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

how can I remove the pedestrian warning sound speaker on Prius prime 2022

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by Joe Cowie, Apr 30, 2022.

  1. Joe Cowie

    Joe Cowie Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2022
    39
    22
    0
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta,Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    ----Canada----
    I'm looking for help on how to located and remove the pedestrian warning speaker on a Prius prime 2022? Any pics or video's I've seen on this platform have been deleted.
     
  2. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,155
    4,146
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    2 things:

    First, the Pedestrian Warning Speaker (PWS) is safety equipment required by law. If you are in an accident, especially one with a pedestrian, lawyers will have a field day with you.

    Second, there are threads on how to do exactly this on this forum. A number of people have done this using different methods.

    Update: I have not been able to locate the old thread. Not sure if I was using the wrong terms, or if it is gone.
    Regardless of what you do, I would suggest contacting your Represenatives and let them know what you think of their law requiring this.
     
    #2 Zythryn, Apr 30, 2022
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2022
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    iput 'pedestrian' in search, and a bunch of threads came up. no help there?
     
  4. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2006
    241
    236
    51
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I am not against the pedestrian warning sound but to me it is way too loud and annoying, It was not as loud prior to 2020 or older models. For some reason Toyota made it much louder, you can clear hear that even inside.
     
  5. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Check those threads:
    Disabling the prius prime noise maker. | PriusChat
    "Artificial Engine" sound on prime | PriusChat

    Just curious, does the same law exist in Canada? The OP is not from the US.

    What I read was that the law went into effect in 2020 or around that time. Before that, it was voluntarily not mandated yet.
     
  6. Joe Cowie

    Joe Cowie Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2022
    39
    22
    0
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta,Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    ----Canada----
  7. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,155
    4,146
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Excellent point! I missed that, thank you for pointing it out :)
    My understanding is Canada does have that law, but it doesn’t take affect until next year.

    I believe Europe also has said law and its law is currently in effect.


    Many people, including the OP, have mentioned how loud the noise is. I would be curious to compare it to another make (or measure the actual Decibel level to legal requirements).
    If it is louder than necessary, enough people complaining to Toyota corporate may get it changed to a more reasonable level??
     
    Salamander_King likes this.
  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Having driven 2017, 2020, and now 2021 PPs, I know that the VPNS (Vehicle Proximity Notification System) sound has increased the loudness since 2017. In the 2017 PP, it was hardly noticeable even if someone is standing outside of the car close to it. In the 2020 PP, the sound was louder but the level of loudness was still owner customizable by using the OBDII adaptor. In the 2021 PP and presumably, for 2022 as well, the VPNS is no longer customizable, and in reverse, the sound got even louder than ever before. It does not bother me much, but if I am driving crowded city street at a low speed, it does attract attention from pedestrians and other drivers wondering what the sound is. So, I guess it is doing the job intended. The only thing is, does that really help prevent accidents?
     
  9. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2017
    1,138
    939
    0
    Location:
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    If it were me, I'd check with my lawyer and insurance company first. If they say it's ok, then I'm good.
     
  10. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,155
    4,146
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I doubt it very much.
    However, that is not my reason for my dislike of the law(s).
    The US version (and possibly others) are specific towards PHEVs & BEVs.
    If this is truly a safety issue, the law should be that ALL vehicles are required to make a minimum amount of sound.

    This would cover future different types of vehicles that aren’t EVs but are still silent. It would also be far simpler of a law.
     
    fuzzy1 and Salamander_King like this.
  11. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Agreed. Especially on PP, the engine sound is probably quieter than the VPNS noise it makes in the EV mode.
     
  12. mistermojorizin

    mistermojorizin Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2019
    310
    135
    0
    Location:
    usa
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    using carista i made it very quiet on my '19. didn't completely get rid of it i guess, but I can't hear it. ymmv
     
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,039
    10,013
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I believe some of the better non-hybrid ICE cars are already quieter than the minimum required of EVs.
     
  14. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,155
    4,146
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I’d be surprised if some weren’t. That is why I argue this law is wasteful, discriminatory and doesn’t even succeed in the stated reason for the law.
     
  15. Woody Johnson

    Woody Johnson New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2022
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Strongsville ohio
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    I just brought home my 2022 le awd. The vpns in reverse is so loud that two of my neighbors have asked me if there's something wrong with the car. I have contacted my congressional Representatives and complained but I know it will do no good. I'm not very good at do it yourself stuff now that I'm a senior citizen but I'm going to do my best to disable this stupid thing.
     
  16. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,155
    4,146
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Your Reps can do nothing about the volume used, that is Toyota. You might get more traction contacting them.
    The law is poorly worded and is, frankly, an embarrassment and should be changed. But I have no idea why Toyota cranked up the volume so much above what the law requires.
     
  17. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, that worked on pre-2019 PP. Post-2020 PP has non-owner customizable VPNS even with a Carista or Techstream.
     
  18. Racerman15@comcast.net

    [email protected] Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2010
    28
    9
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    I have recently acquired 2020 Prius. How can I tell if the sounds I am hearing are bad problems or the Ped Warning Sound?
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    hold your phone out the window while moving slowly and post the recording here
     
  20. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2022
    940
    343
    0
    Location:
    Midwest
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    In your Owners Manual it is called the Vehicle Proximity Notification System. If you look it up the manual will give you the information you need to answer your question (and it is a lot easier than waving your phone out the window). Basically it sounds like a cheap sci-fi device.