Programmable Preferences - anyone had them changed?

[T4R_Finally]

On every vehicle I've owned that allowed it, one of the first things I've done is turn off the blasted dinging or chiming that occurs when you don't fasten your seatbelt. It's not that I don't wear my belt but there are times when I am must moving the vehicle or riding down a dirt road cruising around where I don't want to deal with putting the belt on or hearing the thing screaming at me to do so. I believe in seatbelts but I don't believe in my government or, more importantly, my vehicle forcing me to do so. If I'm stupid enough to not do it and something happens, then I'm subject to Darwin's theory.

Anyway, I see that there is an array of programmable features documented in the owner's manual. But it says they can only be changed by a dealer. I'm assuming that probably means I have to pay to have them hookup a computer or some device and change the settings to my preference. Has anyone had it done? Is there a fee for it, typically?

 

[Brad2064]

I called my dealer last week to see if they could disable the seat belt chime and they said it would take a half hour and $50. I guess I will just deal with it. I'm pissed that it's not something the owner can disable, all my other previous cars it has been

 

[Glock1985]

I had the seat belt chime disabled. They wanted to charge me $50, but I negotiated it into the purchase.

 

[T4R_Finally]

I didn't really have a chance to read the owners manual before taking delivery (i.e. post-negotiations). I guess I just assumed it was something I could change myself per instructions in the manual. Will definitely be talking to dealer about getting it done for free, perhaps during my first service. Our salesman asked us to go through him to deal with service, which I thought was a nice gesture, so a little hint that it might be the difference between me referring friends or not might get me out of paying for it.

 

[kmehrtens]

I took mine to the dealer and had them disable the buzzer for both the driver and passenger side both. I also had them program the 4R to open all four windows when you press and hold down the unlock button. They were also suppose to program the moonroof and back window to do the same but somehow they forgot and the tech had left for the night when I got the vehicle back. They did not charge me for the visit, called it a courtesy of the dealership. I later took it back to have them change the oil at 1,000 miles and had them attempt to fix the moonroof and back window with the key again and all the could do is the moonroof, not the back (said it may not be possible on my model). They said they looked for that option in the TechStream software, but no luck. So now it is the four windows and the moonroof, no back window. Again they did not charge me for that part of the visit.

 

[westwind77]

All the information you want and more than you need can be found here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/65274-getting-rid-seat-belt-chime.html

 

[T4R_Finally]

I'm fairly satisfied with the default options, I just hate a seatbelt chime. A couple of times the day we picked the truck up, I went to move it in the parking lot at one mall or another and it wouldn't shut up.

Wife emailed me to tell me she called about getting it done and they are claiming it may be illegal in our state to turn it off. I think not - there is no procedure in this state to enforce that because it is not on the checklist for annual inspection. This is the same dealer that sold a friend of mine the dealer's son's Tundra demo, a couple of years ago, that had dark limo tint all around, which IS illegal in this state, but they pass it on state inspection every year. So, illegal or not, they've been known to bend a rule for people and I don't mind reminding them of that if needed.

 

[homeyclaus]

I had the dealership that did the state inspection turn off the seat belt chimes, and turn off the automatic unlocking of the doors when you put it in P. I don't mind the doors locking, but unlocking all doors when you put in park isn't something I consider wise in urban conditions.

No charge, but I had to pay for VA inspection and emissions. When they screwed it up (it unlocked, but no longer locked automatically argh), I called, went back, and the tech was there, techstream in hand (well, under the arm), and spent some time setting it right, and playing with some the other options. The appointment finished with a "come back anytime you need something changed."

 

[T4R_Finally]

All the information you want and more than you need can be found here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/65274-getting-rid-seat-belt-chime.html

I guess, technically, this is what I asked for but it still doesn't tell me how to solve this myself. But that's okay, I don't want to mess with any wiring, etc. I want it done the way it was designed to be done and I don't want to hear any dealer tell me it can't be done or that it is illegal in this state unless that is the truth, and I don't believe it to be true. I have a friend who is a DMV inspector - he should know, so I'll ask him.

It shouldn't be anyone's responsibility but my own to buckle up. If I don't do it, I'm responsible, period. I shouldn't be able to sue a dealer, the manufacturer, or the government because of consequences of a personal decision I made on my own. What's the world coming to? I guess it's like sueing MacDonald's because you are too stupid to realize that coffee may be a little on the warm side.

 

[westwind77]

I guess, technically, this is what I asked for but it still doesn't tell me how to solve this myself.

Because it can't be done or it has not been done by anyone yet. Get a pair of wire cutters and a 100 pack of electrical butts and let us know if you get a solution

 

[deekoi]

Because it can't be done or it has not been done by anyone yet. Get a pair of wire cutters and a 100 pack of electrical butts and let us know if you get a solution

uhhh i wouldn't do that... hahaha

I had mine done, went in for some other stuff and asked if they could change do these modifications and they went ahead and did it. pulled out a laptop connected to the car and started going one by one down the list changing whatever options I wanted. Some dealers you'll be lucky some you won't.

 

[Scuba6]

Judging from the replies that owners have put on here every time this topic comes up, it's hit or miss depending on how decent your dealer is. The dealer I bought from in DC didn't know what I was talking about when I wanted to make the various custom settings like having the windows all roll down from the remote or having the doors not all unlock when put in park. They had to go look it up and ultimately did it for free.

I didn't do the seatbelt chime at the time, as it didn't annoy me. Now that I'm in KC, it started driving me nuts as I drive around my Apt complex to get my mail etc. When the truck went in for other service, I asked the guy to turn off the chime, It was done 5 minutes later with no questions and no cost.

Different dealers, different answers and different costs. But it's free and takes seconds if you find the right guy.

 

[kingpin748]

It shouldn't be anyone's responsibility but my own to buckle up. If I don't do it, I'm responsible, period. I shouldn't be able to sue a dealer, the manufacturer, or the government because of consequences of a personal decision I made on my own. What's the world coming to? I guess it's like sueing MacDonald's because you are too stupid to realize that coffee may be a little on the warm side.

That's what everyone says until they wake up in a wheel chair with half a million in medical bills. You just start suing anyone with deep pockets.

Having said that my dealer turn off the seat-belt chime without any issue. If yours won't just drive to the next one as it seems to be pretty hit and miss.

 

[GrantK]

I called my dealer last week to see if they could disable the seat belt chime and they said it would take a half hour and $50. I guess I will just deal with it. I'm pissed that it's not something the owner can disable, all my other previous cars it has been

It's handy to know they want to charge for this since I'm planning to buy a TE this year. I'll have to negotiate free programming for the first 12-18 months into the purchase contract.

 

[blademan]

Sounds like a lot of you all are having to mess with some sorry dealerships> Mine was bending over backwards to do whatever I wanted. I took my 2010 TE back after a weekend and had my seatbelt chime turned off and my windows programmed on the key. When I go back by, I plan to have all doors unlock with one press of the key remote instead of two. Im gonna have to get the tires balanced and aligned maybe - getting slight vibration at 60 mph on the BFG AT's.
I think if one wanted to include that as a charge on the purchase, I would kindly say "no thanks" and go to the next dealer.... I mean its not like these SOB's aren't already making a crapload of money on you.

 

[K O]

Dropped by the dealership today as they were eager to have me in to re-program the vehicle to allow the smart key to unlock all doors at once when I touch the driver's door handle and the push button to also unlock all doors at once. They were a little too busy to let me go through the menus, but offered to make an appointmenet with me and let me look through all their menus and program the vehicle any way I'd like. There were a ton of options from the few screens I saw.

Pretty satisfied with the dealer experience.

 

[phillyd2]

they are claiming it may be illegal in our state .

:AK47: :infidel:

It really is amazing the BS being spewed but the dealers. Including mine who swore up and down that they were not allowed to do it....can't be done....tried but failed to do it.....

Luckily I researched the issue and waited until my 2011 LTE was ready to be picked up - I told my dealer that unless they turn the damn thing off I am walking away from the deal. Once he understood that I was dead serious....within 15 mins it was off.

I don't mind being lied to but it annoys the hell out of me that they think I'm dumb enough to believe their lies.

 

[T4R_Finally]

That's what everyone says until they wake up in a wheel chair with half a million in medical bills. You just start suing anyone with deep pockets.

I happen to have a very good friend who is in a chair and can't feel a thing from about mid-chest down as a result of a car accident when he wasn't wearing a belt. He was thrown through an open sunroof and landed square on his chin. He has never blamed anyone but himself and never tried to sue anyone, especially not the manufacturer of the car he was driving or the dealer who sold it. There are still some of us out here that take responsibility for our own actions and live with the consequences. I am no different.

With that said, I wear my belt when I feel it is necessary. But what is necessary should and is up to me and, if/when I'm wrong and something happens, it's on me and me alone. The bottom line is - no dinging chime is going to make my decision for me. I'm either going to put it on or not based on my own logic and reasoning. I don't need a car bugging the crap out of me to change my mind. It's a nuisance and is a programmable customer preference. If Toyota was so serious about it being a liability issue, they would simply lock it out from being an option. If my state believes it should be a motor vehicle requirement, they would add it to the list of some of the ridiculous things an authorized inspection station has to check for annually, and not allow me to pass and, thus, renew my license plate for another year.

There are so many programmable features, instead of requiring the dealer walk through the vehicle feature/functions with me, at delivery, akin to a flight attendant having to show me how to buckle a seat belt before every flight, they should provide the software to the dealers for free and have them provide a menu of selectable choices prior to delivery, and program the settings before the vehicle ever leaves the lot with the new owner. Or better yet, give me a way to program the features as I wish at any time I choose. Having me buy a $30k plus vehicle and then have to take it back and hassle with the dealer over either doing what I ask and/or nickle and dime me for $50 more is ridiculous.