How to open doors or just the hood when 12 volt battery is dead

I learned the hard way that you should disconnect the 12 volt battery when not using the car for more than a week. I just had knee replacement surgery, which prevents me from driving for at least 6 weeks. After 4 weeks I went out to start the car and can’t even open the doors. It appears even the manual key is actually electronic (in ’07 Prius) and needs power from the 12 volt battery in order to work.

I understand the solution is to jump the battery, but I can’t get into the car in order to open the hood. Toyota tells me I will have to have the car towed into the dealership, but I can’t believe there is not a simpler way to get the hood open. Does anyone have a suggestion?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeneD @ Jul 13 2007, 09:25 PM) [snapback]478448[/snapback]</div>

The manual key in your SKS key fob won't do it?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Malarkey @ Jul 13 2007, 09:40 PM) [snapback]478455[/snapback]</div>

No, the key turns, but the door doesn't unlock. Apparently, the key only activates a switch, and power from the 12 volt battery is then needed for the car to actually unlock. It seems the system isn't "smart" enough to have a manual backup.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeneD @ Jul 13 2007, 10:45 PM) [snapback]478468[/snapback]</div>

Nonsense. The manual key is just that, manual. You may have a problem with your door lock, but otherwise the manual key should unlock the driver's door no matter what the state of the 12V battery, then you can open the hood and use the jumper terminals found there. Don't forget to pull on the door handle while you are turning the key.

Tom

The manual even says that the key is for emergencies when you lose complete power to the Prius you can still get in or lock it with the mini-key on the side of the fob (it should have the ring around it).

If you have power it will unlock all the doors when you unlock the driver's side. If you have no power then it will only unlock the driver's side.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tadashi @ Jul 14 2007, 12:18 AM) [snapback]478495[/snapback]</div>

Actually, the only info about the mechanical key is on page 20 and 40 of the owners manual and in the Prius quick reference guide. No where does it say what situation the key is for, only that it will unlock the drivers door. The assumption always seemed to be it's purpose was for when the remote fob battery died, you could get in the car, and then slip the fob into the dash recepticle, and all would be fine. But, I can't imagine Toyota didn't take into account a locked car and dead 12v battery scenario.

I went out tried my mechanical key, and it doesn't feel like it's doing any mechanical unlocking actuation, but instead, simply actuating an electronic control. I would like to know if poster GeneD turned the key to the rear of the car and pulled on the door handle.
Someone else should have run into this, with as many dead 12v battery posts we've had.

umm

try again

I had to jump start my prius once, and the manual key opened the driver side door just fine.

Problem solved! Tom put me on the right track. I was turning the key, and then pulling the handle. With this sequence it does require juice from the 12 volt battery. I tried pulling the handle out first, and then turning the key while simultaneously still holding the handle. In this configuration, you can feel a mechnical catch as the key is turned, and the doors do open. In the reverse sequence there is no mechnical catch.

Thank you for all your help.

Gene

Thanks for eveyone's input. I haven't had to use the manual key but a question relating to this just came up on CleanMPG and I said that the info was probably on Priuschat...just before Hobbit aswered the question there. Way to go Hobbit. Thanks.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeneD @ Jul 14 2007, 08:32 AM) [snapback]478596[/snapback]</div>

Wow. I don't know about the rest of you, but I never would have guessed that this is the way to use the mechanical key in an emergency situation. I would have used the key like Gene did the first time (i.e. turning the key, then pulling the handle), which is how a key works in every other car that I've ever heard of.

Maybe I haven't read the manual carefully enough, but other than Tom's post above, I have never read anything that says that this is the way you should use the mechanical key. I'm glad I know now, but it's somewhat disturbing that I didn't know before.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 14 2007, 09:56 AM) [snapback]478604[/snapback]</div>

I haven't read that procedure anywhere, but I am an engineer, so I thought about the OP's problem, and reasoned that he would need to pull on the handle. I'm happy it helped.

Tom

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(busyrosy @ Jul 14 2007, 04:56 AM) [snapback]478559[/snapback]</div>

umm

try what again?

since it worked for you, did you use any special technique ?


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeneD @ Jul 13 2007, 09:25 PM) [snapback]478448[/snapback]</div>

Seems the dealer would have passed along the trick combination to get the mechanical key to work in such a scenario. Instead of the "tow it in" nonsense.

Seems like the manual would touch on this issue, because it's not intuitive.

dealers don't know Jack.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(9G-man @ Jul 14 2007, 10:16 PM) [snapback]478911[/snapback]</div>

Maybe something got lost in the translation!

I think this is false information.

I will try this in my car when my wife gets home.

I am 100% certain that the key simply moves the mechanical door lock, just like any other key/lock mechanism on any other car, at which point you can simply pull the door handle and open the door.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chuck_k @ Jul 15 2007, 06:58 AM) [snapback]479038[/snapback]</div>

If you're 100% certain, than there's no need to try it in your car.

Of course, if you're somewhat less than 100% certain, then please do try it. Although, in order to try it correctly, you should disconnect the 12V battery.

I just started driving again after my knee surgery & had no problem starting Fiona after a month or so. However, I did disable the SKS system for the duration by pushing the button under the steering wheel.

the manual key isnt electronic at all, all you do put it in and turn and then pull on the door handle.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(statultra @ Jul 15 2007, 03:03 PM) [snapback]479181[/snapback]</div>

That's the key step: you have to pull on the door handle. The door doesn't pop open just from the key.

Tom