1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

How Do I Lock My Doors?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by JessieK, Jul 27, 2011.

  1. JessieK

    JessieK New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2011
    8
    0
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    We have a few dozen '10 Prius' at work. When I make stops and get out of the car, I like to lock my doors while the car is running so nobody can steal anything inside the car. I tried closing the door and touching the handle on both sides but I just get a long beep tone which lasts about 10 seconds. And sure enough, the door doesn't lock. Any help with this? I hate leaving the car unlocked and I'm used to our old cars where you were able to take the key out of the ignition and lock the doors while the car was still running.
     
  2. MJFrog

    MJFrog Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    780
    266
    0
    Location:
    NE Oklahoma
    Vehicle:
    2018 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    N/A
    Use the metal key in the FOB to lock the door.
     
  3. Insight-I Owner

    Insight-I Owner 2006 Insight-I MT + 2011 Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2009
    505
    100
    0
    Location:
    Essex, CT
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Why are you leaving them running? The whole point of the Prius is to save gas by shutting off the ICE when the car is not in use.

    What kind of car was that? I'm not familiar with many new cars but I've never seen one that allowed you to remove the key with the engine running.
     
  4. JessieK

    JessieK New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2011
    8
    0
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, I noticed the metal key in the fob. However it was just a tad inconvenient to manually lock the door with the key every time I jump out of the car. I just wanted to clarify if that was the only way to lock the car or not.

    Actually the Internal Combustion Engine shuts itself off and runs on battery power below 10 miles an hour, or idling.

    Our older cars are Crown Victoria's and Expeditions. It is not a factory option. The place I worked for needed to install an aftermarket kit that plugged into a few things under the dash. It basically allowed the keys to be put in the off position so you can take the keys out (while keeping the car running) and also locked the shifter column in place so you couldn't put the car in Drive and steal it. You needed to place the keys back in the column, put them back in the on position and then you'd be able to shift back in drive.
     
  5. Insight-I Owner

    Insight-I Owner 2006 Insight-I MT + 2011 Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2009
    505
    100
    0
    Location:
    Essex, CT
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    In fact it will shut off at speeds much higher than that. Under certain conditions, I have seen it run ICE-off at 40-45mph.

    I'm still unclear why you want to leave it running?? Is it simply to avoid pushing just one button (the Power button?)?? If you don't push the Power button you still have to push the Park button anyway (if you push the Power button it puts the car in Park automatically).

    If you want to leave the car ON to keep the AC running while you are out of the car, it will consume battery power (restarting the ICE if needed) which will cost gas use to recharge the battery and reduce the mpg.
     
  6. JessieK

    JessieK New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2011
    8
    0
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The car needs to be running in order to power equipment in the car.
     
  7. MJFrog

    MJFrog Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    780
    266
    0
    Location:
    NE Oklahoma
    Vehicle:
    2018 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    N/A
    OK, an alternative:

    1. be sure driver window button is set to auto roll-up
    2. roll down driver window
    3. exit car
    4. reach in and press lock button
    5. reach in and pull driver window button up; quickly remove arm

    you will probably still need metal key to unlock car.
     
  8. Teakwood

    Teakwood Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2010
    491
    73
    0
    Location:
    New Mexico
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The long beep indicates that you are not shutting the Prius down.
    So, what "equipment" is in the car that needs to keep running?
    If you have to leaving the Prius "on" when you get out, then press the lock button on the fob. The metal key is only for emergencies.
     
  9. JessieK

    JessieK New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2011
    8
    0
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    LMAO! There's an idea! I'll have to play around with it tonight when I go to work. Another thing I was thinking that I don't know if I tried was just pushing the manual lock lever back in the lock position before I close the door. But I thought I tried that already. Unlocking the car isn't an issue because our cars have the feature where you touch the door handle (considering you have the Fob on you) and it automatically unlocks.
     
  10. MJFrog

    MJFrog Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    780
    266
    0
    Location:
    NE Oklahoma
    Vehicle:
    2018 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    N/A
    Not necessarily. It's possible that Toyota programmed the SKS so that if you're in the car and it's running and the doors are locked, the SKS touch and unlock (and maybe even the unlock button on the FOB ) is disabled. Think about being in the shady part of town and someone reaches for your door handle. Do you want that happening?

    You might just consider getting a copy of the metal key made and putting it on your keyring. Think about the possibility of accidentally leaving your FOB inside the car while going through the 'alternate locking procedure'.
     
  11. M D

    M D No more gas guzzler :D

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2010
    66
    16
    0
    Location:
    DE
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Haven't tested this but its worth a try...

    When you park, hit the power button to turn off the car.
    Now hit the power button again WITHOUT your foot on the brake — this will put it into accessory mode without the engine running and MAY allow you to lock the doors.

    HOWEVER, be aware that the equipment you have running will run down the battery which, without the car being 'ready', will not be recharged until you return.
     
  12. Insight-I Owner

    Insight-I Owner 2006 Insight-I MT + 2011 Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2009
    505
    100
    0
    Location:
    Essex, CT
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Try contacting someone at Toyota. Perhaps the Fleet Sales Rep that sold your company the cars could get you some "inside" tech assistance expert.
     
  13. JessieK

    JessieK New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2011
    8
    0
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Like I said, I'll mess with it tonight and post back if I figure something out incase anyones interested. I'm not too savvy when it comes to these cars because I've never played with them before. I'm talking about a police department here. We have several Prius' used for our detectives and probation officers. (We also have three marked ones, those are an eyesore). We have two way radios and laptops installed in the cars (with what little space we had to begin with). Last thing I want is to be stranded in the middle of the ghetto because some G swiped my ride when I got out of the car. Not because of the car, or the radio, or the computer, but because my lunch is in my backpack along with my Ipod and all my other junk. You'd think someone would have to be pretty ballsy to steal a marked police car, but it's happened to us twice in the last year. We had one of our Escape Hybrid's stolen last fall. We found it the next night torched in a sump. However that wasn't a marked vehicle. It was a Probation car. As for the second one, well, we never found that one, lol.
     
  14. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    1,181
    420
    0
    Location:
    Whereabouts Unknown
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Can you post a photo of the Gen 3 Prius marked police car? A black and white unit would look way cool. :cool:
     
  15. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
    1,821
    255
    0
    Location:
    Cleveland, OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    If you have a Viper alarm system installed it has a pit stop mode that will let you get out of the car while the engine is running and lock the doors using the FOB. It will only let the car run for 60 min at a time.
     
  16. Insight-I Owner

    Insight-I Owner 2006 Insight-I MT + 2011 Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2009
    505
    100
    0
    Location:
    Essex, CT
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Wow, amazing stuff! I bet Toyota would be eager to help you guys out. The visibility and potential market would be huge.

    But I do have to smile. Maybe times have changed since my last excursion through sketchy parts of Bridgeport, but I'd think a Prius - marked or not - would really stand out in the ghetto. Though I suppose clean blackwalled Crown Vics stood out too.
     
  17. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2010
    1,179
    365
    1
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Just be careful with this - leaving the car running, no matter what method you use to lock the doors, won't stop a thief from stealing the car. They just have to knock out a window first, and then they can drive it anywhere they want to. They'll be able to take it anywhere they want, until they turn it off. (Though it will continue to beep three times whenever a door is closed, as it always does when a door is closed but the fob isn't inside the vehicle.)
     
  18. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    3,790
    152
    0
    Location:
    Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    does no one listen to the op? police department. nobody is going to take this car. if they do, they'll pay.

    what model is your car? while on and with key in hand, does it beep 3 times if you exit the vehicle and close the door.

    as mentioned above, rolling down the window "" is the only way to lock the doors with the car running.

    never leave the car sitting without being fully on.... if you do, your equipment will drain the 12v battery over time (fairly short)...

    as a tip... if you are doing this all day long, set the auto climate control to a fair temperature and leave it there... don't turn it off because the system catching up will drain more fuel in the end. i would expect a gallon of fuel for every 4 to 8 hours running with the a/c on (very rough estimates)
     
  19. JessieK

    JessieK New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2011
    8
    0
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I played with it tonight. Yup, there's no way to lock the car with it running. I'll just leave the car unlocked when i leave it. I hope my Chicken Salad will be safe. :(
     
  20. Insight-I Owner

    Insight-I Owner 2006 Insight-I MT + 2011 Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2009
    505
    100
    0
    Location:
    Essex, CT
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You need to read the OP's earlier post:
    He's a detective or a probation officer so his Prius is unmarked and hence more likely to be stolen than the painted-up marked patrol cars.