Door Sensor problem ...

[doctorman]

Yet another problem with the lovely Prius...

the center pole and rocker on the driver side was changed due to accident and I noticed that the car does not feel the door so to speak
the car thinks the door is always closed

checked the switch and saw that it was not connected to the cable and it was broken a bit. the plastic part behind it that keeps the cable plugged in was broken.

so I attached the cable to the switch and pushed the botton but nothing would happened.

so you know when the car is off and you open the passenger door the light on dashboard shows the door is open and when the door is closed it is off
but when I open the driver door nothing shows on the dashboard it is as if it is closed...

Since the computer always thinks the door is closed:

1. could be that the car computer automatically always assume that door is closed since the switch was not connected for a long time. meaning after the battery was connected the ECU checked the car and didn't get the signal from the driver door so it is ignored that is why it is not working ??

2. Simply change the door sensor and all will be good.
but that doesn't make sense since if there is no sensor on right now why does the car thinks that the door is closed?

3. there is an electrical problem with the driver 's door sensor in a computer in the car or maybe even a fuse.. which in that case i really need you guys to help me fix it.

please advise

here is a pic of the door sensor that was posted by hobbit before on forum

[direstraits71]

to answer your #2 point: If the switch is like other cars, it provides a closed circuit to ground when the door is open which turns on the lights etc. When the door is shut the switch is open, and as far as the car is concerned its the same as if the wire is disconnected. I'd try replacing the switch.

[doctorman]

Originally Posted by direstraits71

to answer your #2 point: If the switch is like other cars, it provides a closed circuit to ground when the door is open which turns on the lights etc. When the door is shut the switch is open, and as far as the car is concerned its the same as if the wire is disconnected. I'd try replacing the switch.

I hear you
tried to do it myself but the stupid screw needs a special screwdriver i don't have
will stop by a repair shop to change it tomorrow.

if you can think of any fuse or other electrical components in charge let me know

thanks

[direstraits71]

Since I haven't verified this circuit personally on the Prius for your year, I won't tell you to do it. But if you can establish to your satisfaction from seeing the switch in person, that it indeed grounds the wire when the door is open you could ground the wire which goes to the broken switch manually and assure yourself that all the other circuitry is working correctly. As in the door is "open". If that works, you know its the switch and nothing else.

[doctorman]

fixed it
found the screw driver for it
opened it
connected the OLD sensor to the cable and without touching the body of the car pushed the button nothing happened
then screwed the same old one back to the body of the car and wallah it worked again
the switch was fine
last time that we tried it we did not connect it to the body before testing it that is why it looked dead.
so as any other car I guess prius also uses ground circuit for the door sensor hence there is only ONE cord connects to the sensor
the sensor is connected to the body of the car and when the door is closed connects the ground to the body and closes the circuit and the light comes on.
it was kinda cool figuring this out ofcourse with your help
now I have the extra sensor that I hope the shop I got it from refund me for it hehe

if anyone needs it let me know

[direstraits71]

Glad to have helped!