Japanese to English software conversion

[SOL@RCH]

I have recently baught a 2006 Prius which I imported directly from Japan and I'm more than thrilled with it. It's a 'decent' automobile to drive around with my family plus it's loaded with gudgets. The main drawback though is that the software is in Japanese!! Help! Is there anyone out there who has faced this problem successfully? I asked around, but nobody has been able to 'break' the code. I appriciate all your ideas, thank you.

Pavlos, SOL@RCH Architects

[samiam]

Hi Pavlos
congratulations on your new Prius.

I've seen several posters ask the same question as you, and in fact I asked it also. I've never seen a solution posted though. Most of the members of this site have purchased north american/english language versions and so there's not much effort or interest on/in this problem. I am convinced that there is an "easter egg" for switching languages -- but I haven't found it (haven't looked TOO hard though).

Here's why I think so, in the english language version of the manual there is a heading titled something like "screen and language settings", but the section only describes screen settings. So at one point there was at least the idea that language settings would be selectable -- either that or there was a translation/miscommunication from the engineers to the manual writers.

So good luck, there are certainly quite a few people who would praise you if you were the one dedicated enough to find out how to do it and posted the results...

[SOL@RCH]

Thanks for your reply Samiam.

I have made several attempts already, including contacting Toyota Europe & Toyota Japan. No positive outcome yet but I'll keep everyone posted on this issue.

Pavlos

[bwilson4web]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SOL@RCH @ Sep 7 2007, 01:08 AM) [snapback]508420[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for your reply Samiam.

I have made several attempts already, including contacting Toyota Europe & Toyota Japan. No positive outcome yet but I'll keep everyone posted on this issue.[/b]

I suspect your warranty support is limited so you might consider getting a salvage display unit and having it replace your Japanese language version. If it doesn't work, swap back to the Japanese language version.

Bob Wilson

[samiam]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Sep 7 2007, 09:02 PM) [snapback]508450[/snapback]</div>

I suspect your warranty support is limited so you might consider getting a salvage display unit and having it replace your Japanese language version. If it doesn't work, swap back to the Japanese language version.

Bob Wilson
[/b]

Nope, just the opposite. Toyota's warranty support for signature class imports from Japan is 5 years unconditional (+ 5 years free warrant of fitness checks & roadside assistance)

And I'll keep pulling for you to find the secret, SOL@RCH

[kgu]

Hi,
I can confirm that in some markets there is indeed a language selection option on the "Information menu" screen.
I have a 2005 model without navigation and bluetooth and the languages available in my car are English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Swedish and Danish. It seems likely that other language selections must be available in other regions of the world too.
On my "Informaton menu" screen, the available buttons are (from left to right): "Trip info", "Language, and "Screen setting"

[patsparks]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(samiam @ Sep 7 2007, 10:00 PM) [snapback]508478[/snapback]</div>

Nope, just the opposite. Toyota's warranty support for signature class imports from Japan is 5 years unconditional (+ 5 years free warrant of fitness checks & roadside assistance)

And I'll keep pulling for you to find the secret, SOL@RCH
[/b]

Are you talking new imported by Toyota or grey imports imported second hand from Asia?

[samiam]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Sep 8 2007, 12:48 AM) [snapback]508483[/snapback]</div>

Are you talking new imported by Toyota or grey imports imported second hand from Asia?
[/b]

They aren't grey. Toyota import them used from Japan (or acquire them here as trade-ins), refurbish them in the Toyota plant in Thames and sell them as their Signature Class product line, the programme has been running for 10 years now.
[attachmentid=11201]

[patsparks]

OK that's cool. In Australia most dealers wouldn't want to know about a privately imported car. They wont service it and they wont sell you parts as soon as you identify the car as a private import.
Toyota Australia don't import any used cars except for development and they are never sold. I don't know what NZ vehicle standards are like but there is some messing about needed to get a used import registered here. All the lights and seatbelts need to be Australian standards approved.

[SOL@RCH]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kgu @ Sep 7 2007, 03:36 PM) [snapback]508481[/snapback]</div>

Hi,
I can confirm that in some markets there is indeed a language selection option on the "Information menu" screen.
I have a 2005 model without navigation and bluetooth and the languages available in my car are English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Swedish and Danish. It seems likely that other language selections must be available in other regions of the world too.
On my "Informaton menu" screen, the available buttons are (from left to right): "Trip info", "Language, and "Screen setting"
[/b]

This is very peculiar, I just had an official reply from Toyota Europe that claims ''Regarding the software language, there is no way of changing this into english as it is a factory setting.''