Hacking the Pedistrian Warning System Sounds

[I <3 My Lightning]

I have the MegaOhm Motorsports disable kit installed and my truck is truly silent. But the motors make a surprising amount of noise at low speeds, a combination of a whooshing and whirring sound.

When one is in public with lots of ambient noise, things tend to get drowned/canceled out. I know what the motors sound like. Many environmental factors like atmospheric pressure and temperature playing a role in sound travel both through the trucks materials and the air. Also if you have the sub frunk/frunk filed with lots of things such as moving blankets, extra jackets, whatever, also changes what one will hear.

I definitely believe some update modified the forward moving sound/or fixed certain models. So many sub systems and so many tweaked ota updates that are pushed to the masses for models without certain features and/or components.

It is like when they pushed a frunk update after the internet threads talked about removing the speaker to kill the frunk warning noise. You then received an error. Yet no one cared to mention if the original tone annoyance actually was also turned down.

But I digress. Back to genius of the interwebs bringing all kinds of talent together.

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[mr.Magoo]

For those having trouble hearing the sound, it must be in drive or reverse to hear it

It also makes the sound when you're Neutral, at least mine does.

 

[mklcolvin]

If we can reprogram it, maybe get "ED-209" to voice a warning - "Step away from the Lightning...you have 20 seconds to comply"

This! Loved ED-209!

 

[HI Zeus]

I'd like to have "Danger Will Robinson" from the OG "Lost in Space" robot for a backup sound.

 

[LUXMAN]

Just to be the bummer of the room...since I looked it up to see if maybe it said something along the lines of "must come equipped with" but nothing else, letting us legally change it, which unfortunately is not the case.
Text from chatgpt, I have not validated the info.


The law mandating that electric and hybrid vehicles emit sounds to alert pedestrians is codified in 49 CFR § 571.141, titled Standard No. 141; Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. This regulation was established under the authority of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 and is enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Key Provisions:

Applicability: The standard applies to electric and hybrid vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) or less, including passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, and low-speed vehicles.

Sound Emission Requirements: Vehicles must emit a pedestrian alert sound when stationary and during operation at speeds up to 30 km/h (approximately 18.6 mph). The sound must meet specific frequency and sound pressure level requirements across various one-third octave bands ranging from 315 Hz to 5000 Hz. For example, at a constant speed of 30 km/h, the vehicle must emit a sound with minimum A-weighted sound pressure levels as specified in Table 5 of the regulation.

Volume Variation: The emitted sound must vary in volume to reflect changes in vehicle speed, aiding pedestrians in assessing the vehicle's movement.

Uniformity: Vehicles of the same make, model, model year, body type, and trim level must emit the same pedestrian alert sound under identical operating conditions.

Tampering Prohibition: The regulation prohibits disabling, altering, replacing, or modifying the pedestrian alert sound system, except for repairs addressing malfunctions or non-compliance.

Compliance Timeline: All applicable vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021, must comply with this standard.


For the complete and detailed regulatory text, you can refer to the official document here: 49 CFR § 571.141

It's actually in the constitution that I can change my car anyway I want once I buy it.?

 

[Monkey]

Yes I feel the truck is way too quiet for pedestrians. People walk right out in front of my truck in parking lots all the time. I would simply like to boost the low speed hum sound a little more.

People absolutely do not recognize the backup sound, nor associate it with the truck. I have more people walking behind me backing up in this truck than just about anything I've ever owned. Then again, people would step in front of my diesel F-350 all the time or walk behind it as well. People are just stupid.

 

[MountainAlive]

People absolutely do not recognize the backup sound, nor associate it with the truck. I have more people walking behind me backing up in this truck than just about anything I've ever owned. Then again, people would step in front of my diesel F-350 all the time or walk behind it as well. People are just stupid.

Yeah for me it’s not so much about backing up but when driving forward slowly in a parking lot. I’m driving along and people just walk right across the path of the truck without hearing it. Granted these are dumb people for not looking but it seems like they’re like, well if anything is coming I’d hear it. Which with this truck they won’t hear it. It’s like a golf cart.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Tampering Prohibition: The regulation prohibits disabling, altering, replacing, or modifying the pedestrian alert sound system, except for repairs addressing malfunctions or non-compliance.

AH - the no Tampering prohibition, ...so, we leave the factory sound alone...and just ADD our own sound separate sound system to drown it out !!

Maybe make it sound like "Uncle Buck's car"... ok too scary. I miss John.
Uncle Buck

 

[The Weatherman]

People absolutely do not recognize the backup sound, nor associate it with the truck. I have more people walking behind me backing up in this truck than just about anything I've ever owned. Then again, people would step in front of my diesel F-350 all the time or walk behind it as well. People are just stupid.

Stupid might be a little too harsh. Ornery might be a better term.

 

[Danface]

All I can think of is "Ride of the Valkyries" (I love the smell of electrons in the morning)

 

[RickLightning]

Stupid might be a little too harsh. Ornery might be a better term.

No, stupid was right.

We have crosswalk warning systems. Push button, it activates, cross road. People don't push button, so they automatically activate it now.

Darwin was right.

 

[Danface]

No, stupid was right.

We have crosswalk warning systems. Push button, it activates, cross road. People don't push button, so they automatically activate it now.

Darwin was right.

Now "AI" is replacing "I" so even less need to think.

 

[evowner]

You people are over thinking this....

 

[NeighborGeek]

I hope this gets figured out. I’d love to be able to replace the sound, or even better to have a selection of sounds to choose from. One day, it’s galloping horses, the next it’s the whoosh-whoosh of the tardis materializing…

 

[hb.sagen]

I would love to lower the volume of the back up beeps. In EU the minimum dB requirement is 54 dB, pretty sure the lightning is higher.

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