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Why didnt my Prius shut off?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by MPGsnob, Mar 28, 2008.

  1. MPGsnob

    MPGsnob New Member

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    Hi all,

    I drive a 2005 Prius package 4. I forgot to press the power off button as I got out of the car on the way to class. I did try and lock it using the key fob but didnt listen for the beeps as I had headphones on.

    3 hours later I walk back to my car and hear the car running. I thought maybe it was the SKS system kicking in- not so. My car had been running the entire time. My MPG went from a 49 mpg ave down to 44.3 and the heater was hot.

    Any ideas as to why my car didnt shut off- and yes, I had my key in my pants pocket and my classrooms are several hundred yards away from the parking lot.

    Thanks,

    Steven.

    :spy:
     
    #1 MPGsnob, Mar 28, 2008
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Well, since you didn't press the POWER button to make the car IG-OFF, why would you expect it to turn off by itself?

    If the Smart Key is removed while the car is still READY, the amber key icon will come on in the instrument panel to show you there is a problem, and the car will beep at you. However the car will continue to remain READY until you press the POWER button to turn the car IG-OFF.

    You are lucky that no one drove away in your car; I'm not sure whether your doors would lock or not.
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Mar 28, 2008
  3. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    I think you answered your own question in the first sentence:

    If you don't turn your car off, it won't turn off. I don't know what more there is to say.
     
    #3 Betelgeuse, Mar 28, 2008
  4. diamondlarry

    diamondlarry EPA MPG #'s killer

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    What happened was that the HV battery had run down to the point that the engine needed to fire up to recharge it. If you have SKS, the car won't shut off unless the power button is pushed. I'm pretty sure it operates this way so that the car doesn't die at an inopportune time if the battery in the fob were to go dead.
     
    #4 diamondlarry, Mar 28, 2008
  5. diamondlarry

    diamondlarry EPA MPG #'s killer

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    It most likely wasn't locked. I know that if you try to use the black button on the door handle to lock it when the car is in "ready" you'll get beeped at and the doors won't lock.
     
    #5 diamondlarry, Mar 28, 2008
  6. MPGsnob

    MPGsnob New Member

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    Deeerrr I feel so stupid. Indeed I am lucky- and thanks for the information.
     
    #6 MPGsnob, Mar 28, 2008
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Hi Steven,

    No desire to make you feel stupid.

    Consider a situation where you are driving along, and the Smart Key fob battery decides to die while your car is in operation. The fob is in constant communication with the Smart ECU, so the ECU will think that the fob has been removed from the car.

    If Toyota set up the logic in that situation to turn off the car automatically, you would not be happy. Hence, visual and audible warnings are provided in hopes that you'll notice.

    I've attached an excerpt from the 2004 New Car Features Manual that you might find interesting to read.
     

    Attached Files:

    #7 Patrick Wong, Mar 28, 2008
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    There is an auto-shutoff feature. When it runs out of gas, it will automatically shut off.

    Tom
     
    #8 qbee42, Mar 28, 2008
  9. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    Welp, good thing you had a prius instead of a normal car.... You might have run out of gas if you left a normal car running :)
     
    #9 Bob64, Mar 29, 2008
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I thought I had tested this before, but went ahead and did it again:

    With the car on and in [READY] mode:
    • The doors will lock once closed.
    • Once open, when you press the door lock button the armrest the doors lock and then immediately unlock. They simply will not stay locked.
    • Once the door is closed, the car delivers three beeps.
    • Pressing the SKS black button delivers one long beep and the doors do not lock.
    • Pressing the "Lock" button on the fob simply does nothing. Doesn't even try.
     
    #10 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 29, 2008
  11. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

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    A number of years ago someone at work locked his car door with the engine running without realizing it. By lunch time it did shut-off - out of gas. If it was a Prius it still could be running;)
    Gabe
     
    #11 Prius 07, Mar 29, 2008
  12. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    When I'm at car shows and events with Wayne (FireEngineer) he tends to leave his car running all day with the XM Radio playing. It comes on from time to time to recharge the battery but for the most part it just sits there.
     
    #12 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 29, 2008
  13. alanh

    alanh Active Member

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    If the A/C or heat isn't on, I'll bet the Prius will stay on for a very long time -- days, perhaps.
     
    #13 alanh, Mar 30, 2008
  14. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Where is Wayne?
     
    #14 patsparks, Mar 30, 2008
  15. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I talk to him every now and then on the phone and we're planning a Chicago event for April 27th (shhh we haven't announced it yet) but he just doesn't seem to be coming around here much these days.
     
    #15 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 30, 2008
  16. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    People have used them for auxiliary power after ice storms. There was a great story last year about someone running their furnace from their Prius. About every three days they would drive to the gas station and fill up. Other than that, they just left it running in the driveway.

    Tom
     
    #16 qbee42, Mar 30, 2008
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