2020 Kia E-Niro VESS/Reverse Chime defeat solution

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Thanks for your wonderful & detailed directions. Apparently you have a Niro EV. I wonder/hope that this would work on a 2020 PHEV. Your illustration of the switches above the fuse cover look very similar to mine except my lower panel has a switch to open the fuel door.
To clarify, you attached your push-button switch to the wiring harness to the top set of 5 switches (one blank). It took several readings of your directions before I realized it is the top panel, not the bottom. I'll try to post a photo of my setup. Maybe this will help anyone else with a PHEV.
Since I've not yet bought the taps, all I did was pry the side panel away. Instead of using a plastic automotive trim pry tool to pry it, I used first a thin putty knife and then a stiffer scraper, which worked well (no marks on the plastic).
IMG_4274.webp
 
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You don't even have to unhook the bumper... The VESS is mounted such that you can push the latch, and pry the connector out with a long flat tool in a gap in the front frame. It took me longer to find it than unhook it. It has the added advantage of removing the low-speed rumble. And if you want to spout about "safety" from the noise, let's see the scientific and statistical studies ... real ones, not anecdotal, demonstrating the improvement. I'll buy it on a construction site or work yard with lot's of folks moving equipment in random ways, and people wary of just that, but not so much in real world.
 
FredO said:
Apparently you have a Niro EV. I wonder/hope that this would work on a 2020 PHEV.
Click to expand...
The procedure does work on a PHEV although it took me a lot longer than 90 minutes. Here are some changes I made to the procedure:
  1. The examples on the forum were apparently all for the EV version of the Niro. I have a 2020 PHEV EX Premium. The procedure worked on my vehicle. The lower panel on the EV has 2 buttons but the PHEV has 3 buttons, including one to open the fuel door. (See photo below.)
  2. I did not need the button lighted thus, used a plain switch and then there was no connection to the pink wire on the plug.
  3. Instead of mounting the button in the fuse cover (Fig. 2), I mounted it in the upper panel that has 4 buttons plus a blank (next to the fingers in Fig. 4A). See my photo below.
  4. Instead of a trim pry tool to pry away the side panel, I used a thin putty knife to start prying on the side panel and then a stiffer scraper to finish (fig. 3).
  5. Instead of using taps, I stripped a bit of insulation from the blue wire & soldered a wire to it. (Did not use the pink wire.)
  6. Instead of using a small screw to attach the ground wire above the larger nut (fig. 6E) I attached the ground lug under the nut.

Thanks again to 3XG and carpeEV
--- Fred
VESS disable button.webp
 
Keith Smith said:
You don't even have to unhook the bumper... The VESS is mounted such that you can push the latch, and pry the connector out with a long flat tool in a gap in the front frame. It took me longer to find it than unhook it. It has the added advantage of removing the low-speed rumble. And if you want to spout about "safety" from the noise, let's see the scientific and statistical studies ... real ones, not anecdotal, demonstrating the improvement. I'll buy it on a construction site or work yard with lot's of folks moving equipment in random ways, and people wary of just that, but not so much in real world.
Click to expand...

Which model year do you have? If it's a 2022, could you post pictures of the connector location? I'm having trouble finding it.
 
First off, thanks to 3XG for the exceptional how-to! Just gave this a shot. The hardest part was definitely getting the upper trim off, but with tenacity and swearing I got there!

I’m a bit stuck and would love advice.

Works: LED turns on, which suggests the red-pink connection works and the ground works.

Does not work: 1) The switch does not toggle off/on and 2) the VESS does not disable.

So my guess is that it has something to do with the green-blue/black connection.

Suggestions on troubleshooting? I have tried:
1) re-crimping the green male quick disconnect
2) re-connecting the T-tap splice on the blue/black wire

Is it possible I have a faulty switch? Any other suggestions to try? Thanks.
 
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DynaMike said:
First off, thanks to 3XG for the exceptional how-to! Just gave this a shot. The hardest part was definitely getting the upper trim off, but with tenacity and swearing I got there!

I’m a bit stuck and would love advice.

Works: LED turns on, which suggests the red-pink connection works and the ground works.

Does not work: 1) The switch does not toggle off/on and 2) the VESS does not disable.

So my guess is that it has something to do with the green-blue/black connection.

Suggestions on troubleshooting? I have tried:
1) re-crimping the green male quick disconnect
2) re-connecting the T-tap splice on the blue/black wire

Is it possible I have a faulty switch? Any other suggestions to try? Thanks.
Click to expand...


I just did my son's yesterday and the wiring was like this which was posted on page 6 of this thread. Different explanations have used different switches:

  • The wiring from switch to Niro crash pad was:
    • Blue -> Blue with black stripe
    • Red -> Pink
    • Black and green twisted together -> either of the 2 Black
 
This was my issue! I woke up in the middle of the night thinking exactly this: must be a wiring issue.

Followed this and it worked!
  • Blue -> Blue with black stripe
  • Red -> Pink
  • Black and green twisted together -> either of the 2 Black
What a joy, thank you everyone!!!

Daniel Peters said:
I just did my son's yesterday and the wiring was like this which was posted on page 6 of this thread. Different explanations have used different switches:

  • The wiring from switch to Niro crash pad was:
    • Blue -> Blue with black stripe
    • Red -> Pink
    • Black and green twisted together -> either of the 2 Black
Click to expand...
 
Yamasaki said:
I went to my dealer today for the panel.
He used the VIN from last year niros.
He can order it for 161€.
But there is no delivery date for this item.
I'm gonna make a choice tomorrow.
If I'm gonna get it I will let you know if it works..
Click to expand...

Can you please share the part number for the panel with the VESS switch you tried to order? I want to try and source one as well.
 
I silenced my month old 2022 Kia Niro EV yesterday. My first preference was to switch the "memory" fuse circuit by tapping into that fuse receptacle slot, but I couldn't find a fuse tap for a Micro2 fuse locally. So I pulled the panels and tapped into the switch panel's wire as in https://www.insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?attachments/img_1843-jpg.12206/ I used a 1" x 1/2" x1/4" microswitch that I had lying around, and instead of also tapping into the black ground wire, I wired to a grounded screw within the dash. I just used double sided tape to mount the microswitch inside and just above the fuse door opening.

Working in the tight space was sometimes frustrating, and it took me two hours, but It works perfectly and is essentially invisible. One touch prevents the blaring VESS reverse. A second touch, or re-starting the car, resets it to normal. Thanks to all who worked on these solutions.
 
We own a 2019 so the backup sounds isn’t too bad. However, while it’s been in the shop we’ve had a 2022 hybrid Niro and the backup noise is awful! Honestly would never buy another Niro again until they address and turn it way down. I’m embarrassed to back out of my garage or in parking lots. People stare like what the heck is that!??
 
I found a great alternative to the solutions described in this thread. On a hunch, I bought the "Headlight Switch Unit" pulled from a 2020 model Niro PHEV to replace the one on my 2021 eNiro 4+ which came without the VESS button. There's loads of them on ebay, they're a bit pricey, but this was definitely worth it for me.

You can see the differences in the pictures below. I can confirm that the PCB layout is exactly the same on both, but the PHEV doesn't have the surface mounted components for the blindspot alert disable button. This isn't a problem for me since I can't think of a reason why I'd want to switch blind spot alerts off. All the other functions are working as expected.

If you have a soldering iron and a steady hand, I'm sure you could source the components and get all the buttons working - but that's above my skill level.

Before:
upload_2022-5-24_21-57-31.webp

The Niro PHEV "headlight/traction control switch unit":
upload_2022-5-24_21-59-3.webp

After:
upload_2022-5-24_21-59-34.webp

All in all pretty easy to do, if a bit nerve-racking when removing the trim panels to get the unit out. Take your time, follow the instructions on the thread and all should work out fine.
 
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carpeEV said:
With great gratitude to this thread, I can now turn off the VESS at will. Freedom from din!

When we test drove our 2022 Niro EV, the reverse sound was the one thing that could have been a deal killer. While I am reasonably handy and could no doubt have followed 3XG's excellent writeup, I knew that it might take me 2+ hours, involve a fair bit of profanity, and perhaps some damage to the pristine interior of the car. My wife knew this too, and authorized me to find a pro to do it. So I called up a great local car electronics installer and had him do it for me in 45 minutes my driveway for $150. I couldn't be more happy with the result. I did have him put the button in the upper left corner of the fuse cover for viewability and access reasons.

To make things easier to explain, I compiled 3XG's step-by-step into a PDF document, attached here for anyone's use.

For those who don't want to DIY it, and are in the San Francisco Bay Area, I would highly recommend Jason at Custom Car Electronics to do the install. My car was the first one he has done, but he said he'd be happy to do more. And he makes house calls.

Dave


View attachment 15460
Click to expand...
carpeEV, where is Jason's shop in the Bay Area?
 
NathanL said:
Which model year do you have? If it's a 2022, could you post pictures of the connector location? I'm having trouble finding it.
Click to expand...
I have a 2020. In mine, from the engine compartment there is a gap below the upper frame at the front. Facing forward, the VESS is mounted right in the front, just below the frame, . . . on the other side. There are like 4-6 (ish) wires on a harness clip. I'll try and get a picture in a day or so, but it is definitely very hard to find/see. I had a very bright flashlight, and I used a long thin flat screwdriver to press the clip and pry up the connector with a twist. This has to be one of the dumbest ideas of safety I can imagine.
 
On the 2020 model (at least)

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Just under the hood latch... There is a gap. On the other side of the wall you can see a cable. The VESS is mounted with the socket up. I just left the cable, it's held by a clip on the frame bar

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Looks to be an 8 wire connector with 6 wires in it. Typical Auto clip plug. I used a long skinny flat blade to pinch the connector and pry it out. My neighbors are no longer mad at me when I back out of the driveway at 5AM.
 
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