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vehicle proximity notification system aka the noisemaker

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Habiru, Jan 31, 2012.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hard to say unless you see the speaker. you must squeeze it somewhere to release?
     
  2. Canard

    Canard Member

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    I've still yet to see a video of how the VPNS system actually sounds "in real life". The only video I've ever seen is Toyota's official one, where they obviously dubbed the noise over in post so it's not "real".

    -Iain
     
  3. ajtozzi

    ajtozzi Junior Member

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    [​IMG][​IMG]

    Here's mine installed and plugged in and then completely removed.
     
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  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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  5. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Well there is another annoying sound the planet can do without. Why not just have a audio loop of ducks quacking? I think adding a switch is a real good idea!
     
  6. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    How about some CW? That'd sound nice out the speaker. :)
    --. . - - .... . .... . .-.. .-.. --- ..- - .- -- -.-- .-- .- -.--

    Mike
     
  7. rukawa11

    rukawa11 Junior Member

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    Thanks to the pictures you guys posted up, i had my girl disconnect it for me which is not an easy task. I didn't open up the car since I'm not so handy with that kind of stuff so I left the speaker in there. I tested it and the sound was 87% gone but still there. How is that even possible if nothing is connected to it. I can live with it as the sound is so faint people might think it's their ears ringing, but I think I'd rather take the whole thing out.
     
  8. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Wonder if you were hearing the inverter. The car always makes sounds that are way different than regular cars.

    Mike
     
  9. Canard

    Canard Member

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    Thanks for the video, F8L; I cannot even describe the horrible death that speaker would meet if it were installed in my car. That makes me want to puke. One of the reasons I fell in love with this car was just listening to the quiet inverter noises that reflect off curbs and concrete walls at low speeds (I work in Automation so those noises are very familiar to me!).

    Interestingly, there is a very similar discussion going on in the GTI (VW) forums right now. Volkswagen started installing 2 or 3 years ago a similar speaker, under the dash, which they call the "soundaktor" or something like that. It's attached to a "dumb" circuit that only watches engine RPM and buzzes in tune to make the engine sound more growly. So now everyone is ripping them out and cursing VW.

    -Iain
     
  10. mario24601

    mario24601 New Member

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    Those who have disconnected, how difficult to un plug and leave speaker in? Also, any "issues" this causes (CEL, etc.)?
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ajtozzi, those pics make it look like the speaker is right out in the open?
     
  12. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    I want mine to sound like a Eaton M62 with a 2.9" pulley :eyebrows:

    Mike
     
  13. rukawa11

    rukawa11 Junior Member

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    ooo, that's probably what it is
     
  14. rukawa11

    rukawa11 Junior Member

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    was not easy at all, definitely needed a kid/women's size arms to fit through as I had lots of tubes and wires in the way in my 5 with AT package if trim models make a difference. I had my girl try to unplug it with her hands for literally an hour and a half and was quite frustrated that I couldnt get my hand through because I felt she wasn't trying to unplug it right. I finally got her a small flathead and she was able to pry it off within a minute by putting pressure on the front tab piece.
     
  15. rukawa11

    rukawa11 Junior Member

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    it is not, I think he removed all the components blocking the way.
     
  16. kalome

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    +1 to the thanks to the guys that posted the pics.
    I just unplugged mine this morning. It was tough to get to it. Took me a while.
    I don't hear the silly UFO sound at all and how did you come up with the 87% figure :D

    For the people that unplugged their speaker -- On your first maint/oil change at the dealership are you going to mention to the service guy to not plug the speaker back in?
    They may notice it and plug back in, so just wondering.
     
  17. ajtozzi

    ajtozzi Junior Member

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    That was taken with the front bumper removed. It is directly in front of driver side front tire. There is nothing else located in that "cavity" and nothing other than the bumper was removed in those pictures.
     
  18. ajtozzi

    ajtozzi Junior Member

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    [​IMG].

    This is what a 2012 looks like w the bumper removed. I took it off to remove the annoying spaceship speaker, change the horns and install HIDs.