Dead 12 volt battery. How to open hatch?

This information is all over this forum, as well as all over the web....in other words a quick online search would have been your best friend here. but I am recovering from a "wrecked shoulder," so have time on my hands and am feeling generous.
The video link below will solve your issue.

 

or you can put a 12 volt source to the front jump point. easy enough if you buy the new battery first, and user jumper cables. make sure the pos cable clamp contacts the side of the jump point that is metal. the other side is plastic.

 

Good tip!!!

 

you probably need a flashlight. it is either at the bottom of the hatch door, or just below the latch. there might be a cover.
if you need me to, i will take a pic.

 

It’s a real PiTA or get to the manual release. Another thread a month or two ago showed a very simple way to improve the system with a wire. I’m in the process of installing a bit more elegant cabling method with a longer reach.

 

I've opened that hatch from inside several times. I always wind up crawling back out to get a flashlight.

 

After the second time, wouldn’t you rather spend some time adding a simpler pull mechanism?

 

Here’s the older thread form a few months ago that has an elegant electromechanical method and also a quick fix to make access easier.
The quick fix needs some work so that it is not always in the way but is a simple ingenious method.
Has anybody *added extra* interior hatch release switch? (Gen 2) | Page 2 | PriusChat

I think a better approach might be a hybrid approach e.g., to use a Prius fuel door release cable mechanism that can be easily obtained from many sources and please the release lever closer to the front of the vehicle ideally right behind the fuel door release.

 

Let's see. It happened once on my wife's first Gen 2, once on her second, once on a customer's car. I'd say "no." It's way easier to just bring a flashlight. Oh! That's right. These days the flashlight is on the phone in my pocket which I used on that last one - so now I don't always crawl back out for a flashlight.

 

It sucks. You have to remove the hatch storage big box to get to it.

Before you go at the front door with the manual key spray some lube in the key hole.

you killed the 12 by either a light or not driving it so that battery is done. Don’t bother charging it just buy a new one. Dealer battery price has come way down. That’s the best battery,

plus you get to clean all the water out of the battery hole when you replace the battery. There’s a rubber plug in that hole take the plug out and just drill a small weep hole in that plug.

 

My Gen 3 storage box has a little panel that pops out so you can reach through to the release lever.

Was that something they added after Gen 2?

 

My 2007 has a door too but it’s still inconvenient especially when you have to remove any carpet mat or like I have nice rubber mat to get to it.
Getting too old to want to crawl to it. That’s why I’m putting in a cable.

 

Jump pack (per @bisco) is an eloquent solution, if available. You probably need to drive somewhere to score a battery anyway, so…

 

My jump pack is more on the laconic side.

 

In a pinch you use a 12volt dewalt battery to jump the solenoid to open. I use this when going to the junkyard to pull parts from cars. The newer 20Volt ones have too much but I have a mid 90's old 12 volt battery for my drill.

 

I've never had to open the hatch from the inside. But made sure I knew how, regardless, by doing a trial run. I also lube the key access on the driver's door and test the key every month when I check the tire pressure (No, I don't trust the X#$%& TPMS -- and of course the spare has no monitor, but until I sealed the hatch cracks and pulled the two rubber plugs under the spare, it was constantly taking a bath).
kris