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Be honest, how about the door lock/unlock

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ssdesigner, Aug 10, 2016.

  1. ssdesigner

    ssdesigner Active Member

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    My 2009 Camry had lock/unlock via the key fob. The fob always worked, but the actual locks failed....one by one. Starting with the rear driver side, front passenger and so on. I'm a realist, so I see this as a cheap part Toyota put in to save $$ and generate $$.

    So, my question is, how have these been in the Gen 3 Prius? How long before they do or do not fail?

    If they have failed, what's the cost to replace and repair?
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    What do you mean by "the actual door locks failed" but the "fob still worked"? Should the fob method not work if the door locks themselves are malfunctioning?

    Either way, our 2005 Prius had no electrical issues. the power door locks, mirrors and windows worked for the 11.5 years and 245,000km.

    The 2010 is still "new" but it's 7 years old with 114,000km. No electrical issues yet.
     
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  3. ssdesigner

    ssdesigner Active Member

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    What I mean is, I'd push the unlock button on the 2009 Camry fob and it would beep....but would not actually unlock the door. The locks in the doors failed, early on. And it was stupid expensive to repair. This, to say the least, pissed me off. A clear cheap-out by Toyota....so I'm hoping that the Prius, with the constant lock/unlock that we do by walking up to the car, doesn't suffer this flaw.
     
  4. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I do not recall seeing but two or three reports on here of door lock failure on the Gen 3 Prius.

    I have a 2010 with 118,000 miles and no problem to date, electrical or otherwise.
     
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agree, there have been a few, and there's a cheap diy. but the dealer is 'expensive. not really a toyota issue overall, your camry was unfortunate.
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    In my Gen 1, the driver's door actuator (which gets the most use) wore out around year 13, 200,000+ miles, if I remember right. Just when I parted with the car at 15 years, 238,000, I think I was just beginning to see signs of the passenger side getting worn out, as in, once in a rare while it wouldn't completely unlock on the first try.

    In this Gen 3 I've had since May, I made sure to change the car settings so there are no automatic lock actuations when I shift in and out of park, turn off the car, etc., and the single fob press only actuates the driver's door. No need to have features turned on that put multiple unnecessary wear cycles on all four actuators on every trip, even when you have no intention of using the other doors ....

    Shifting is a whole lot quieter too, without all the doors going KERCHUNK.

    -Chap
     
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  7. ssdesigner

    ssdesigner Active Member

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    Yes, it was. Considering that it happened 30 days after the unlimited warranty expired.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i have to have all doors unlock with the driver, or my wife gives me the hairy eyeball when i get in, and forget to hit unlock.:oops:
     
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  9. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Ah, "She Who Must Be Obeyed". I have one of those.

    I don't suppose there is a chicken dance to turn off those other doors? Probably Techstream and $130 ...
     
    #9 AzWxGuy, Aug 10, 2016
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yep. when mama's happy, everyone is happy.
     
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  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ohh I see.

    Aiye. Well no issues yet. On the 2010, we have it set to "Global Unlock" with SKS and it will lock/unlock based on shifter position. So all locks are getting a work out and have been for most of the 7 years. (I think there was maybe half a year for each of the first 3 years where I had it set to Driver's door only SKS.. i.e. the default setting but the shifter setting has always been in place).

    For SKS?

    Either check the Settings menu on your Display Audio System or press and hold LOCK & PANIC together for a few seconds. The red light on the fob will blink.

    1 blink = default setting. That is D door unlocks D door. Front Pass & Hatch unlock all.
    2 blinks = Global unlock. Any SKS-enabled door will unlock all doors
    3 blinks = Individual unlock. For each door and the hatch, only that door or hatch will unlock.
     
  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    My 2010 owner's manual only shows the first two choices (default, or global). What year did individual unlock become a thing?

    -Chap
     
  13. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Exactly! However, the "chicken dance" described in the manual to turn off the stupid automatic locking and unlocking does not work, as far as I can tell. Aside from the unnecessary wear, the noise is annoying too.
     
  14. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I did the same in my Gen4 Three model. I try to deactivate all unnecessary (or rarely used) electronic features, locks, lights, "auto" settings, etc. I guess I'm old school. Technology is nice, but I like things as simple as possible and less prone to breaking. (another reason I didn't buy the expensive ATP-TCP packages.)

    I don't even need remote door locks, or a magic Fob, or even push-button start.
    I should've bought the Two model. Does it have a simple, old-fashioned ignition key? :)
     
  15. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Sounds like the Camry actuators failed. Must have been a bad batch. If it takes two or more presses to get a door to unlock it's usually a binding mechanism. It can often be fixed with a little grease on the coupling joints and perhaps on the actuator piston.

    Pearl S has so far had no problems. But of course, now that we've talked about it something will fail. ;)
     
  16. Maggs

    Maggs Junior Member

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    Besides the Prius, I also have a VW Beetle. For years the key hasn't locked the door of the Beetle on the first try. So what I do is push the open door button, then the lock door button. That works for me every time. Maybe that will work for your Prius.
     
  17. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    It's a cheap part with low failure rates across all makes at least anecdotally for me. My Gen 3 is going on four years with 110k miles.

    In my family, for Toyotas specifically
    1998 Corolla > 250k miles
    2006 Corolla
    2005 Prius
    2012 Prius
    2012 Prius v

    The only car that failed was on the 1998 Corolla and it failed early on at around 4 years and 100k miles. I didn't care to replace it and used the key. Power windows also failed on it so I got a real lemon in that Corolla at least in terms of power features.

    The only other car that failed for my family was a 2003 Civic. The actuator was a $35 part on eBay and was a fussy 2 hour job to install following YouTube DIYs. So some 40+ cars over the past 2 decades and only 2 with power lock failures. Pretty low statistic to me for a cheap part to replace. I'd rather car manufacturers spend the money elsewhere like a real horn.
     
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  18. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    21 years with 2 Camrys, and the door locks never failed. They were probably the two most reliable cars I ever owned. (the moonroof got "stuck" a couple times, but that was minor.)

    But what I find disturbing, is all the hundreds of threads related to parts failures, electrical problems, leaks, etc, with the Gen2 and Gen3 Prius models. How soon before we see those kinds of threads for the Gen4??
    If I had saw this forum before I bought my Prius, and read all those negative threads, I may have not got one.
     
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  19. lar.smith42

    lar.smith42 Active Member

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    Don't get hung up on all the negative post on this forum. Compared to all the Prius's on the road the complaints are a small percentage of problems. If I had read this forum I probably would not have Bought a Prius.
    According to post's on this forum _

    Seats are not comfortable.
    Car is not safe to drive on the interstate at highway speeds.
    You have to buy a batt charger for your 12 volt battery.
    Suspension is not good for highway driving and must be modified.
    You have to buy a Tech system to monitor all functions because they must fail often.
    You must use Pulse and Glide and drive 20MPH under speed limit to get good mileage.
    People really hate Prius drivers because they hold up traffic flow.
    Not enough ground clearance .
    You have to be more concerned with MPG than Safety.
    Must run enough air in your tires to loosen your dentures.

    Being a old fart (74 years old) and a retired truck driver (18 Wheelers) I bought the Prius because of the reliability ratings, safety ratings, and all around comfort. Good fuel mileage was a bonus but I don't get obsessed with it like most people on here. I find that
    most of these things are not necessary at all or just not true. We take about 3 3000 mile round trips around the country every year and find it is a excellent road car. And yes I drive it at 80 to 90 MPH when I can get away with it.
     
    #19 lar.smith42, Aug 11, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2016
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  20. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Outstanding! :D Thanks, lar.
     
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