Hatch will not close, always ajar

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Run car!, Jun 30, 2015.

  1. Run car!

    Run car! Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    IN
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    We have an 05 Prius. The door ajar light is on.
    I checked the doors and they were fine. Yeah! Ut oh. The door ajar light is still on. Crud.
    The problem is the hatch (trunk/tailgate). It will not close. It just rattles now.
    Seems strange all of a sudden.

    Anyone know how to fix this?
    Is it common?
    It the latch electric and related to another issue?
     
    #1 Run car!, Jun 30, 2015
  2. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    751
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    possibly you can adjust the striker to get it to close better. without seeing it, its kinda hard to diagnose the problem
     
    #2 69shovlhed, Jun 30, 2015
  3. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    1,416
    398
    0
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    anything in the way (like the rug)?
     
    #3 kenoarto, Jun 30, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    113,171
    51,517
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i would say it's not uncommon in a 10 year old car. there's another thread right now with the same problem. i suppose the service manual has the adjustment procedure.
     
    #4 bisco, Jun 30, 2015
  5. Run car!

    Run car! Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    IN
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    kenoarto-no, nothing in the way.
    69shovlhed-can you explain how adjust do it?
    bisco-can you put a link here to the other thread, please?

    Thanks all.
     
    #5 Run car!, Jul 1, 2015
  6. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    751
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I've never had to adjust one on a prius, but I'd guess the plastic trim panel has to come off and the striker should be held on the body with a couple screws.
     
    #6 69shovlhed, Jul 1, 2015
  7. Run car!

    Run car! Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    IN
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Mystery solved! I took off the trim near the storage area by the hatch, that allowed me to see down into the inner workings of the latch mechanism. When I looked down I saw a small stone lodged in the way which was preventing the door from completely closing. We were able to get it out. Now the door closes correctly again, no door ajar warning light.

    This probably happened when changing out the aux. battery. I think the stone stuck to the bottom of the battery and fell into the hole during installation. The lesson is to make sure the bottom of whatever you are putting in the back of the car is cleaned off. Thanks for your help everyone.
     
    #7 Run car!, Jul 6, 2015
    valde3 and kenoarto like this.
  8. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    1,416
    398
    0
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    So somthin' WAS in the way ! Congrats on finding it.
     
    #8 kenoarto, Jul 6, 2015
  9. Run car!

    Run car! Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    IN
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Kenoarto-If all of life's problems would only come with a warning sign attached...maybe one with blinking lights...is that too much to ask!?! :)
    Then again, that reminds me of the triangle of death. Yikes!
     
    #9 Run car!, Jul 7, 2015
  10. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    1,416
    398
    0
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    LOL And whatever else you do, do NOT pay any attention to the many ways that the car warns you that you are running out of gas. Blame the car if you see the bars going down to empty. Blame the car if the last bar flashes and you ignore it. Blame the car if the beep and notice on the MFD isn't clear enough and you STILL decide to drive 60 miles beyond empty tank/low fuel. Not enough warning signs with blinking lights!
     
    #10 kenoarto, Jul 7, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)