Hey All,

Do you know where the door chime is located exactly? That thing that beeps when your door are open while the key is still in.
I don't want to tear the whole dash looking for it I bet someone knows where it is and how to get there.
Thanks!

 

I don't have first gen any more, but look for short [l/2" or so] slots in the plastic near the drivers left knee position [going by memory here]. I am almost sure the slots are in the lower portion. Put your hand to cover the slots to ensure that is the location of the sounder.

Before you reach out and cut the wires, do consider other warnings that it gives ... reminder you can lock away the key.

Salim

 

Thanks for the response Salim!
I think I found the spot you are thinking of, a small "grate", like a speaker grill, next to the right driver's knee. However when I cover it, the sound is not affected at all.
It is really hard to pinpoint where it is coming from. Seems like all over the driver's leg area under the dash and above the pedals.

I've locked my keys inside more times than I can count and the chime has never stopped me It drives me crazy though and I never used it for anything.

 

Another half baked suggestion by me..

Try searching in the parts diagram. This is where Lexus indicates a location and only guidance from me would be "body electrical".

The other option is assuming the astronaut launch position with the head in the footwell and legs on the seat. Incidentally a young age person is more capable of locating the source of a sound so solicit their help.

Salim

 

I did a little bit more online digging and I determined that both 1st gen Toyota Highlander, and 3rd gen Toyota 4Runner (probably other Lexus/Toyota models of that age too), have the exact same sounding chime.
I then found instructions on how to remove that chime in a 4Runner, and it is located IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, on the back, just under the first cover. A black cylinder, 1/2" diameter and 1/2" thick.

I'll pull the gauge cluster today and verify if that is true for the RX300 but I'm pretty sure it will be.
Or I suspect it may be located in the Body ECU (Multiplex controller?), I'll check there too.

 

Ok I found it.
Its in the Multiplexing Computer, a silver metal box under the dash above the pedals, in the center. It's secured with a metal "L" bracket to the firewall.
If you want to access the buzzer you have to pry the box open and desolder or destroy it. Probably not the best idea.

I doubt anyone wants to disable the buzzer altogether, probably only in certain situations, so instead of removing the buzzer, remove the sensor that is triggering it.
I want to disable the "key in, door open" chime, so I unplugged the sensor which tells the key is in the ignition, there is a wire going from the top of the key assembly and has a connector a few inches further down, accessible from underneath the dash. Now there is no chime when key is in, and there is no loss in any other functionality. Still chimes on seatbelts etc.
Same would apply for other sensors, just unplug the one that annoys you.