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Feedback to Toyota about Nav and Phone Lockout

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mayall, Mar 30, 2007.

  1. mayall

    mayall New Member

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    I really like my new Camry and Prius. I really hate the lockout of major areas of the nav and phone system.

    The disabling of core features while the car is in motion creates a worse hazard than the features themselves.

    I sent the following to Toyota via their website:

    If you feel the same way, please send your feedback to Toyota. You can send Toyota feedback at:

    Send Toyota Feedback via Email
     
  2. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    It's probably better for them to have the lockouts from a legal perspective. If you're staring at the MFD entering data while driving on the freeway there's a potential for an accident. The problem is that this also prevents the passenger from entering the data. That could be solved if the weight sensor on the passenger's seat could override the lockout if the weight registered 75 pounds or more.

    That being said, you can cut the speed sensor wires and install a switch on each. That will make the car think it's stopped. Just switch to OFF when entering information and back to ON when done. Also, there's a company called Coastal Electronics which sells a Lockpick which will unlock the NAV and BT as well.
     
  3. mayall

    mayall New Member

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    Certainly.

    My point isn't that the areas that are locked out may be a distraction -- they are. My point is that there are many other areas of the system that are just as distracting, if not more so. Why not just turn off the entire system? (Especially that incredibly distracting MPG monitor.)

    Perhaps the most distracting part of the system is trying to get the voice recognition system to do anything useful.

    Will Mayall
     
  4. daronspicher

    daronspicher Active Member

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    I'd have an easier time driving + dialing on that screen than I do driving + digging in my bag for my phone, then punching in the numbers on the smaller dialpad on the phone itself.

    Sign here on the line that says "I know the dangers of having these things available while driving, it's not Toyota's fault"..

    This forum is ultra liberal... It's the fault of the corporation no matter how stupid the guy was who crashed. The little victim man should win a $50 million lawsuit for crashing while dorkin with the mfd while driving to pay for his bruised toe.

    Gotta love the ACLU and our ability to make everything the fault of someone else, especially someone else who has deep pockets.

    The result is us being locked out of the phone dialer while moving. Shouldn't you be out sueing someone rather than reading prius chat?
     
  5. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Will Mayall @ Mar 30 2007, 10:45 AM) [snapback]414982[/snapback]</div>
    I think that they are making a difference between receiving information and entering information on the MFD.

    I know that some drivers turn the MFD off when driving.
     
  6. dentedwheel

    dentedwheel New Member

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    Speaking of annoying warnings. Has anyone ever successfully removed the iron on labels from the sun visors? I think all of this can be avoided if we sign a waiver upon the purchase of the vehicle.
     
  7. Spoid

    Spoid New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Will Mayall @ Mar 30 2007, 11:45 AM) [snapback]414982[/snapback]</div>
    What drives me crazy is having to wait for the prompt. I push the button and it says "Please say a command at the tone." I figured out how it works after the first time I heard the prompt. Does it have to play the whole message each time I push the button? Why can't it just beep?
     
  8. MarinJohn

    MarinJohn Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dentedwheel @ Mar 30 2007, 01:47 PM) [snapback]415092[/snapback]</div>
    yes while sitting in a hot car waiting for a friend. Once you get the edge separated from the visor the rest peels off fairly easily. DOES, however, leave an indentation where the label was.
     
  9. dentedwheel

    dentedwheel New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarinJohn @ Mar 30 2007, 04:07 PM) [snapback]415156[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks. It has already started to get hot.
     
  10. Vincent

    Vincent Don't Wait Until Tomorrow

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    Vote for no lockouts with your feet

    Lexus lost a navigation sale in my wife's 07 ES350 because of the dumb lockouts; I will not buy another Prius with lockouts.
     
  11. mayall

    mayall New Member

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    Although I agree with the sentiment, this is too extreme for me.

    My first reaction is to make sure that Toyota knows I am not satisfied. I think a message to Toyota is probably the most effective way to make sure they know.

    Will Mayall
     
  12. JHSmith

    JHSmith 2020 Avalon Hybrid Owner

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Spoid @ Mar 30 2007, 06:40 PM) [snapback]415131[/snapback]</div>
    If what I think what you're complaining about is correct, it can be over-ridden (almost).

    This is for an 07 Camry Hybrid Nav, but general instructions should be close to the same for Prius:
    • Hit "MENU" hard key
    • Select "Set-Up"
    • Go to page 2
    • Under "Voice Recognition Guidance", select "OFF"
    That's it.

    Now, you will only hear a "BEEP".

    Why did I say "almost"? Well, there will be about a six (6) second deelay between hitting the steering wheel "MIC" button and the beep, as though the bleeping lady was still talking, but was being muted.

    I hope this is what you were asking for.
     
  13. tacomel

    tacomel New Member

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    A couple more examples of how the lockout is more dangerous than it's worth:

    1. Driving down the road, need to call 911 or other emergency number. Cannot do this due to lockout of dialing pad. Must reach into pocket, get out cell phone, open cell phone, dial on keypad. I had this happen twice, once when reporting a drunk driver to 911, and once on Illinois tollway to report debris in the road falling off a big rig (*999). So I programmed these numbers into page 3 of my speed dial, with a contact name "EMERGENCY". I happened to check one day to that speed dial page, and noticed/remembered that the phone numbers are grayed out while in motion, so how do I know which one is 911 and which one is *999 now when they both just say EMERGENCY? So I had to rename the contacts, creating more clutter in my phone book.

    2. Again the bluetooth phone, select telephone feature only works when you are stopped. So when my wife is driving my car (or I am driving hers) and forget to switch the phone back, you are left with only one practical choice: pull off the highway and switch the phone in the Prius MFD. Pulling off the highway is inherently dangerous, as is the alternative -- pulling the phone out of your pocket and holding it to your ear, not using the bluetooth feature at all.
     
  14. mayall

    mayall New Member

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    There are features galore in the nav/phone system but they are so poorly implemented that I often can't find them. I find the entire system a distraction because I get so frustrated dealing with the poor user interface.

    Will Mayall
     
  15. maggieddd

    maggieddd Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Spoid @ Mar 30 2007, 04:40 PM) [snapback]415131[/snapback]</div>
    My '05 Prius doesn't say "Please say a command at the tone." It just beeps. They must have changed it on the '06 and '07 models.
     
  16. fairclge

    fairclge Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(maggieddd @ Mar 31 2007, 07:57 AM) [snapback]415416[/snapback]</div>
    that is a pain, I would agree. I live in an area with new construction and new roads so the NAV is about worthless. :blink:
     
  17. Ken S

    Ken S Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ Mar 30 2007, 04:05 PM) [snapback]415032[/snapback]</div>
    What does the ACLU have to do with this topic? Do they bring product defect or personal injury suits? No, they don't....how about you stop the rant long enough to understand what you're saying.
     
  18. MarinJohn

    MarinJohn Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vincent @ Mar 30 2007, 05:45 PM) [snapback]415240[/snapback]</div>
    I feel the same and my next Prius will not be 'loaded' as was my first one. No nav, no upgraded stereo, no voice recognition. I will add most of these features aftermarket.
     
  19. MarinJohn

    MarinJohn Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ken S @ Mar 31 2007, 04:36 AM) [snapback]415421[/snapback]</div>
    This suggestion would require knowing what you are speaking about, which would mean coming to conclusions yourself instead of parroting 'important people'. There are a third of the country who can't/won't read, research, discuss, and draw their own conclusions. We call them neocons. the 'con' is part of the title for a reason. Like a communicable disease, once they're 'conned' they pass the con along to unsuspecting (equally non-thinking) individuals, and the con proliferates. Luckily, an open mind, and ability to draw one's own conclusions, is the best defense. 2/3 of the country won't allow themselves to fall for the 'con'.
     
  20. larkinmj

    larkinmj New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ken S @ Mar 31 2007, 08:36 AM) [snapback]415421[/snapback]</div>
    The NAV system in the Prius has a well-known liberal bias. :lol:

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(maggieddd @ Mar 31 2007, 07:57 AM) [snapback]415416[/snapback]</div>
    In my '06, if you hit the horn and the voice-prompt button at the same time (I found this out by accident once when honking the horn; it's easy to hit both at once), the NAV lady said "Please say a command at the beep." I can't think of a logical reason for having that feature, so someone must have programmed it in as a joke.