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Can you leave Prius on and lock it?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Higgins909, Jul 4, 2023.

  1. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

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    Is it possible to get out of the Gen3 Prius while not turning it off and locking the doors? Is there a good way to do this? I know it will beep all loud and such to let possible thieves know you left your car on. I've been doing amazon flex lately and I don't like all the start and stop I'm doing. The ac never cools down the car.

    Thanks,
    Higgins909
     
  2. JohnPrius3005

    JohnPrius3005 Active Member

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    Why don’t you try to do it?
     
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  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Yes, just lock the car with the little metal key that’s in your fob
     
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  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Yes you lock it with the key from your fob I Don't think it'll make any noises. What I'm wondering is if you could put the fob in your door panel pocket lock the car with the key and everything will sit there and just be quiet and the computer won't try and reopen the door I'm not sure if that would work You may have to carry the fob with you. And if you carry the remote with you even if the car was unlocked so the would be thief comes along sees your car running it's nice and cool inside he hops in the drive off with it Will it really drive off or it'll only go a few feet and then stop because it doesn't sense the remote or something?
     
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Generation Gimmie.
     
  6. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

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    Probably have to upgrade to a remote start + theft deterrent?
     
  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    You have to leave the key fob in the car, remove the metal key, then you can lock it
    and the car will stay running.

    I would suggest some type of steering lock though because anyone could come along and
    break the window and drive off.

     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I take the fob with me when I lock with the metal key, instead of leaving the fob in the car.

    The car won't turn off just because the fob isn't there. It'll just say "key not detected" until you bring the fob back.

    If you leave the fob, the car is theirs. Without it, someone who smashes the window can drive off, but can't restart the car later if they turn it off. (Granted, that doesn't help a lot if they just drive straight to their chop shop.)

    There isn't any extra beeping when you lock the door with the metal key. The loud triple beep when you close the door with the car on is because the fob isn't in it, I guess, so you could avoid the beeps by leaving the fob in the car. But then you're leaving the fob in the car.
     
  9. Jeff606

    Jeff606 Junior Member

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    Hi Higgins909,
    I drove as a courier in SF Bay area since 1986- driving Toyotas mostly, also small hatchbacks, pickups, then Prii. I always turned the car off, and locked when I left the car, even for one or two minutes. I never ever had to replace a starter motor. Driving 100-200 miles per day. Some days I would stay in SF all day, delivering up to 25 pkgs. The Prius can take it, it is designed to take it.
     
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  10. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

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    I'll leave it on if I feel safe enough and am only a short sprint away. It seems like when the car is on, the key fob is useless. I wish the car didn't alert everyone when I left it on. This heat and my A/C suck.
     
    Grit likes this.
  11. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    The sks is set to off on mine, it never beeps when I lock all doors and roll driver side window up then enter store for less than 5 minutes.
     
  12. YardDebrisByCole

    YardDebrisByCole New Member

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    Some people are noting using the metal key. That'll work! One step less is to roll down the window, shut the door, press the lock door button, then use the auto up window feature to roll the window up.

    I used this feature one time with an inverter to run my T-Mobile home internet with a temperature tracker that connects to my phone via an app. Blasted the AC at full blast for over 5 hours during an early summer NASCAR race instead of running the generator in my entire camper to run the AC. Rather rely on the Prius to run, rather than a Chinese generator. Had neighbors watching the car for me, but the car had gotten itself way down to 45 degrees F in the shade by the time we got back. Was worried about my dog getting hot, but was quickly relieved when the car kept getting colder and colder. Eventually I worried about him getting too cold.

    Do not do this with your dog if you cannot see temperature live!!