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

Mechanical lock broken

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by anon_prius, Aug 17, 2019.

  1. anon_prius

    anon_prius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2019
    30
    19
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I was working on my stereo last night in my 2011 with SKS and disconnected the 12V battery. I locked all of the doors manually overnight with the intention of using my mechanical key to get back into the car in the morning. Unfortunately my mechanical key is not working. It will turn 90 degrees both ways in the cylinder but it will not unlock the door. I can hear something thumping in the door when I turn it 90 degrees clockwise. I've twisted it so hard I broke the key off from the plastic fob. I'm turning it with pliers now since it cut my finger open.

    I think that the mechanical linkage between the cylinder and the lock must be broken. However, I can't find any information about this repair online. My plan is to call a locksmith in the morning so I can at least get back into the car.

    Does anyone have experience with this and what I should be looking for when I get the door panel off?
     
    #1 anon_prius, Aug 17, 2019
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,256
    15,060
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Your guess about the linkage sounds pretty likely.

    With luck, you might even find that one of the linkage rods has just popped out at the end. The ends are usually secured in little plastic combo grommet/retainers that you put the rod end through, then pivot around so the retainer part clips over the rod. If somebody forgot to do that last part, possibly the rod end just popped out.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Aug 17, 2019
  3. anon_prius

    anon_prius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2019
    30
    19
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Just got back into the car with the help of a locksmith. After ballooning the passenger door and unlocking it he unlocked the driver's door from the inside and we had a look at it. He unscrewed the lock mechanism and pulled out the tumbler, fiddled with it a little bit and then stuck it back in the door and now it seems to be working. I'm pretty happy I don't need to take the door panel off today.
     
    #3 anon_prius, Aug 18, 2019
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,109
    4,038
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    How often did you use the mechanical key to unlock/lock the vehicle since ownership?
     
    #4 Grit, Aug 18, 2019
  5. anon_prius

    anon_prius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2019
    30
    19
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Zero times, just purchased the car.
     
    #5 anon_prius, Aug 18, 2019
  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Its never been used or lubricated. Spray some lock lube in the key hole. Then go get a copy of that mechanical key and get a magnetic hide a key box and stick it under the car.
     
    #6 edthefox5, Aug 18, 2019
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  7. anon_prius

    anon_prius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2019
    30
    19
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    In panic this morning I hit it with about a gallon of WD40. After the locksmith fixed the tumbler it looks to be working properly now.
     
    #7 anon_prius, Aug 18, 2019
    Raytheeagle and edthefox5 like this.
  8. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Cool
    Over in the g2 forum so many posters never used there lock for years and years and then the 12 hour battery dies and they use the key for the first time and it’s rusted shut
     
    #8 edthefox5, Aug 18, 2019
  9. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,109
    4,038
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Wd40 is not a lubricant, it’s a solvent. It will dry out quickly and you’ll be back to square one. Use a silicon, or lithium, or dry lube.
     
    #9 Grit, Aug 18, 2019
    edthefox5 likes this.
  10. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,347
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Contact cleaner the graphite.
     
    #10 frodoz737, Aug 18, 2019
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)