1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Getting rid of the reverse beeping

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by nudriver, Jul 18, 2012.

  1. nudriver

    nudriver Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    222
    26
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    What can I do about eliminating the reverse beeping on my 2012? A service person told me I can get it down to one beep, but I also found out that dealerships charge for adjusting this. Is it an easy thing to do? How can I get this done for free or at least cheap?

    Why does it even have this ridiculous function- useless!

    On a similar note, after service warranties have expired and you start taking the car to independent mechanics, is it easy to work on?

    Lastly, I bought my car recently and still haven't received the Toyota packet in the mail. Just in case, what should I do in the meantime if I need roadside assistance, which I'm apparently automatically enrolled in?
     
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
  3. nudriver

    nudriver Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    222
    26
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I don't want to pay a lot to get rid of the beeping, so that piece of equipment wouldn't be for me. Has anyone gotten the beeping to stop cheap or for free?
     
  4. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five

    I figured as much but for asn many times as this gets asked on here most of us offer the same advice; That is, use a scanguage or use a dealership.

    Yes, people have had it done at their dealership for free. Some charge, most don't. It's wrong of them to charge for it IMO. Maybe call another dealer close by to you and inquire or challenge your dealership telling them if they can't perform this few minute task for you after just purchasing the car you'll not use them again and inform as many others as you can not to use them as well.
     
  5. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,744
    6,543
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You just bought your car---right?
    The sales person that you bought it from ought to be able to have the service department do this for free.
    I'm not sure how Toyota does it (mine is a company car) but the last few cars that I bought resulted in my receiving a Customer Care Survey form in the mail about the same time that I got the usual "welcome aboard" packages.
    They want good marks.
    You want the reverse beeps to go away.
    If they're not big on helping you out with this trivial problem, then I wouldn't be big on letting them swing wrenches on my car when bigger issues arise.

    Like I said, I'm not sure how Toyota does "Customer Care", but the same sales staff that was stumbling over themselves to sell you the car ought to arrange a 10-minute procedure in the service department to keep you nice and happy so that you will consider being a repeat customer.

    Warranty work: There is a schedule of maintenance in the owner's manual. Stick to that. Don't let them up-sell you on any additional services. If you're covered by Toyotacare (and you probably are) then they pick up the freight for this for the first 25K miles.
    If you stick to the maintenance schedule, it's mostly filters and fluids for the first 100K. After your warranty expires, this car is not much different to work on than any other front-wheel drive vehicle with the exception of the regenerative brakes. Unless you're a moron (or just drive like one) you're not going to have to worry about brake work until you're well past the 100,000 mile mark. Probably more like a buck fifty.
    By this time, if you're the average American, you will have long since been seduced by another car.

    Good Luck!
     
  6. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2006
    2,369
    979
    70
    Location:
    Sunnyvale, California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    There are a number of threads discussing how to disable the beep with either a Scangauge or an ELM 327. ELMs are available on eBay and Amazon for $15+. I did a search for "beep elm 327", and the first one that showed up was Can I disable the beep w/o a gauge or stealer visit? | PriusChat . ELMs come with serial or Bluetooth connections. A serial unit from China costs the least (be sure to include shipping in the cost). For a little more, you can get the same units from Amazon and save some shipping time. A Bluetooth unit costs a little more, and can additionally be used with Android devices (with Bluetooth) for performance monitoring.

    Best deal is to get your dealer to do it for free. Many people have done this, while others have been refused and/or charged up to $100.
     
  7. nudriver

    nudriver Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    222
    26
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    After making the request from a dealership, I got the response that dealerships aren't allowed to disengage the beeping for liability reasons. This sounds dubious. Anybody know if that's true? I don't see how it could be if people here are saying it's been done. Could it be something new? And how is the beeping providing safety? Like we don't know we're backing up- give me a break!
     
  8. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,424
    38,652
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Just on the assumption the question isn't entirely rhetorical:

    Yes it can be irritating, but maybe you've got a low threshold, lol. The Prius has a very drive-by-wire shifter, it's easy to lose track of which direction you're going to go the next time you push the gas. Well, for me anyway. Accordingly, I don't mind putting up with it, it does remind me I'm in reverse, for those few seconds.

    I kinda like the pedestrian alert speaker too. It would be cool if you could customize it though... ;)
     
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,315
    10,163
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    This is strictly an internal dealership policy, and is not universal.

    My dealership cheerfully turned off this beep during the first service visit, and asked whether I wanted the seat belt beep turned off too.
     
  11. Erikon

    Erikon Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2009
    819
    105
    0
    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Well, it will still beep once when you put it in reverse. If you forget which direction you're going in imediatly after that, maybe you shouldn't be driving!
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,424
    38,652
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Assuming that's for me:

    I don't recall ever losing track of which gear I'm in. I've come close once or twice maybe. But there's always a first time. Toyota set it up for a legitimate reason. It's a minor irritant for a few seconds as you back out of a driveway or a parking spot. With a potential big pay off. Or not. Like insurance.
     
  13. nudriver

    nudriver Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    222
    26
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for the help guys. My nearest dealership was totally cool and fixed it for me for free. Plus they threw in a free car wash. Amazing!:)
     
  14. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    If the reason is legit then why isn't it on every Toyota?
     
  15. sunnyd

    sunnyd Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2012
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Maybe it's due to the nature of the shifter? It's not like your conventional auto shifter in the sense that it doesn't move to a certain position when it's in R. You only click over and then it returns to the center position. Not all Toyotas have this type of shifter so the beeping isn't necessary.
     
  16. NaptownPrius

    NaptownPrius Getting Greener....

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2008
    271
    7
    0
    Location:
    Napolis, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    If anyone needs their back up beep disabled and you're in the Annapolis MD area, I'll turn it off for you for free. PM me.
     
  17. bfpdb

    bfpdb Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2011
    9
    0
    0
    Location:
    Central Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I personally like the backup beeper, in fact I bought one and installed it on my Ford f150. It is to Save some childs Life, Maybe Yours.
     
  18. NaptownPrius

    NaptownPrius Getting Greener....

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2008
    271
    7
    0
    Location:
    Napolis, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Not when it only beeps inside the car...
     
  19. FBS67

    FBS67 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    8
    6
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Too funny, eh. I'll search how on the forums and may PM if I don't find it. Thanks for the offer!
     
  20. phickson

    phickson Tron Pod Occupier

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2012
    89
    31
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I bought my Prius on Nov 24th and just received my roadside assistance packet in the mail yesterday, Jan 5th. It comes with cards (wallet and key chains) that have the toll free number and your car's VIN printed on them. So it looks like it takes awhile to receive this information from Toyota.