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2016 won't lock. Thinks key still in car. Solved!

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by JStrenk, Sep 9, 2019.

  1. JStrenk

    JStrenk Active Member

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    My daughter is borrowing my Prius while I fix her car. She says that she can't lock the car. It thinks the key fob is still in the car.

    I've read some stuff on the older Priusi but only one came back with a definite answer. A USB cable plugged in.

    Any Ideas?
    Any thing to look for? Messages?, Beeps.?
    This is going to be a long distant troubleshooting event.
     
  2. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    She can probably lock it manually with the key?

    But with the FOB, is the spare key inside? I'd try starting the car, turning it off and re-try exiting and locking it. If not, lock it with the manual key.
     
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    If it's Ravenna ITALY, then you're right.

    Long distance troubleshooting indeed.

    1. If she borrowed your car and you only gave her one fob (I advise against this BTW) and that fob is not in the car, then it's NOT the fob - but it might be another fob that you left in the car that you both are unaware of.

    2. Could also be an open door or hatch, or even a not-properly-shut down car.
    The not-shut-down car part is easy to detect, and usually the car will wail at you if you try to lock it with a key fob with an open door (US spec cars.)

    3. It's a little early for this, but you may have a marginal battery in the fob.

    Tell your kid to manually lock the doors and make sure that the hatch is all the way closed and then lock the driver-side door with the keylet as advised above. If it stays locked then she'll just have to suffer the agony of not being able to remotely lock the car and you will know that the car does not think that there's a fob inside.

    If the car will not lock with the keylet and you're dead-bang certain that there's not a fob inside, then tell her to put the fob in the microwave being very careful not to turn the microwave on, and then go and see if she can start the car without the key.
    The microwave is just a temporary Faraday cage in case the kitchen is very close to where the car is parked, and YES, it's overkill but troubleshooting is meant to rule things OUT.

    If she can start the car, then there's another fob in the car or there's a VERY interesting problem with the electrical system.
    If she can manually lock the car with the lock button in the door, then it's a fob thing. If not, it's an electrical thing...like a load on the electrical system preventing auto locking or similar problem. (USB, dome light, etc.)

    Let us know what it winds up being
     
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  4. JStrenk

    JStrenk Active Member

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    Just Ravenna Ohio... :) She's at college. I'm changing the front wheel bearings on her Liberty. .. 8)

    1.
    When I bought the car (used) they only had one fob. :(
    Pretty sure there is not one in the car unless the lost one is in the car and suddenly surged back into life.

    2.
    I've done that !! I'll have her check.

    3.
    She going to change the battery and see what happens.

    I'll have her check the doors again. That's an easy one.

    I'll have her unplug the microwave, one of her roommates might throw some pizza in there not looking and turn it on.

    Got to wait till she gets out of classes. Master courses are a lot longer than undergrad. Good real life experience.
     
  5. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Deleted. I originally read charge instead of change.

    The microwave is probably loads of overkill.
    She's probably good to go if she just moves the beer bottles and pizza boxes out of the way and leaves the fob on whatever is serving as a kitchen table.
     
    #5 ETC(SS), Sep 9, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
  6. JStrenk

    JStrenk Active Member

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    I assume you are talking about the car battery.
    That would be difficult for her.
    That might mean a road trip tonight. :(

    I might have her pick up a cheap DVM at Walmart. And check the voltage.
     
  7. JStrenk

    JStrenk Active Member

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    I did add some USB charging jacks to the electrical system. But they should be powered off when the car is off.

    I'll have her check that also.
     
  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    A DVM is a good thing for a college kid to know how to use!
     
  9. JStrenk

    JStrenk Active Member

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    Well that was easy. Turns out it was a lack off coffee.

    Got to sleep late.
    Got up late.
    Rushes to classes still sleepy.

    Forgot to turn the car off.

    This was better than the "low ash" warning message she had one time on her Jeep. :) .

    Actually she's pretty good about car care.
    She can rotate tires, change oil, knows where to check all the fluid levels and at what interval.
    Jump the battery if need and more.
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Embarrassment is always preferable to expensive repair. (y)
     
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  11. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    +1.

    Glad it was only cockpit error.
     
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  12. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    Gotta be careful about leaving the car on. If some thief comes by and sees its still on, they can get in and drive away without the key. And If you are parked in an enclosed space, like a garage, gotta be careful of carbon monoxide poisoning.
     
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