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Disabling the prius prime noise maker.

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by I'mJp, Feb 19, 2017.

  1. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I would not call my 2000 Tundra V8 whisper quiet but people seem to not notice the big green truck moving in the parking lot. :eek:
     
    #41 Prodigyplace, Feb 20, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2017
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  2. Civic4982

    Civic4982 Member

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    Disabling purposed safety features. Hmmm...

    That seems rather silly for a small annoyance to you that may mean a valuable preference for others.

    Considering the goal for many who use more efficient electric and hybrid vehicles is to use less fuel in hopes of a more positive imprint on the world, I'd hope few will find the minimal decibels at low speed these output such an annoyance that they'll go through the trouble to bypass the system as the OP has shown.


    iPhone ?
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    disabling the feature will reduce energy use.

    but i would say the proliferation of phones, earphones and etc. are a much bigger problem regarding peoples attention spans, and the dangers of cars and pedestrians in public spaces.
     
  4. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    The thing uses less power than an LED map light.

    That problem is one of the things the noise maker can help mitigate.
     
  5. Samprocat

    Samprocat Active Member

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    To prevent ECU from turning light on...

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I hope you mean the CEL (Check Engine light).
    I would want the ECU (Engine Control Unit) to function as intended.
     
  7. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Above all, do not think the noise maker gives license to run over blind or sighted pedestrians. Congress-critters, maybe.

    Bob Wilson
     
  8. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    The sole purpose of the report is to protect the car makers and government from being sued. The report doesn't have to be totally conclusive. Should someone disable their noise maker and injure or kill someone that is visually impaired, they will be fully liable. Should that person kill someone that is visually impaired and it is proven the car was tampered with, now the fun begins. A person's tweets, emails and postings can be subpoenaed in order to prove said person had knowledge to do it. Then, every news outlet would broadcast the trial, due to risk the alleged took to disable the car.
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    whatever you do, don't run over anyone's pet. the punishment would be, severe.
     
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  10. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I have this vision of someone's cat trying to find the 'bird' . . .


    Bob Wilson
     
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  11. stevepea

    stevepea Senior Member

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    As someone very sensitive to sounds and pitch (I can tell you what pitch a scraping chair is) I was curious about this myself, and found this thread very interesting. I constantly hear the noise (and the artificial-ness / tinny quality of the sound used certainly doesn't charm me) but I probably will just leave it as is for the safety issue with pedestrians (of which I am often one) -- though one could argue that someone blind would most likely be able to hear the car coming anyway due to other noises such as the tires and such.

    Still, I wonder why the noise wasn't designed so that it could be heard only outside, but not inside. One thing that surprised me about the horn on the Prime is how soft it is inside the cabin, yet how loud it is outside (compared to the Hondas, where the horn volume heard inside is closer to the volume outside). Why couldn't the noise have been designed better, so it's only heard outside the car and not inside? (Yes, even with the windows closed, if you're driving on the street at a quiet time of day/night, you can definitely hear it inside as well).

    Ah, well, I suppose it could be worse: everyone's "I'm coming" noise could've been an ice-cream truck jingle..

    (bwilson: Bambi vs Godzilla.. now that's a classic!)
     
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  12. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    I'm mostly deaf, so I hear nothing. I consider myself lucky, ( in many situations )
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you must be married.;)
     
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  14. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Ahhh, the secret to a long marriage.

    Bob Wilson
     
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  15. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    True.
     
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  16. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    52 yrs in a few days.
     
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yikes! congrats man! our fortieth is next february, i hope we make it to 52! seeing that i am also losing my hearing, it could happen.(y)
     
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  18. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    We had #42 in December. Glad you and @Andyprius1 also found keepers. (y)
     
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  19. bresna

    bresna Active Member

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    The disable technique shown in the first post uses a resistor. That resistor will draw the same current as the noise maker. There is no energy saved by disabling the noise maker with a resistor. If it used 2 Watts as a noise maker, it'll use 2 Watts as a resistor. The only difference is that the noise maker converts those 2 Watts into noise and the resistor converts those 2 Watts into heat, which is why you need to use a high power resistor.
     
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  20. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    It will be 34 years this August for the wife and I. I think I can speak for most of us long term folks, all kidding aside, I feel very fortunate to have met and married such a wonderful woman!