Turn Off VESS (Virtual Engine Sound System)

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by Boston Charger, May 30, 2019.

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  1. MMH

    MMH New Member

    In Europe, they have two switches where we have one, the bottom one being the VESS switch... it would be nice if we could just order, and (somehow) install, that double switch! (I realize that it probably would be the whole panel of switches one would have to order and that probably ordering that or the double switch is wishful thinking!... Hyundai's warranty could/may also be jeopardized...)
     

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  3. hobbit

    hobbit Well-Known Member

    It would have to be a whole new board behind the panel, as the US version
    apparently doesn't even have a blank spot.

    If VESS is a dedicated active-low output, I still don't get why there's a 200
    ohm resistor in there. Is the VESS box still doing a voltage-divider comparison,
    like to protect against a simply shorted input? [I suppose I could test this if
    I cared enough to plug the VESS back in at all...]

    _H*
     
  4. How easy was it to remove the lower dash cover to gain access to the switch board?
     
  5. SkookumPete

    SkookumPete Well-Known Member

    Interestingly, I just ran into the owner of a brand new Kia Soul EV, and it does not have the VESS.
     
  6. hobbit

    hobbit Well-Known Member

    The lower dash wasn't too hard, as I remember: the side panel
    [that gets hidden when the door is closed] has to come off first.
    Couple of screws, but most of it is the little claw-clips. If they're
    "virgin", the process is a little more difficult ... work slowly, use a
    flashlight to find the next one along, non-marring pry tools, etc.

    The switch panel screws in from the back.

    _H*
     
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  8. Especially a puzzle that the other panel controls all use the same or a similar design, yet only one makes obvious selections based on resistance. I would hope that changing the value on the (momentary) VESS disable would change the sound to a V8 but I suspect there may be more mundane purposes such as fault detection.

    upload_2020-2-8_13-30-46.png
     
  9. KonaGO-1234

    KonaGO-1234 New Member

    KONA_VESS_HUD.jpg
    I don't own a KONA Electric yet but will be purchasing one after I get my solar installed. Would anyone know if it possible to simply buy another lane assist/auto button and replace the HUD button with it. Then use one of the buttons for the HUD and the other Button for VESS? It looks like it could work since the button slots are the same size. Not sure how much the replacement button costs but it would look like it was from the factory if it possible.

    You would of course have to paint match and then get stencils to re-paint the HUD and VESS Logo's.. I would buy a set if someone made them :), well assuming it worked.
     
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  10. ericy is looking into it:
    https://insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/has-anyone-successfully-added-a-switch-to-turn-vss-off-on.9034/#post-102315
    but the easiest, cheapest and proven working method is here (for a N.A. car):
    https://insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/modifications-and-tweaks.5009/page-8#post-105992
    hwitten has eased the procedure by used tap connectors instead of soldering
    https://insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/modifications-and-tweaks.5009/page-10#post-106489
    ;)
     
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  11. Vince08

    Vince08 Member

    In case anyone is still interested, here are two images of the side panel (of a right hand drive Kona). You need to pry starting from a location that has a small rectangular cut out then work your way around it. The location of the clips are shown in the other image.
    20200808_172314.jpg 20200808_173327.jpg
     
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  13. Curious,what did you use for a prying tool?
     
  14. Vince08

    Vince08 Member

    I bought mine online. You can try to search for "car door trim removal tool"
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2020
  15. navguy12

    navguy12 Well-Known Member

    I just got the car less than 12 hours ago and have done a preliminary survey of the fuse panel area.

    Have I correctly identified the connector I will be working with:

    IMG_0476.JPG

    Thanks.
     
  16. navguy12

    navguy12 Well-Known Member

    Further to my last (sorry no photo at this time) but there appears to be no black wire in slot 12 nor a green wire in slot seven.

    Hypothesis: if the VESS switch is no longer available in jurisdictions outside North America for 2021, perhaps there is no method to turn the thing off (short of an actual kill switch).

    Is there a (safe) place online one can access the wiring diagrams for a 2021 Kona EV? Thanks.
     
  17. If I may suggest just pulling the connector off the vess speaker its the simplest solution.Run it for a little while and if makes you uncomfortable having it always off just plug it back in. I suspect you will be happy leaving it off. Initially I thought it was cool, then after running with it off for the last 6 months it got plugged back in while it was serviced recently and honestly it feels like fingers on chalk board to me now and it was promptly unplugged again.
     
  18. navguy12

    navguy12 Well-Known Member

    It's up to my wife, its her car.

    If she says something, I'll unplug it.

    As a passenger, I concur with the fingernails on chalkboard description as my wife does not use the radio...
     
  19. No. It's directly behind the switch panel, on the so-called 'crash pad'. Since you've got the parts you may as well install them.
    Yes, but noting all the pertinent info available for this mod has already been provided.
    https://www.hyundaitechinfo.com/
    I think that is highly unlikely. The mod we've described has had over a year of discussion, as have model year changes. It will work.
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2020
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  20. navguy12

    navguy12 Well-Known Member

    Behind the panel, on the crash pad. ..I'll go take a look...
     
  21. Bring a small mirror and flashlight with you and look up through the fuse box hole.
     
  22. navguy12

    navguy12 Well-Known Member

    Sorry I sound like a 2x4, but on the back side of the yellow-colored fuse panel/connector panel I see this one connector, bottm edge, firewall side, inboard bottom corner.

    Is the correct connector plugged into the firewall side of the yellow-colored fuse panel/connector panel?
     
  23. navguy12

    navguy12 Well-Known Member

    Okay, is it the connector on the back side of the multi button control panel that has, amongst other controls, the intensity of the instrument panel lights?
     

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