TPMS Question and Voice Activ. Question

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Moderator @ Jan 12 2007, 08:30 AM) [snapback]374607[/snapback]</div>

Sorry for the confusing 1st post by me. I thought that I was addressing it to the Moderator for screening and acceptance to post. I am new to posting.

Secondly, I need to clarify the voice activ. issue a little: If I'm sitting still and the radio is set to FM and I say "AM Radio" the system switches from FM to AM radio. If the car is in motion and I say "AM radio" when the car is set to CD or FM it will state something like "This function is not available". Obviously, I have not used a broader range of voice commands since I only know about the issue with temperature settings and selection of AM radio.

Thanks in advance for your patience and assistance.

 

Hmmmm...I don't see how a valve stem cap on the OUTSIDE of the stem is ever going to effect the electronics the reside INSIDE the tire. Are the metals really dissimilar?

 

<_< One of my first mods was to replace the plasic valve caps with chrome. That was in November '06. So far, no problems to my knowledge.

In some instances dissimilar metals can trigger electrolosis in the presence of moisture or chemicals - could that be an issue? One thing that really prompted my changing the caps out was the SUPER CHEAP plastic OEM caps which were hard to thread onto the valve stem. It actually took me longer to re-install the caps than to check and adjust the tire pressure. **SIGH** Maybe I'd better go find some better-made plastic or rubber caps. Actually, I'd like to find some longer ones, easier to remove/install... I keep my tire pressures closely regulated with a 12v mini-compressor and professional-grade analog pressure gauge.

Any Prius techs onboard heard of similar problems?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Macomb @ Jan 12 2007, 09:01 AM) [snapback]374616[/snapback]</div>

Yes, the metals are dissimilar. The caps that I bought are not magnetic. The valve stems are slightly magnetic. I have decided to stay with the plastic caps. It's not worth $400.00 replacement of the TPMS sensors just to have some nice shiny chrome on the wheels.

Relative to the other issue (Voice Activ.):
Any thoughts from any of the experts on here about the Voice Activation issue that I'm experiencing? I couldn't get the radio to come on at all this morning...only the CD player, then from there by voice, could only get FM radio. Galaxee, has your husband ever heard of such a thing. My Toyota dealer was completely surprised by this one.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

DH agrees with your tech as far as the chrome caps go. that black cap was intended to be the primary seal, believe it or not, the secondary seal is the valve core. (there's a little o-ring in there, so if you don't have them anymore you need to get them from your dealer) and the black caps will not seize like chrome ones will, which of course can cause problems leading to replacement of the sensors if physical damage is done trying to remove them.

overall recommend using the black caps.

about the light, have you checked and then *reset* your pressure monitors?

for the voice activation, has this just started or has this been happening since the car was brand new?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jan 15 2007, 12:24 PM) [snapback]375872[/snapback]</div>

Thanks very much for the information Galaxee. I not only have the original black plastic caps, but the service technician put additional ones on and left the chromed caps in my center console (If he had looked in the top glovebox, he'd have found the originals in there, but certainly he had better things to do than go on a 'needle in a haystack' type hunt over my poor substitution).

The voice activation problem has been this way since day 1. I thought at first it was because the system needed 'training' or I needed to speak in a certain way. I know it didn't work correctly from the beginning and it certainly has not gotten any worse. I haven't used all the voice commands, but thusfar these two (temperature setting and AM radio) are the only ones that I've used that do not work when in motion...they work fine when sitting still.

My last car was a Pontiac Bonneville SSE, loaded with leather seats and all. I wanted the Prius for it's technology, reliability and fuel economy. While it did take a little getting used to, I now can't really say there's any difference between the Prius and the Bonneville other than fuel consumption and very comfy seats in the GM. So far, the Prius has NOT disappointed! Cargo capacity is better. Handling, with the Integrities, is excellent thusfar even with the NY snow/ice that we get. The car's HVAC is the best I've ever experienced in any vehicle. Galaxee, please pass along my thanks to DH for his expert advice...I appreciate it.

 

Regarding the voice commands. I have experimented with them and have had pretty good success (80 to 90 % of my commands are properly executed).

I did learn that if your climate control fan is at higher settings, such that you are making a lot of air noise, that will tend to interfere with the voice commands. You might turn off the climate control, just for a test, and see if that makes a difference.

I am not near the car right now, but I think if you say "Help" to the voice command system, it will tell you all of the commands available to you in the menu that you are at.

good luck.

 

One of the 'interesting' problems I've experienced with voice commands is passengers commenting after I press the button. One passenger even tried to 'respond' when Ernestine said enter command after the beep. :lol: As previously commented, loud fan noise will also interfere. While these are irritating, the major issues I have are having the system provide a logical response. When I speak "Go Home" Ernestine2 may respond "Showing Post Office Icons" or some other innane response. [I named my Prius "Ernestine" after Lili Tomlin's telephone operator character since her answers are sometimes totally unrelated to my request]. Then there's the ongoing confusion on when certain commands are even available, thus the responses sometimes "That command is not available..." Even after more than two years of Prius NAV systems, I still do not get consistent responses. I believe I get appropriate responses in about 70% of the time - all things considered, not too bad for a completely generic system - that is one in which you do not 'train' the system to your own voice.