when in motion. Unless there is something else that's disrupted by cutting the speed wire to the BT I think I'll just cut mine and cap the ends of the wire.

Still, you might wanna wait so you only have to take the center console apart once (assuming that's where the BT wire is too--I'm not at all sure about that).

I got another e-mail from Wayne, sounds like he's going to dig up the wiring diagrams tonight, test the wire he thinks he remembers may be the one for the BT and e-mail me back. I will, of course, share that with the group as soon as I know and implement successfully myself.

[fredr500]

Any updates on this? I'm holding off the mod to do them both at once (assuming someone can figure it out).

Fred

[Mat]

Me too, I've been waiting with my timer switch and wire ready, waiting to disable the speed sensor but hoping to do any such mods in one fell swoop.

Does anyone have any update on the Bluetooth re-enable while driving?

[mboileau]

Regarding the Bluetooth re-enable while driving, I have a few observations.

With the T616, if for any reason the initial attempt to connect fails after starting the car, I find that I can simply cycle power to the phone, or turn the phone's Bluetooth back on if I had forgotten to do this already, and the car detects the link without having to do anything with the MFD settings.

Once the phone has successfully connected, it's not possible from the T616 (AFAIK) to disable the connection. The only work-around for this which I've used, which also works for reconnecting, is to have a second BT phone programmed into the car's memory. If you have two phones programmed, when the car is not moving you can go into the MFD Phone Settings and use the Select Phone option to switch your selection back and forth which forces the software to break the link and/or re-establish it. Unfortunately, you can't do this while driving, but at least you don't have to cycle power to the car.

[Mat]

Sorry, I was unclear-

We're trying to figure out a way to use the phone screen options while you are driving, like they tricked the NAV system into allowing input while driving.

I haven't had any trouble with BT disconnects or losing the connection with my Nokia 3650.

[efusco]

No updates guys.

Wayne has told me he hasn't forgotten, but he's not very motivated to find a fix since he doesn't have any bluetooth services in his area.