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SKS: Cannot use outside the car when Power On

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by ramdulari, Jan 17, 2010.

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  1. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    Hi All,
    I find the SKS to be another example of the marriage of the possibilities of hi-tech and the lack of creativity of the engineers wielding it. My significant grouse with the SKS is that if I let the Power on and step out of the car (with key fob in pocket), the car won't let me either lock or unlock the doors. I have two commonly occurring instances when I need such capability - 1. I need to run behind to the hatch and open it to retrieve something from the inside, and 2. I need to leave the car standing outside while I quickly run inside (a business or home). Sometimes somebody stays inside the car, and obviously in that case they could use the benefit of the heater/cooler and entertainment.

    Has anyone found this irritating as I have? Is there any programming of the fob to add the desired exceptions?
     
    #1 ramdulari, Jan 17, 2010
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  2. mindmachine

    mindmachine Member

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    Actually i believe it is a safety feature so you don't go away leaving your car running accidentally. The fact that it wont lock lets you know something is not right. So actually thay did think things thru as to what was the best overall way the SKS works. As to the back door, you can set the unlock settings so that certain doors are unlocked whenever you put the car in park even with the engine running along with several other options like lock/unlock at a certain speed, ect. Plus you can push the unlock buttion on the drivers door when you get out to make sure the back door is unlocked for you. Just look in your manual at the customizable settings page. Door unlocking is doable by you but some of the other settings have to be done by the dealer.

    You can also do a search on here as this has been discussed several times before.
     
    #2 mindmachine, Jan 17, 2010
  3. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    I purposely didn't set the unlock all doors when shifted to Park, since I want to be in control when doors get unlocked (safety consideration, I am paranoid). I don't think there is any customization that let's one program the key fob to work on certain/all doors to un/lock (or is there?).
    Yes, I can push the switches on the door to unlock all doors, but I feel the key fob should also give you that control. It's a convenience/expectation thing.

    Actually, the fact that it won't lock when the engine is running is not a useful feedback, instead it is dangerous. I could assume that when I press "lock" button (or the exterior door handle), the doors would lock. (I have a tiny beep on lock configured, previously it was configured silent). I had to carefully verify the car/fob behavior to ascertain what's going on. Otherwise I could have walked away from the car with the engine running, thinking that I locked it. What other cars out there don't allow you to do that (lock with the keyless when the engine's running)?
     
    #3 ramdulari, Jan 17, 2010
  4. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    The mechanical key always works, even when the car is in Ready mode.
     
    #4 RobH, Jan 17, 2010
  5. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    I didn't try, but I expect that would work. But the point is that the fancy SKS doesn't. I'd probably ask the passengers to lock the car from inside, or if no one's inside the car, it would be easier to just turn off the car and then lock as usual.
     
    #5 ramdulari, Jan 17, 2010
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I have posted in the past in other threads my observation that the SKS system seems to offer more cost and complication then it seems worth to me.

    I then get a flood of Prius Owners exclaiming how they LOVE SKS and it's their favorite feature.

    I don't think there is anyway of going back. Prius will always have the SKS unless it's a special "fleet" release or something.

    But I still have my "doubts". I'm not unhappy with a century tested (Stupid) Key System. On is On, Off is Off, Locked is Locked and replacement/duplication cost is less than $4.00.

    But if we insist on Beeps, and handles responding to touch, and fobs in our pockets while we press buttons....alright...have fun. I myself have no problem turning an ignition key, or pressing an unlock button on a fob. I'm old fashioned that way.
     
    #6 The Electric Me, Jan 17, 2010
  7. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    this also keeps thefts down. as the system doesn't respond when the car is on, someone with a laptop can't sit there and try to hack into it... (although laptop hacks have always failed in the past...)

    or someone with a 2nd fob can't mess with you're car while you're driving it.. and you can't accidently set off the alarm.. etc..
     
    #7 V8Cobrakid, Jan 17, 2010
  8. mindmachine

    mindmachine Member

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    Well I have to again disagree with you and say again the fact that you cant lock the doors with the fob with the engine running is in fact a safety feature. This is a hybrid and therefore the ICE wont run when the engine is warmed up, therefore is is possible you could accidentally lock the door inadvertently leaving the car on and not know it if the fob worked the way you want it to. Most if not all the other cars that you say do work this way aren't hybrids I would bet.

    My car lock/unlock setting is that it beeps both on lock and unlock. Once for one and twice for the other. Leaving a car running when you leave it is a bad practice anyway.

    On the other hand if people are in the car then they can lock the doors if you want to leave it running.

    IMO I love the SKS system and believe it is set up to work the way it should, I do understand one thing though, you can not satisfy all the people all of the time no matter which way you do it.
     
    #8 mindmachine, Jan 17, 2010
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  9. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    At least all of the PriusChat people. :madgrin:
     
    #9 dogfriend, Jan 17, 2010
  10. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    Well, the SKS is nice, but I find the exceptions annoying.
     
    #10 ramdulari, Jan 17, 2010
  11. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    All the possibilities and exploits depend on how well the SKS software is designed/written, accessibility to it as well as the motivation of someone wanting to tamper with it. So, is there any strong case to make that there cannot be a software workaround for the key fob not operable outside the car with the car On?
     
    #11 ramdulari, Jan 17, 2010
  12. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Let's pretend I'm a newbie and the car came with the feature you desire--the ability to lock the car while the car is still in READY....

    " I'm a relatively new Prius own, I have 4500 miles on the car and, up to now, have really enjoyed it. But I have a complaint. Why would Toyota make it possible to lock a car you can't even hear when it's turned on?
    The other day I parked the car in a parking lot and thought I'd locked it, but I hadn't. Someone came by and broke out the window and just drove the car away! I can't believe Toyota would allow you to just lock the car and not even let you know it was running.
    I have a friend who did the same thing at the airport and the car ran completely out of gas and she got home at 11pm to a dark airport parking lot and a dead car. It could have been a really dangerous situation.
    I think I'll report this to the NHTSB as a flaw in the car."

    You can lock the car with the key if you like and at least that takes an extra effort to accomplish so you don't do it by mistake. IMO it's the best of the choices to make the car work like it does.
     
    #12 efusco, Jan 17, 2010
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  13. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    I love the SKS. It's probably my favorite Prius feature, which is saying a lot, since there is a lot I like about the Prius.
    Tom
     
    #13 qbee42, Jan 17, 2010
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  14. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    Well...so are we also assuming that the newbie fails to hear the loud beeps the car sounds when you get out of it with the key on you?
     
    #14 ramdulari, Jan 17, 2010
  15. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    Btw, much is said about the Prius being so silent. But c'mon, most new cars nowadays are very silent (although I'll leave an opening, not most of those cars may remain as silent as they get old).

    IMO there are several dumb design decisions that went in this car. Make no mistake, I love the mileage and am proud to be driving what could arguably be some of the most advanced automotive engineering available in the market today. But it is things like these that makes one shake their head in disbelief. May be this one is not shared by all on PC, but I hope you get my point.
     
    #15 ramdulari, Jan 17, 2010
  16. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Whatever, I don't think it's dumb at all and I think you're relatively alone in feeling the way you do...the beeps are NOT loud at all, particularly in a loud parking area.
     
    #16 efusco, Jan 17, 2010
  17. jp1960

    jp1960 Junior Member

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    Well, not to beat a dead horse, but I don't like the way the key fob/Remote Starter works in the 2010 Prius,(that I own).
    I think it's dumb to design a system that,1, shuts off the warming-up car when you open the car door. As has been pointed out by previous posters in other threads, other cars shut off if the brake pedal is pushed by a person who attempts to drive the car without a key being detected. Why Toyota decided not to follow this standard practice is beyond me.2,Why is the key fob's range so short? I have to be within about 15 feet from my car for it to work! it would be good if I could turn on my car at the entrance to my job's parking garage so my car would be warm by the time I got to the car, especially now, in WINTER!
    I just think Toyota did not think some things through as far as owner convenience.
     
    #17 jp1960, Jan 18, 2010
  18. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Even if you do hear them, as a newbie you might not know what the beeps mean. I did that at least twice as a new owner. I stood there outside the car saying "Now what?" when it beeped three times. I had no idea, and this is from a technical person that reads instruction manuals for fun. :rolleyes:

    Tom
     
    #18 qbee42, Jan 18, 2010
  19. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    Regarding the unable to lock issue, we are nevertheless discussing the absence of a convenience feature that has been the norm on most cars (I guess). We can make endless arguments of the safety/security aspect, but I would rather that the prospective car thief breaks the window than finds an unlocked door to make away with my car! I am totally against technology interfering or imposing good manners, unless it is a vital safety matter! My 2c.

    And thus far, we have not even discussed the other shortcoming - the inability to unlock the hatch or the passenger side front door when the car's On. What are the arguments for it?
     
    #19 ramdulari, Jan 18, 2010
  20. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I have gotten out of my car while running numerous times to run back in the garage and get something to put in the cargo area. I have no problem hitting the door unlock button on the driver door to unlock the hatch door.

    I have to agree with the others, I would much rather not be able to lock my car with the engine running than gain access to the hatch door.
     
    #20 jdcollins5, Jan 18, 2010
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