How do I open the hatch door when powered up?

ZC1 · 07-01-2008, 06:35 PM

I keep running into this and need a couple answers.

I enter the Prius and power it up to READY or have been driving and now am parked with power ON.

At this point, I need something in the cargo area, so I reach for door handle, get out, walk to hatch and the hatch refuses to open even if I have the key in my pocket which I always do.

Only solution I've found is to walk back around to the front, open my driver's door and hit the unlock button, walk back around and open hatch.

I reset the open doors on... feature, so my wife can approach the driver's door which unlocks while all the other doors stay locked. Much safer that way.

Should not the doors open while the key is in the pocket even if the car is ON.

This problem does not occur if the car is OFF.

Suggestions?

ZC1

qbee42 · 07-01-2008, 06:37 PM

Suggestions? Unlock the doors before you get out. It sounds trite, but it works.

Tom

ZC1 · 07-01-2008, 06:40 PM

I knew it would be soon when that answer came.
It came a bit sooner than I expected.

I'm sure the first 50 times I'm going to forget to hit the unlock switch, but after that........ golden.

ZC1

Danny Hamilton · 07-01-2008, 06:49 PM

I don't think this behavior is limited to the hatch. If the passenger door is locked and the car is on, I don't think the SKS will unlock the passenger door when you grab the handle. Same with the drivers door. I'll try it when I leave work and report back later.

Jack66 · 07-01-2008, 06:49 PM

Never had that problem, I'll have to try it out tonight.

cairo94507 · 07-01-2008, 09:11 PM

I have my remote programed so it unlocks all locks when I enter the car that way when I get out and need to open the hatch it is unlocked.

chrono807 · 07-01-2008, 09:17 PM

Sounds to me like a safety feature - if they hadn't done this, then someone could walk up and open your hatch if you're stuck in traffic.

zenMachine · 07-02-2008, 12:31 AM

Can you press the unlock button on the keyfob to open the hatch in this situation?

tachan · 07-02-2008, 01:20 AM

I think it'll depend on your setting. If you have the setting set to what you have said then it's a safety feature that keeps the doors locked because the car is on. It doesn't want intruders coming up and just unlocking the doors. I would have my key in my pocket with the car started and all doors locked, then my dad would come up with the 2nd key in his pocket and it still won't open the door for him. Unless the car is not started, I would unlock the driver's side then he'll go to passenger side and unlock all doors.

edthefox5 · 07-02-2008, 08:34 AM

Mine is the same. You cannot open back hatch with car on. They don't want you to get run over cause you left the car on I guess.

07-01-2008, 06:35 PM	#1
ZC1 Junior Prius Owner Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 671 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 2 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 12	How do I open the hatch door when powered up? I keep running into this and need a couple answers. I enter the Prius and power it up to READY or have been driving and now am parked with power ON. At this point, I need something in the cargo area, so I reach for door handle, get out, walk to hatch and the hatch refuses to open even if I have the key in my pocket which I always do. Only solution I've found is to walk back around to the front, open my driver's door and hit the unlock button, walk back around and open hatch. I reset the open doors on... feature, so my wife can approach the driver's door which unlocks while all the other doors stay locked. Much safer that way. Should not the doors open while the key is in the pocket even if the car is ON. This problem does not occur if the car is OFF. Suggestions? ZC1

07-01-2008, 06:37 PM	#2
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 5,642 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? Suggestions? Unlock the doors before you get out. It sounds trite, but it works. Tom

07-01-2008, 06:40 PM	#3
ZC1 Junior Prius Owner Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 671 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 2 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 12	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? I knew it would be soon when that answer came. It came a bit sooner than I expected. I'm sure the first 50 times I'm going to forget to hit the unlock switch, but after that........ golden. ZC1

07-01-2008, 06:49 PM	#4
Danny Hamilton M0D3RAT0R Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greater Chicagoland Area Posts: 770 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? I don't think this behavior is limited to the hatch. If the passenger door is locked and the car is on, I don't think the SKS will unlock the passenger door when you grab the handle. Same with the drivers door. I'll try it when I leave work and report back later.

07-01-2008, 06:49 PM	#5
Jack66 Kinda Jovial Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stafford, Virginia Posts: 768 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 6 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? Never had that problem, I'll have to try it out tonight.

07-01-2008, 09:11 PM	#6
cairo94507 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Ramon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 666 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? I have my remote programed so it unlocks all locks when I enter the car that way when I get out and need to open the hatch it is unlocked.

07-01-2008, 09:17 PM	#7
chrono807 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Scotia, NY Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? Sounds to me like a safety feature - if they hadn't done this, then someone could walk up and open your hatch if you're stuck in traffic.

07-02-2008, 12:31 AM	#8
zenMachine Just another Onionhead Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,391 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? Can you press the unlock button on the keyfob to open the hatch in this situation?

07-02-2008, 01:20 AM	#9
tachan Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? I think it'll depend on your setting. If you have the setting set to what you have said then it's a safety feature that keeps the doors locked because the car is on. It doesn't want intruders coming up and just unlocking the doors. I would have my key in my pocket with the car started and all doors locked, then my dad would come up with the 2nd key in his pocket and it still won't open the door for him. Unless the car is not started, I would unlock the driver's side then he'll go to passenger side and unlock all doors.

07-02-2008, 08:34 AM	#10
edthefox5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 440 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: How do I open the hatch door when powered up? Mine is the same. You cannot open back hatch with car on. They don't want you to get run over cause you left the car on I guess.

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