Dealer Will NOT Program 'Seat Belt Buzzer'

[Eagle]

I very much look forward to reading about all the cases where something even close to this has ever happened. I'm guessing it's right up there with the class action law suits against car companies for allowing drivers to turn off their head lights and then running into a bus full of nuns and orphans.

Not the same idea... If you disable a safety feature on your own car and you are injured, the manufacturer not liable. If the dealer disables your lights so that they do not work when you turn them on, then the dealer may be liable for your injury (and the injury to the nuns and orphans who have never had contact with the dealer). Regardless of your personal beliefs, the dealer / manufacturer are right to be concerned about their potential liability.

You may believe that the laws should be changed (and I would not challenge you to your opinion), but that has little bearing on potential liability under current laws of most states. Having the dealer remove the safety device / warning could easily result in liability to that dealer.

As for "all the cases where something even close to this has ever happened," it's really not that hard to find numerous cases involving liability associated with disabling or removing a safety feature, guard, or warning for a wide variety of devices. "[T]he various pronouncements in Liriano instruct that a manufacturer who issues no warnings concerning the danger of operation without a safety device is not absolved from liability for failure to warn as a matter of law simply because the machine was substantially modified through removal of the device." (Cacciola v. Selco Balers, Inc. (E.D.N.Y. 2001) 127 F.Supp.2d 175, 189, citing Liriano v. Hobart Corp. (1998) 92 N.Y.2d 232). The fact that the dealer makes the modification may also increase the likelihood of liability by giving the dealer actual knowledge instead of constructive knowledge. In Arizona, only an unforeseeable modification of a product bars recovery from the manufacturer. Anderson v. Nissei ASB Mach. Co., Ltd. (Ariz. Ct. App. 1999) 197 Ariz. 168; Piper v. Bear Medical Systems, Inc. (Ariz. Ct. App. 1993) 180 Ariz. 170. Missouri may fall a bit closer towards protecting a dealer... it is a state law issue that would require analysis of an individual state's law...

 

[Dot Calm]

OP - put your big boy undies on, go back to the dealer and demand they do as you asked.

lol, yeah, what should I do....show up with my attorney and threaten lawsuit if they don't turn the thing off. Or, maybe a gun..... :50cal:

When the GM says no, there is not much I can do other than go elsewhere.

IMHO, it's just stupid that this is even an issue.

 

[runnaz]

The dealer I bought mine from wouldn't do it. They said it was their policy. Took it to another dealer in Phoenix and they wanted $100 to do it, after I showed them in the owners manual that it could be done. F-- that. I still have 2 others I am going to try when I get time to get to them.

 

[phillyd2]

Oh my!?! 10% of this could be true if he was asking the dealer to disable the seat belt which is the safety feature.

Anyways, while sheep may make a yummy meal and could offer some sort of comfort on a cold night if one was so inclined but being one is sure as hell no way to live ones life.

More comfort could be had that the most nanny of car companies also disagrees with you.

Not the same idea... If you disable a safety feature on your own car and you are injured, the manufacturer not liable. If the dealer disables your lights so that they do not work when you turn them on, then the dealer may be liable for your injury (and the injury to the nuns and orphans who have never had contact with the dealer). Regardless of your personal beliefs, the dealer / manufacturer are right to be concerned about their potential liability.

You may believe that the laws should be changed (and I would not challenge you to your opinion), but that has little bearing on potential liability under current laws of most states. Having the dealer remove the safety device / warning could easily result in liability to that dealer.

As for "all the cases where something even close to this has ever happened," it's really not that hard to find numerous cases involving liability associated with disabling or removing a safety feature, guard, or warning for a wide variety of devices. "[T]he various pronouncements in Liriano instruct that a manufacturer who issues no warnings concerning the danger of operation without a safety device is not absolved from liability for failure to warn as a matter of law simply because the machine was substantially modified through removal of the device." (Cacciola v. Selco Balers, Inc. (E.D.N.Y. 2001) 127 F.Supp.2d 175, 189, citing Liriano v. Hobart Corp. (1998) 92 N.Y.2d 232). The fact that the dealer makes the modification may also increase the likelihood of liability by giving the dealer actual knowledge instead of constructive knowledge. In Arizona, only an unforeseeable modification of a product bars recovery from the manufacturer. Anderson v. Nissei ASB Mach. Co., Ltd. (Ariz. Ct. App. 1999) 197 Ariz. 168; Piper v. Bear Medical Systems, Inc. (Ariz. Ct. App. 1993) 180 Ariz. 170. Missouri may fall a bit closer towards protecting a dealer... it is a state law issue that would require analysis of an individual state's law...

 

[Eagle]

Oh my!?! 10% of this could be true if he was asking the dealer to disable the seat belt which is the safety feature.

You do understand that the warning buzzer is actually a safety feature which alerts you when the seat belts are not in use, right? And even if that is hard for you to comprehend... surely you can understand that removing a warning feature can constitute a failure to warn... which can also result in liability... I do appreciate your expert opinion regarding the merits of the law.

I accept that no amount of information and reasoning will change a position that is based primarily on subjective judgments of what the facts should be.

I also accept that there are perfectly legitimate, legal, and functional reasons to want to disable the buzzer. If your dealer will do it, great. If they refuse based on liability, that is a perfectly reasonable position for them to take. You could offer to sign a waiver... or ask the service tech (who may be more focused on the customer instead of the dealer's liability exposure).

 

[phillyd2]

Last word! I win! :toilet:

 

[hube01]

I found the best way to turn my seatbelt buzzer off was to simply put on my seatbelt! I didn't even need to make an appointment, and I saved money!!



Jay

 

[Eagle]

I found the best way to turn my seatbelt buzzer off was to simply put on my seatbelt! I didn't even need to make an appointment, and I saved money!!

My dealer charges me $40...

 

[WFO_Racer]

You should have written it as a condition of purchase . Now just buy the cable and program away. I killed my buzzer on my TE, Crew Max and a 2012 Camry we just got a few weeks ago. Plus you can pull codes , program keys crap like that.

 

[hube01]

Why the desperate need to disable the seatbelt buzzer? Is it really that difficult and unpleasant to have your seatbelt on? Or is it just a control issue for you; no one can tell me to use my seatbelt?? Help me understand...???

 

[Antman]

I got this.

** Antman MOD # SB1 :thumb3:


This Mod allows you to completely disable both the warning buzzer, and the blinking seatbelt light on your dash......

 

[Eagle]

Why the desperate need to disable the seatbelt buzzer? Is it really that difficult and unpleasant to have your seatbelt on? Or is it just a control issue for you; no one can tell me to use my seatbelt?? Help me understand...???

I don't wish to speak for the OP, but I do note that he referenced situations when the buzzer incorrectly detects someone is present in the passenger seat, thus setting off the buzzer. I also know some people who prefer to ride without a seat belt in some specific situations, such as hunting, when the conditions are safe and the seat belt only slows exit.

That, and nothing creates desire like being told no...

 

[Kraeken]

I had to go to two different dealerships to get the DRL's turned off on my '07. The first place insisted all kinds of bad things would be rained down on them by the feds if they did it. Second place no problem.

With my current TE, the dealer I went to turned off my two front seatbelt chimes no problem, and left the blinking light active which is fine with me. They even gave me a receipt in case another dealership wanted to activate the chime again.

 

[-Trev-]

I asked my dealer/service dept to turn off the chime at my first service... my request was denied by the guy at the desk and he noted my request (and his denial) on the work order. I didn't make a fuss... then about a month later I realized they did in fact disable the chime as I asked.

 

[MacRunner]

I always wear my seat belt when driving, but if I want to move my 4runner from one side of the parking lot to the other, or do any type of short distance driving that by no means requires a seat belt then I don't want that darn buzzer buzzing all the time!

 

[Jtraskell]

Can one simply locate and then unplug the buzzer or chime or whatever it is?

 

[Mason]

Can one simply locate and then unplug the buzzer or chime or whatever it is?

I think Harper said it earlier; there are only two ways that we know of to disable the seatbelt noise. (Techstream and those seatbelt buckles) If it was easy enough I'm sure one of the electrical/wiring aficionados would have found a hack via Nashman's diagrams.

If your dealer won't do it, maybe someone locally to you will be able to since ebay seems to be flooded with these diagnostic tools... Similar to VW and Audi's VAG COM Tool.

 

[WFO_Racer]

Why the desperate need to disable the seatbelt buzzer? Is it really that difficult and unpleasant to have your seatbelt on? Or is it just a control issue for you; no one can tell me to use my seatbelt?? Help me understand...???

If you hunt and are driving slowly to move to a second location the last thing you need is a loud buzzer to announce your location.

Besides what do deaf drivers do ? They cannot hear it. The flashing red light is on the dash to alert you anyway. Besides why is it a programmable feature if it is not to be modified? The Sat Nav does not let you mod the change of direction feature without extensive work, if Toyota wanted us to always buzz surely they would have done the same..

 

[Jtraskell]

I think Harper said it earlier; there are only two ways that we know of to disable the seatbelt noise. (Techstream and those seatbelt buckles) If it was easy enough I'm sure one of the electrical/wiring aficionados would have found a hack via Nashman's diagrams.

If your dealer won't do it, maybe someone locally to you will be able to since ebay seems to be flooded with these diagnostic tools... Similar to VW and Audi's VAG COM Tool.

Yea, I know. The key phrase was "that we know of". My thought, however naive it may be, is that it is electronic and when activated, it makes a sound. Thus, if located, it can possibly be switched or disabled. I was hoping Antman would find the unit and take out his hole saw, get to the wiring, indentify the one wire that would not cause it to explode when cut.........etc.etc.

Just a thought. Be safe.

 

[Dot Calm]

Why the desperate need to disable the seatbelt buzzer? Is it really that difficult and unpleasant to have your seatbelt on? Or is it just a control issue for you; no one can tell me to use my seatbelt?? Help me understand...???

Reasons I would like the buzzer turned off:
1. It is a programmable option from Mr. T
2. I have a watermelon sitting in the pass seat
3. Wife unbuckles while driving to reach into the back seat and take a swing at the kiddies (the kids are annoying enough without the buzzer)
4. It is a programmable option from Mr. T
6. Hopping in and out of truck when wheeling to open close gates, etc...
7. I'm smart enough to wear the belt without an annoying buzzer
8. I have it disabled on other Toy vehicles and I'm used to it that way
9. Did I mention: It is a programmable option from Mr. T
:thumb3::thumb3::thumb3: