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

Remote beeping while washing the car

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by tasker109, Apr 20, 2008.

  1. tasker109

    tasker109 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2008
    147
    1
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I just came in from washing the blue baby and i have a question. I had the remote in my pocket and every time i got by the doors, the remote beeped. what was happening? i didnt push any buttons, it just beeped. thanks!!
     
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The water touched the touch sensor for the smart key and triggered that unlock beep...and probably the lock beep as well.
     
  3. Austin50mpg

    Austin50mpg Prius Driving Right Winger

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2008
    197
    1
    0
    Location:
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Thanks. That makes sense now. I was wondering how my loose pockets could be pressing the fob.
     
  4. hschuck

    hschuck Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2005
    385
    17
    0
    Location:
    bay city, ca
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    With the smart key, if the car is locked when you wash it may unlock as the door handle sensor is activated by the water while the fob is in range. The car will automatically relock in about 30 seconds after unlock if a door has not been opened. Water may then activate the sensor again and the cycle repeats.

    Solution: either leave the car unlocked when washing it or leave the fob out of range.
     
  5. tasker109

    tasker109 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2008
    147
    1
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    thanks....i appreciate the heads up.
     
  6. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    641
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Before I wash my Prius, I reach under the steering column and poke the SKS Disable button. Problem solved
     
  7. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,983
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    First, there is no beeper in the remote. It's a quiet device.

    Second, I've never triggered the SKS flooding the handles with water. In fact, I've never triggered the SKS when washing the car (I use a mitt). You're either squashing the FOB in your pocket or pressing too hard on the car when you wash it (pressing in the black rubber buttons on the doors).
     
  8. tasker109

    tasker109 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2008
    147
    1
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    well i wasnt squashing the fob and i wasnt anywhere near the black buttons. i could be mistaken about where the beep was coming from, but it was from the remote or the car.......
     
  9. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

    Joined:
    May 3, 2005
    4,096
    82
    13
    Location:
    USA | Oregon | Portland area | 97004 |
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    You can always put the fob in a cup holder inside the car, then you can't lock or unlock from the outside and you know where the fob is when you're done and want to move your car.
     
  10. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2004
    3,998
    18
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The simple solution: Just unlock the car before you start washing.

    If the car isn't locked, it won't beep when you get the sensors wet. ;)

    If you want the car to show its appreciation while being washed, lock the car and keep the FOB in your pocket.
     
  11. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2007
    1,340
    26
    0
    Location:
    san jose, ca
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    my opinion, and its pretty common is that since the water conducts electricty (or it can act as a conductor for electricty to transmit through)
    is the water acts as a giant antenna and if you so much as touch a wet
    door or quarter panel it will unlock the car

    i suppose you could rinse your car with pure distilled water to see if it stop this behavior
     
  12. Austin50mpg

    Austin50mpg Prius Driving Right Winger

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2008
    197
    1
    0
    Location:
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    LOL. That is what it seemed like to me. The car was beeping and the blinkers lighted every few minutes while washing the car. It was like saying "thank you" in its own language.

    I rarely use a mit or sponge. I wash my cars once or twice a week (when new) at a coin operated car wash. The intense spray pushes the dirt, bugs, and road grime right off. ( This is really a good idea on dark cars as it will not cause swirls created with a mit or sponge)

    I guess the intense spray is pushing the black buttons and or touching the sensors. I will try to remember to turn off the SKS next time and see what happens.
     
  13. Kremtok

    Kremtok Smug Alert!

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2008
    100
    74
    0
    Location:
    Homer, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    My car also beeps incessantly when washing. I figured it was just the proximity of the Smart Key plus the conductivity of the water simulating a hand on the door handle. It doesn't bother me, but some passers-by have given me strange looks when they hear me say 'stop it car, I'm not unlocking you.'
     
  14. NaptownPrius

    NaptownPrius Getting Greener....

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2008
    271
    7
    0
    Location:
    Napolis, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Washed the car on Sunday, it beeped a lot as I had the SKS in my pocket, so I left it in the garage.

    And yes, it rained on monday.
     
  15. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,074
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    You can always turn off the SKS if the beeping bothers you. I just let it beep.

    Tom
     
  16. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2007
    3,083
    407
    23
    Location:
    Chicagoland (West)
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I can't see that it has anything to do with water. This happens not just when I wash the car, but when I walk around it and get just a bit too far away.

    The car has no idea you intend to stay close by. Once you start walking away (after having been inside the car and left it unlocked), the car will beep to warn you it is unlocked. Most likely, IMHO, you are fooling your poor car into thinking you are walking away and leaving it unattended, when in fact you are simply going to grab the hose for a proper rinse!

    My solution has been to leave the key fob inside the car while I wash it.
     
  17. Austin50mpg

    Austin50mpg Prius Driving Right Winger

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2008
    197
    1
    0
    Location:
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Ok I think we have a winner here. This sounds like the best explanation.

    Thanks
     
  18. hschuck

    hschuck Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2005
    385
    17
    0
    Location:
    bay city, ca
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    This is not true. The car does not beep if you leave it unlocked and walk away.
    Just leave the car unlocked and it will not beep when you wash it. If it is unlocked it does not matter where the fob is. (Why do so many people lock their car when they wash it?)
     
  19. PriuStorm

    PriuStorm Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2007
    2,239
    149
    0
    Location:
    Davis, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I think the above poster may be the closest to why this is happening. If the car is 'ON' an you have the FOB in your pocket and walk out of range, the car will beep.
     
  20. Austin50mpg

    Austin50mpg Prius Driving Right Winger

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2008
    197
    1
    0
    Location:
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    That is strange. These two statements are exact opposite of what I experience in my 2008 Prius.

    My car does beep when I leave it unlocked and NOT running and walk away with the fob in my pocket.

    I do not lock my car when I wash it. It is unlocked.

    It tell you this thing is beep happy. Probably some function I could turn off with an elaborate Japanese process of bowing down to the car and opening and closing the back hatch 4 times then the drivers side door twice. Then turn the car off then on then press the brake then.......