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

Exactly where is the OBD2 interface socket on my new 2018 Prius Prime Adv?

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by AlanGross, Apr 6, 2019.

  1. AlanGross

    AlanGross New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2019
    3
    5
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I want to change the setting on the back-up beep from constant beeping to just one beep. Before I buy an OBD2 interface, I want to make sure I know where to plug it in. As near as I can tell, it's not mentioned in the owner's manual, and it doesn't seem to be where it was on the 2017 Prius Prime. I've been under the dashboard with a flashlight and mirror and still can't find it. Anyone know where it is?
     
  2. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It's under the left side of the dash right below hood release lever. In the photo below the white socket is what you are looking for.

    IMG_20190406_191326.jpg
     
  3. will the engineer

    will the engineer Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2019
    238
    119
    0
    Location:
    LA
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    We should make a sticky. and put this on the top :)

    This is -the- most requested modification
     
  4. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I know there are currently four different ways to customize the reverse beep.

    1. Ask the dealer to perform the customization using Techstream. Result vary by dealers from free, charge for labor, or simply a refusal to perform.
    2. Use MiniVCI and techstream to DIY ~$30 for MiniVCI and pirated techstream (authentic one is way more expensive)
    3. Use Carista dongle and it's app ($20 for dongle + subscription, but you can get free 30 days trial and cancel it for a free app)
    4. Use Bluetooth ELM327 adaptors like ODBLink LX and Prius Tweak app (available only in android sideloading) $10~$50 for the adaptor, the app is free to download
     
    AlanGross likes this.
  5. AlanGross

    AlanGross New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2019
    3
    5
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Thank you, Salamander_King! Perfect picture, and I found it on my car with your help. :)
     
    Salamander_King likes this.
  6. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2004
    3,054
    301
    19
    Location:
    Northwest VT
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    It is ridiculous that they could charge or refuse.

    First, Toyota should have given the owner the ability to do this themselves on the MFD.
    Second, since they didn't the dealers should be required to do it free. The constant beeping is not, in my mind, a safety adder but a detractor. Hard to pay attention to other alerts when you are trying to tune out the unnecessary "warning" that you are in reverse. No sh1t Shelock, I put it there ON PURPOSE!
     
    Bigluten and jerrymildred like this.
  7. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2018
    2,233
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Why should this be a requirement? And how would this be implemented - a new law?
     
  8. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2004
    3,054
    301
    19
    Location:
    Northwest VT
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Required by Toyota since they have removed the owner's ability to turn off (to the extent possible) the back up beeper. There is nothing "safer" about an annoying beeping the entire time you are reversing. It isn't warning people outside the car, it is "reminding" you that you are in reverse. Rear collision alert would be a lot more obvious if the rear beeper wasn't sounding.
     
    San Diego Prius Prime likes this.
  9. AlanGross

    AlanGross New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2019
    3
    5
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Thanks to everyone for your advice and instructions. I bought a Veepeak OBDCheck VP11 (for Android and bluetooth) for $9.99 on Amazon. I received it today (6 days without Prime), downloaded the "Dr. Prius" app, plugged in the VP11, started the car, made the connection to my phone and to the app. The first check-box and the app screen was to "turn off the backup beep". I checked that box, put the car in reverse, and just one beep! DONE. Thank you!
     
  10. Flaming

    Flaming Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    138
    122
    0
    Location:
    QC , Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Technology
    PearlBlizzard and bruceha_2000 like this.
  11. patcoghm

    patcoghm Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2006
    57
    18
    0
    This obd2 connector is in a bad location. Had my 2020 Prius Prime less then a week and forgot I inserted a OBD2 adapter into to plug while checking out an app called Hybrid assistant for android. After making sure it work I turned the car off and my instinct was to push the foot brake. Space is limited and I thought I had my foot on the brake, nothing else in that area, except when a OBD2 adapter is inserted and sticking down. Pushed the adapter and snapped the OBD2 plug and broke the bracket that keeps it secure and from wiggling. Parts hard to find as Toyota showed it as not a order able item and was listed as part of the wiring harness.

    Found it in a google search in China and purchased it from a site that searches all the Chinese sites, obtains the item then they sends it from their location in China. Perfect fit and only 6 wires to move to the new plug if I remember correctly. Easy to do.

    So be careful and don't forget to unplug you OBD2 adapter before going to the foot brake.
     
  12. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2009
    2,945
    2,735
    0
    Location:
    OK
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I bought a 90° adapter and extension from Amazon to move it away from that area. The 90° adapters out there are nice and flat. No problems in 3 years.
     
  13. IntnsRed

    IntnsRed Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2019
    10
    3
    0
    Location:
    Southern (far from Chicago!), IL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    As another owner of a 2018 Prius Prime Advanced, I could not find it. Mind whacking me with a clue-bat? :) Where exactly is it?

    I have an airbag down there, but no cut out like the picture shows.
     
  14. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Are you looking at the left side of the steering column below the hood-release lever? There is no airbag down there, AFAIK. Here is a wider shot of the cabin. The red arrow is pointing to the top of my OBD LX dongle that is inserted into the OBDII port.

    upload_2020-9-16_20-4-55.png
     
    #14 Salamander_King, Sep 16, 2020
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2020
  15. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    The lower no. 1 instrument panel airbag assembly is there; see the Owner’s Manual (PDF), page 36, item ②.
     
    Salamander_King likes this.
  16. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for pointing out about the knee airbag. I didn't know. Here is a new photo showing the location of OBDII port in relationship to the lower panel SRS logo.

    upload_2020-9-17_7-41-39.png
     
    Elektroingenieur likes this.
  17. IntnsRed

    IntnsRed Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2019
    10
    3
    0
    Location:
    Southern (far from Chicago!), IL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    First, pat yourselves on the back. The pics and info given here are top-rate -- Toyota should be paying you guys. Kudos! :)

    Attached is a pic of my Prius, an prime advanced with the plug-in option. It has the lower airbag as outlined in Salamander_King's pic above.

    Crawling under where I assume the OBD2 plug should be there is no plug. :(

    [​IMG]

    But -- this is what the pic illustrates -- there is an "empty hole". That hole looks what I would guess is about the right size to hold a plastic OBD2 female/receptacle plug. The "space" above the empty hole goes for a couple of inches -- more than enough space for a female/receptacle plug and some wiring to come in above it.

    It makes me wonder if the entire OBD2 female/receptacle plug is missing (?). Or is it in another location on my particular Prius? (FWIW, I bought this Toyota-certified Prius from one dealer and have had it in to my local dealer to have a spare key made. I would hope they'd notice such a thing.)
     

    Attached Files:

    Salamander_King likes this.
  18. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    The OBD II connector is a required part of the emission control equipment, and its location in the vehicle is specified by regulations.
    More likely, the connector is somewhere nearby inside the instrument panel. The connector might have been removed from its mounting when a tracking device or other accessory was installed, so the accessory wouldn’t protrude downwards, where it might be seen or disturbed.
     
    Salamander_King likes this.
  19. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Wow... That's bizarre. Yes, it seems your OBDII plug is missing. So, you bought this car used? But if your local dealer (not the one you bought the car) did program a second key, then they must have plugged in their Techstream into OBDII. So, the plug had to be there at that time. Did you check behind the panel to see if there is a loose OBDII female plug? It may be there but somehow the female plug got detached from the panel.

    EDIT: Whoops, @Elektroingenieur got the response before me.
     
  20. PearlBlizzard

    PearlBlizzard Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2011
    75
    30
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    And the reasonable priced Panlong Bluetooth OBD2 Car Diagnostic Scanner worked perfect. You can also disable the seat belt ongoing warning beep with the free Dr. Prius app.