Can't lock your keys in the car?

[rep308]

I'm still getting use to the key fob and end up placing in the cup holder in the center console. Yesterday I got out of the car with the fob still in the cup holder and pressed the black 'lock' button on the car handle. I had a moment of fear that I was locked out but then I was able to unlock the car because the fob was cup holder and recognized by the system.

Do I have this right that you can't lock yourself out and you car isn't really locked if you leave the fob inside?

[kcpistol]

When I bought my prius I was told by the salesman that while it was hard to do, you COULD lock your keys in the car, because he had accidentally done it. I think the key to doing it is that if the keys are somehow shadowed by a radio-blocking or distorting object, or if the keyfob signal is weak, it may not be detected.
I thought one of the funnier things in the owner's manual was the statement that you should never leave your keys in the car "due to the risk of theft". Do ya think?

[Jiipa]

You can not lock your car with the smart key inside unless you really want to or the fob battery is very weak. It is possible using the mechanical key to lock the door or by getting out of the car with the window down reaching in to hit the power button, door lock switch, and auto close the window.

[Sarge]

Under 'normal' circumstances (barring dead battery, RF interference, etc..), it's impossible to lock the keys in the car when using the "Smart" system... i.e. pressing the black button on the handle to lock the car or by locking with the second key fob. The car will make a long beep and not lock. This is by design.

However, you can manually lock yourself out the old fashioned way by locking all the doors, open the driver door, then close the mechanical lock on the door while it is open, then close the door. This will lock the door whether your key is inside or not.

Of course, that is completely ignoring the smartkey technology, and I couldn't imagine any regular Prius driver ever doing this accidentally once they get used to the keyless smartkey technology.

If so, well, then there is no 100% protection against stupidity.

[hschuck]

The best way to use the smart key is to put the fob in your purse or pocket and leave it there.

[cyberprius]

Originally Posted by hschuck

The best way to use the smart key is to put the fob in your purse or pocket and leave it there.

I don't USUALLY use my Prius for work. But on the rare occassions that I do, all the dirt, water and other assorted muck that ends up on, around, or in my pocket would probably be a bit bad for the health of the unit.

On a somewhat related note, some of us women, at least, tend to wear our pants a bit tighter than a number of you guys. So, while my jeans are not "painted on" they are still much more snug than say my husband, who has to wear a belt to keep his from falling off.

So, if you are using the fob, it is in your pocket, and the buttons are being 24/7 pressed because of the tight fit, I would imagine your battery -- and fob -- might wear out much faster....

[Turbogizzmo]

I had to enable the ability to do this when i got my car tinted, I just disabled the smart key system under the dash. Then the tint guy just put the key in the center console locked the doors and left the car for me to pick up.

When i showed up I had my spare fob, unlocked the doors via the fob and then re-enabled the smart system under the dash.

What would be funny is to disable the smart system on some smart @$$ sales man right before he pitches this "cant lock yourself out" thing

[draedie]

Is it possible to lock one fob in the car while using the other (or the button with the other fob in pocket) to lock from the outside? Prior to getting our Prius, my hubby and I would both carry our sets of keys while we were out, and we would love the extra keys in the cupholder until we got home and needed them again. I've never been entirely clear on whether the doors were actually locking or not because I always have the smartkey enabled so if I test the handle it will open regardless. So it's just a curiosity since we have now taken to bringing only one set of keys with us if we're both going.

[hschuck]

Nope. See post #4. You will receive a long beep and the door will remain unlocked.

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by draedie

Is it possible to lock one fob in the car while using the other (or the button with the other fob in pocket) to lock from the outside? ... I've never been entirely clear on whether the doors were actually locking or not because I always have the smartkey enabled so if I test the handle it will open regardless. So it's just a curiosity since we have now taken to bringing only one set of keys with us if we're both going.

If the Prius can detect the fob in the car, then it should emit a long beep and not lock. If you really want to store a fob in the car, I suggest that you find a suitable metal container that is large enough to hold the fob and will shield the radio waves emitted by the fob.

If you want to see if the doors are locked, why not look at the door lock knob on each door, which will show a band of red if unlocked and all black if locked.

Bringing only one fob for two drivers may not be a good idea if the person carrying the fob leaves the car. A beep will sound and a warning light will appear on the dash. The driver can continue to drive, but once the Prius is powered off, the driver will not be able to restart the Prius. The driver will also have to use manual methods to lock the doors and of course will not be able to unlock them.

Originally Posted by cyberprius

On a somewhat related note, some of us women, at least, tend to wear our pants a bit tighter than a number of you guys. So, while my jeans are not "painted on" they are still much more snug than say my husband, who has to wear a belt to keep his from falling off.

So, if you are using the fob, it is in your pocket, and the buttons are being 24/7 pressed because of the tight fit, I would imagine your battery -- and fob -- might wear out much faster....

Hopefully the fob buttons are not really being depressed continuously, because that would cause confusion to the Prius if the fob is in range, and will wear out the fob battery very quickly.

If the woman in this example carries a purse, a backpack, or similar item, then the fob can drop down into the dark recesses of said purse (or backpack, etc.) and does not need to again see the light of day except when the fob battery requires replacement.