Toyota Sound

Who knew?

I love my car. It’s a 17-year-old Toyota Prius. Although it’s a 2010 model, I picked it up in 2009, brand new. Red. Leather interior. Rear camera. (Dog in the back didn’t come with it. I had to install her separately.)

I know that today’s cars, if they’re not totally self driving, keep you from rear-ending the car in front of you or drifting into adjoining lanes all the while making tweeting sounds that are supposed to keep you alert. A few days ago, an older (70s? 80s?) gentleman accosted me in the parking lot of my local market after I’d almost been run down while on foot by a woman backing out of her parking space without looking. Then he launched into telling me about his new car, a self-driving wonder. Said that it drove itself all the way to Monterey (from where we live in Marin County) without his having to do anything except tell it where to go. He could have taken a nap! Of course this marvel of modern engineering costs in the neighborhood of $60,000 and up, several times more than my first house cost in its entirety (in 1964).

By comparison, my car is almost an antique and relatively silent when I start to drift into adjoining lanes or come close to rear-ending the car in front of me. Except for what I consider a design flaw: it beeps when I’m in reverse, and the beeping is inside the car, not outside where it could be doing some good alerting pedestrians. I already know I’m backing up and don’t need the beeps to remind me. But my little Ruby and I have been growing old together, and she has served me well even without all the most modern bells and whistles.

I even got a toy Yoda for the dash. Toy Yoda. Get it?

Recently when I got in, it wouldn’t start. I called AAA, and the wonderful AAA guy came and installed a new battery for me. We are always extremely happy to see the AAA guy when we need him (I’m not being sexist––it’s just always been a “him” whenever I’ve needed roadside assistance. And they’re all wonderful!) Ruby was happy with new energy and zipped along side streets and highways good as new after her new battery.

Yesterday, when I got in my car there was immediately a loud chirping/beeping sound as soon as I closed the door. I had never heard this sound before, and it didn’t stop. I assumed it was some kind of alarm that had been activated, and tried turning the engine off and on: nothing. Buzzing/chirping beeping continued. Went and got my alternate key fob. Opened car door with different key, opened and closed all doors and rear hatch. Warning sounds continued. The sounds seemed to be coming from inside the car and not very audible from outside, so I thought it was a strange alarm system. Maybe designed to scare a thief once s/he was in the car.

I went back inside my house to my computer to consult AI. Described what was going on and asked for advice.

Key fob / alarm system chirping, especially if locking/unlocking or if the alarm was partially triggered

Door, trunk, or hood not fully latched causing warning chimes or alarm chirps

Low key fob battery causing odd beeps or warning messages

Interior warning chime from lights left on, key left in ignition, seatbelt, or parking brake

Low 12V battery causing strange electrical buzzing/chirping

A relay or module buzzing under the dash or hood

I turned off the dome light. Didn’t feel comfortable disconnecting the 12V battery, but locked and unlocked, opened each and every door, fastened and unfastened seat belt. Chirping/beeping continued.

I went back inside, got online, contacted AAA and was notified that they’d send roadside help that would arrive in 30 minutes. I watched online as the AAA vehicle made its way from 30 minutes north of where I live.

I was outside waiting for Kurt, the wonderful AAA guy when he and another technician arrived.

“Hi! How are you?” I asked.

“Just great, thanks!”

Of course, they’re always “great” because they’re all wonderful and wherever they go, people are so happy to see them.

Kurt and his colleague set about to find the source of the incessant noise. Got inside the car. Turned it on. Turned it off. Raised the hood. Went in back and disconnected the battery temporarily. Nothing. Beeping/chirping continued.

Had me start the car while checking who-knows-what. Still beeping and chirping.

Finally, Kurt told me that he thought I should take it to a mechanic or Toyota dealership service.

I did not look as happy to see him leave as I did to see him arrive. I didn’t ask him how he was, but I suspect he wasn’t as “great” as when I first met him.

Since the car could drive without any discernible problem, I drove to the Toyota dealership, chirping and beeping all the way, about 20 minutes from where I live, and waited in line behind two or three cars. I turned my engine off. Beeping/chirping continued. Of course.

A man came and put a cone-like object with a number on it on the roof of my car, I guess indicating where I was in the order of being serviced.

After about 10 minutes, a young woman came out, and asked me through my open window what the problem was. I told her to listen: beeping/chirping. That’s the problem.

She listens. Said “That’s not a Toyota sound.”

Well, news to me that there’s a Toyota sound, and that this young woman had such a keen ear as to recognize something that she could identify as being not a Toyota sound.

She opened the door and I got out. She started fishing around the side pocket of the drivers’ side door: maps, Swiss Army knife, radio station list, and then brought out a device along with a second one that looked vaguely familiar. One of them was the source of the sound. She pressed a button.

Chirping/beeping stopped.

OMG! In my life these days I seldom get embarrassed, but I have to admit this was one of those occasions in which I was definitely embarrassed. Cringe-worthy embarrassed. I might have blushed. The young woman had the grace to laugh with me as I sheepishly told her she should be a detective. My embarrassment was mixed with relief that I wasn’t going to have a sizable repair bill in addition to the frustration of never making it to my destination.

I should explain that I purchased this device some years ago as a precaution should my car ever plunge into a body of water, or be in an accident in which I need to smash my car window to get out, or cut the seat belt or see what I’m doing if it’s dark. The flashlight has dim and bright and flashing red features and the device has a seat-belt cutter and car window smasher in addition to the flashlight––and the incessant alarm with which I was already well acquainted. I’d be ready for any catastrophe.

I had put these devices in my car several years ago, “just in case.” Being mostly Irish, I anticipate catastrophes at every turn, and want to be ready. I had also given one to both daughters and several friends. I had an extra one in case I came across someone I wanted to give it to. Then I had forgotten all about them.

I’m happy that I’ve never had to use this multi-purpose marvel, and I’m glad to be reminded that I have one should I ever find myself plunging into a lake or other body of water, need to cut myself out of my seatbelt or smash my car window.

Now all I have to do is remember that I have it.

And a real plus from this whole experience is that I now know what a “not” Toyota sound is! I wonder how many Toyota sounds there are? Might make a catchy musical piece: “Toyota Toccata,” or “Variations on a Theme by Toyota.” I’ll see what I can do…