How to Get Rid of Seat Belt Buzzer?

15509 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by JSTCD, Sep 11, 2010

Discussion Starter · Aug 31, 2010

Hi,

Recent lurker and now newbie-member here. I recently bought a used 2008 Highlander Hybrid and I am loving it. The one thing that drives me bananas is the seatbelt buzzer. Is there any way to reprogram the car to get these alarms to quit? I have checked online and see instructions for varying years and models but none of the suggestions for other models/years worked for my Highlander.
Before you jump all over me, yes, I do wear my seatbelt and am aware of the safety concern involved. However, sometimes I put items in the front seat which activate the passenger alarm. Other times I need to unbuckle my belt to reach something briefly while at a stoplight or stop sign. The same occurs with my passengers. I am not planning on abstaining from seat belt usage, but I don't need an alarm to tell me to do so. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

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TrailDust

· #2 · Aug 31, 2010

Yes, it can be done, but your dealer has to do it through their own computer interface. Click here to see the Customizable Settings.

In order to alleviate the inevitable questions about legality, the following are U.S. Department of Transportation standards:

FMVSS No. 208 only requires a seat belt warning system for the driver’s seating position. There is no requirement for an audible or visual warning signal that applies to the front passenger seating positions. Therefore from a federal standpoint, there is no legal bar to the modification of the passenger seat warning system.

The attachment from the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations, the law when it comes to these things), said:

S7.3 (a) A seat belt assembly provided at the driver's seating position shall be equipped with a warning system that, at the option of the manufacturer, either—
(1) Activates a continuous or intermittent audible signal for a period of not less than 4 seconds and not more than 8 seconds and that activates a continuous or flashing warning light visible to the driver displaying the identifying symbol for the seat belt telltale shown in Table 2 of FMVSS 101 or, at the option of the manufacturer if permitted by FMVSS 101, displaying the words “Fasten Seat Belts” or “Fasten Belts”, for not less than 60 seconds (beginning when the vehicle ignition switch is moved to the “on” or the “start” position) when condition (b) exists simultaneously with condition (c) , or that
(2) Activates, for a period of not less than 4 seconds and not more than 8 seconds (beginning when the vehicle ignition switch is moved to the “on” or the “start” position), a continuous or flashing warning light visible to the driver, displaying the identifying symbol of the seat belt telltale shown in Table 2 of FMVSS 101 or, at the option of the manufacturer if permitted by FMVSS 101, displaying the words “Fasten Seat Belts” or “Fasten Belts”, when condition (b) exists, and a continuous or intermittent audible signal when condition (b) exists simultaneously with condition (c).
(b) The vehicle's ignition switch is moved to the “on” position or to the “start” position.
(c) The driver's lap belt is not in use, as determined, at the option of the manufacturer, either by the belt latch mechanism not being fastened, or by the belt not being extended at least 4 inches from its stowed position.

What is installed in today's vehicles by manufacturers are called "enhanced warning features" and can be legally deactivated. This is what the custom features posted allow the dealer to do. Given that we live in a litigious age, some dealers may balk at changing this setting. At any rate, if your dealer does turn off the two settings the vehicle will still be legally compliant with the legal requirement of sounding the buzzer for not less than 4 seconds and not more than 8 seconds if the drivers seat belt is not fastened.

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nick1sp

· #3 · Sep 1, 2010

Just to let you know, the buzzer doesn't stays on indefinitely. If you could withstand the annoying buzzer for about 3-5 minutes, it'll stop.

unbuckle the belt to reach something briefly while at a stoplight or stop sign does not trigger the buzzer unless the car is in motion. You wouldn't want to start reaching for stuff while car is in motion anyway.

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grinn253

· #4 · Sep 10, 2010

Hi,

Here are two threads on the Highlander forums (Hybrid & 2nd Gen) that appear to have details on how to remove the buzzer:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=341699
(read note after step 5)
and
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=334741
(Post #5 by "R00K")

I have tried neither approach, the 2nd thread above seems to have various results with just one 'confirmation' from an 2008 Highlander User on post #21.

Laters!
Edgardo

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JSTCD

· #5 · Sep 11, 2010 (Edited)

Have done it, in an 06.

You CAN do it yourself. Dealer can do it too, but I assume they'll charge you, if they are legally allowed to do it for you at all.

Anyway, you should of course wear your seatbelt if you want to live. If you do not, or you are responsible enough to wear it without the bell (but you have to promise to wear it) here's how it is done, strait from the manual (for an 06):

1) Ignition to"ON"
2) Press ODO/TRIP until you get to ODO
3) turn car back OFF.
(If your odometer was already in the odomoeter mode, showing your mileage, not trip A or B you can omit those steps)

4) With your seatbelt OFF, Turn car ON
5) within 6sec of turning car on, press and hold ODO/TRIp button for 10seconds
6) While continuing to hold the odo button down, fasten seat belt (REALLY hard to do one handed)
7) The odometer display should now read "SEAT BELT BUZZER ON" (or OFF) Release the ODO/TRIp button
8) Press ODO/TRIP until the display switches to SEAT BELT BUZZER OFF
9) Turn car off.
10) Turn car back on, see if seatbelt alarm goes sounds.

This will turn off the DRIVER's side alarm, you must do the whole thing over, but in step 6 fasten the passenger seatbelt to turn off the passenger seat belt allarm. (I find the passenger allarm much less anoying and left it on)

All this reverts to the factory default if you drain or disconect your bat.

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