Has anyone successfully added a switch to turn VSS off/on?

It's really going to be quite simple to add for anyone with a hobbyist background, or even by a local auto electrician if needed. One normally-open pushbutton switch and one 200 ohm resistor, from the pin 7 VESS connection to a nearby ground. The hardest part might be removing the connector to tap into the wire as the switch panel is secured by screws at the back. I have it on good authority that the wire is present even when the button is not.

 

When adding a switch that your car doesn't have, by far the most aesthetically pleasing way to do it is to replace your switch block with the OEM switch block that includes the function that you want to add. (I've done this on my Tundra.)
That picture above is of a single part, with all those switches together. Buy that, and replace your existing switch block.

 

There is no reason why I would ever want it on.. If you unplug it, you can plug it back in in less than 10 seconds.. No reason to go through all the effort to adding a switch...

 

A shot from under the dash of the connection at the rear of the 'crashpad' switchblock. I would assume the latch is pressed in to release but I'm not certain. Tapping into the wires could be done by extracting the pin and carefully soldering a fine gauge stranded wire onto the strain relief part of the pin. Or, just tap into the wire higher up and tape it up.
To buy a whole new switchblock I think you might have to get one from an EU-spec LHD version, same as mine but a mirror image. A suitable pushbutton is easy to find at an electronics retailer, this one needs a 12mm hole.

 

The US government has mandated that all electric vehicles be equipped with a VESS by Sept 2020. I don't know if other countries will/or have initiate such a law. https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/28/17059694/hybrid-ev-car-noise-nhtsa-nissan I don't know if the law will prevent switches to turn it on and off.

 

This whole "car noise" business is baloney, I had a Subaru Forester that cruised through parking lots making far less noise than the Kona's VESS. The modern mufflers today are highly effective. I unplugged the VESS in my Kona and haven't come close to nailing anybody yet. I'm convinced the oil & gas industry is doing all it can to discourage the emergence of electric cars by using its lobbying influence to get laws passed to make EV's unattractive. In many states you can't buy a Tesla because it's factory direct, and the influential car dealers lobby won't tolerate it. I have an order in for a Model 3 delivery in September, and have to drive a rental two hours to New York to get it. If it comes with a VESS I can't unplug it might be a deal breaker.

 

As one who has the factory-installed switch I can say that it has proven to be very useful in practice.

 

I don't see how the requirement could retroactively apply to cars that happened to comply before the regs came into effect. Also, note we can already temporarily turn off LFA/LKA and stability control, items encompassed within the official safety ratings.
I'm normally loath to modify my car, for resale, warranty and insurance reasons, but if I didn't have the VESS switch I would have certainly made an exception. Even just a pushbutton hanging on a wire that could be easily removed. A small pin soldered to the end of one switch wire could be pushed into the relevant conductor and removed later as needed without leaving any obvious damage. The ground could be done with an alligator clip.
Even more clever would be to identify and source the electrical connectors and make up a plug-in adapter loom. Those would sell like hotcakes.

 

I was playing with the website where they sell parts. There are a few variants of the switch block.

93710-J9110-TRY Kona. Without blind spot mntr.
93710-J9120-TRY Kona. With blind spot mntr, without head-up display, without lane assist.
93710-K4200-TRY Kona Electric. With blind spot mntr, without head-up display, with lane asst, with ev, black.
93710-K4200-YPK With blind spot mntr, without head-up display, with lane asst, with ev, gray.
93710-K4220-TRY Kona Electric. With blind spot mntr, with head-up display, with ev, black.
93710-K4220-YPK With blind spot mntr, with head-up display, with ev, gray.

They run around 100$. But there is no guarantee that they have the VESS switch - the parts website just has crude drawings with not a lot of detail, but I see no sign of such a switch.



The grey ones have been discontinued..

 

New regulations will only affect vehicles manufactured after the regulations are published in the federal Canada Gazette. Regulations have historically never been retroactive unless the law involves firearms or some other politically motivated feel good nonsense.