Adding a beep when the interior lights are on?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by DavidinNevils, Feb 25, 2026 at 8:11 PM.

  1. DavidinNevils

    DavidinNevils Junior Member

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    Has anyone done something like this? (I'd want a several minute delay for when loading and unloading. A cloth in the back was caught in the hatch latch - preventing the interior lights from turning off, and that resulted in a dead battery. Not a good situation.) This text is from the Brave Search AI-critter. "Adding a beep when the interior lights are on is not a standard factory feature on the 2012 Toyota Prius, and there is no official, simple method to add this circuit through user-accessible settings or button combinations."

    "However, a custom electrical modification can be implemented by a qualified technician or DIY enthusiast. The most practical approach involves:

    • Sensing the interior light circuit: Tap into the wiring that powers the interior lights (typically the dome light or map lights).
    • Using a relay or electronic module: When the interior lights are turned on, the module triggers a buzzer or piezo beeper.
    • Mounting the beeper: Install a small, low-volume beeper in a discreet location (e.g., near the fuse box or under the dash) to avoid excessive noise.
    • Power source: Use the vehicle’s 12V system, with proper fusing and grounding."
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Yes what of it all available . Most folks are not trying to add more noises .and isn't their s buzzer going off wen door open at park and ignition off etc ? It goes off when the door fully shuts or the hatch lid fully closes so a towel caught should not allow full closure and light and buzzer on ?
     
  3. DavidinNevils

    DavidinNevils Junior Member

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    I don't really understand what you are trying to say.

    Our 2012 makes no "noises" when the doors are open, nor when backing up.

    In order to avoid a dead 12v battery - due to human error, a buzzer - with a delay (long enough to cover common lengths of time to have the doors open - so it's silent then), but after that to warn of an undesired drain - makes strategic sense.
     
  4. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    How are you going to hear the buzzer, inside the car, when you walked away from it?????? Haven't you just introduced another drain on your 12V battery? What happens if that device malfunctions, another parasitic draw on the battery? Wouldn't it be easier to just look at the car, to see if the interior lamp is ON - obviously easier if it's dark out.

    Please complete your thought on how this is suppose to work when your outside your car and the buzzer is inside your car or do you mean to install an external buzzer - loud enough to disturb your neighbors?
     
  5. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    In your 2012 Gen 3, does car not refuse to lock when all the doors are not closed properly like on the Gen 2? If it does, then the easier way to get the beeping is to lock the doors every time.