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hatchback won't open

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by southjerseycraig, Aug 16, 2009.

  1. southjerseycraig

    southjerseycraig Active Member

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    I have a silly problem. I can't get the hatchback in my 2010 Prius II to open. I've used the door unlock inside the driver's door to unlock the doors, but for some reason the hatchback refuses to open. I checked in search, and didn't find anything helpful. Anyone have an answer for me?

    Incidentally, my keys are basically two remotes with an open, a lock, and a panic button. Is this what I should have?
     
  2. southjerseycraig

    southjerseycraig Active Member

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    I don't know how or why, but when I next stepped out to try, the hatchback opened. Is there anything I could have done that would have locked it even though the doors were open? I'd rather not have this problem again.

    I'd still be interested in responses to my keys question. I appreciate all those who take the time to answer posts like mine.
     
  3. Bobsprius

    Bobsprius BobPrius

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    Well you want to check to be sure you hit the open button on the remote a 2nd time within 3 secs. That for opening with the remote. Also there is a rubberized release under the hatch lid. It has a dimple in the ribber next to it as well. When you hit the unlock button on the drivers door it should have unlocked the rear hatch as well. Maybe it's a safety if you don't open in XX seconds it relocks???
    My new prius has just arrived at the dealership Friday, so haven't tested it first hand, but have read the manual to get familiarized with this Gen III.
    Hope it helps and never worry, just call the Service Dept at your dealer or Toyota to ask if the above did not work.
     
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  4. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    I would go with what Bob said. If you only pressed the unlock button once, only the drivers side door unlocks (by default). You must press the button two times (quickly) for all doors to unlock.

    Other than that, the 12v battery could have been low but that is a really outside possibility.

    Peter
     
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  5. southjerseycraig

    southjerseycraig Active Member

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    Many thanks to you and to Bob.. This is the first car I've had with a remote (my last car was a 1998 Camry, which had only mechanical keys). I am glad to know that I can open all the doors by hitting open twice -- I had no idea.
     
  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    I will also mention that it is possible to reprogram the car so that the doors will open with just one press. See your owners manual for more information.

    Peter
     
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  7. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    The answer that by default you must hit open on the fob twice to get doors other than the driver's door to unlock is correct. But that doesn't explain why it did not unlock when he used the unlock button on the inside of the driver's door.

    It is also true that if you unlock the doors with the fob but do not open one, they will lock again after some time. I don't recall how long, maybe a minute? I've had this happen when I was washing the car with the fob in my pocket and bending or squatting caused the button to be pressed. Kind of weird having your car beep for 'un-lock' when you haven't intentionally done anything. Even more weird when it beeps 'lock' and you are just standing there :)

    And yes, those two fobs are what you should have with a model II. I wish they had put the 3 door SKS on ALL models, not only the IV and V. With 3 door, there is never a reason to take the fob out of your pocket or open the driver's door to use the lock switch inside to open the other doors. (caveat: I PRESUME! it is the same with the 2010s) You can set your SKS to open all doors instead of just the driver's door when you touch the inside of the driver's door handle. Unless you live where you fear someone might jump in your car to rob you, set the SKS to open all doors.
     
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  8. Mt View

    Mt View Member

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    What has happened to me, since the lock is now positioned near the latch unlike on my 2005, I have accidentally hit the lock button and then it won't open for several seconds.
     
  9. Jon S

    Jon S Member

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    On my hatchback, I have to push the release button twice to open it, whether the doors are locked or not. I definitely hear a second clunk on the second push...
     
  10. djfnw

    djfnw Junior Member

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    Thanks for answering this question. My friend has a new 2010 Prius IV. He can walk up to the rear hatchback and open it when all doors are locked because his SKS key is programmed to do it. I have a new 2011 Prius III. I can't open the hatchback when all doors are locked. I have to click the unlock button twice to unlock all doors. It would be nice to be able to open the hatch by itself, but it sounds like you can only do that with the IV and V.
     
  11. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    You are correct. Only the IV and V have the SKS on the two front doors and the hatch. The II and III only have it on the driver's door.

    Read the manual about how to have the SKS on the III open all doors instead of just the driver's door.
     
  12. T.mike

    T.mike New Member

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    I just bought a 2012 Prius III and almost immediately had trouble getting the hatch to open, along the lines of what is discussed on this forum. I changed the FOB battery, to no avail and took it to my mechanic. He had no problem opening it, over and over and over. Obviously cockpit error on my part.

    Hitting the unlock twice did not help, in fact nothing mentioned on this thread helped. This morning, still having problem and knowing that yesterday the mechanic opened it without a problem, I finally got to the bottom of my issue, and maybe it will help others.

    The latch mechanism on the outside of the hatchback handle appears to have both a lock and unlock physical press. The center position, which has a slight bump on it actually locks it, so everytime I went to open the hatchback with the handle I was pressing the lock button. The unlock switch is slightly to the left and if I press this as I go to open the hatch it opens fine.
    Cheers,
    T.mike
     
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  13. Estes Kefauver

    Estes Kefauver Junior Member

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    ^ Yep. I had the same trouble for some time when we first got the car. It's easy to hit the lock button instead of the open button.