Is there a way to mute the volume instantly?

This might be a dumb question, but it would be really nice to have a mute button for when you pull up to a drive-thru--a way to quickly mute and unmute the audio without having to use the up-down buttons and find the previous volume setting manually. I use the mute button on my TV remote a LOT and now I'm wishing I had it in my car! LOL Is there a way to do this in the 2010 Prius?

You could just turn it off, then on again when you're ready.

Hold the steering wheel Mode button down until the stereo beeps then turns off.

Hmmm. Ok, not the most elegant or convenient solution, but it sounds better than using the volume buttons. I wasn't aware that the Mode button did on/off also. Thanks very much!

This is also my approach.

Tom

Why not just press the "MUTE" button, to the right of the CD slot?

Well, at least those of us with the base model Type B audio installation have it. The higher level models must have run out of room.

Hummm, another good reason to go with the base model

In addition to pressing and holding the mode button on the steering wheel, you can also press the volume knob on the dash to turn it off.

This also may not be quite so "elegant" as pressing a button on the steering wheel, but when you turn it off using the Power button (volume knob on the dash) you won't have the "beep" that precedes a turn-off when pressing the steering wheel's Mode button.

I'm with fuzzy1. I have the II base and it's got a Mute button. =)

Prius III's and up replace that MUTE button with a LOAD button for the in dash cd changer.

I just turn off the radio in order to mute it. I don't see it as a problem as it always goes back to the same place on the cd I'm listening too (MP3 cds too).

...This thread made me laugh

And it's a CLOSE Button, not a load button. Caused at least a little confusion.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/66395-oh-duh-thats-how-get-cd-player.html

if you pinch your nose, close your mouth, and blow out your cheeks really hard, your ears should plug up... that might mute your stereo

With NAV, and if you're using SAT, program the first "button" of each screen to SAT channel 000. Not elegant, but it works.

Perhaps it's too early in the morning, but I don't get this thread.

On my Prius w/nav, if you press the power/volume button near the upper left corner of the screen, it turns off the audio system. Why is that not as good as a mute button? What does the mute button on the non-nav cars do that this doesn't accomplish? You don't even have to reach as far as the mute button on non-nav cars.

Or, press and hold the mode button on the steering wheel for a second.

It's only a CLOSE button if you have the NAV system. I'm talking about the non NAV upgraded JBL audio with the cd changer. It's a LOAD button.

+1 for turning it off when not in use to save power.

That's a load off my mind. Now maybe we can bring a close to this thread.

I would think it's not as good because I'm assuming that if you are listening to a CD, it's not going to pick up at the same place when the system is turned off and back on. OK for radio, but I didn't think it wold remember where it was on CDs.

With a mute button, I could mute it when ordering at a drive-thru, unmute while waiting to get to the window, mute while paying, etc., and then unmute again without having to search for where it left off. Maybe my assumption on what happens when it turns off is wrong, but that's why the question was asked. I've seen many more pointless questions posted here...like the threads on the same subject over and over and over again.