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Disabling a 2005 Prius (non-destructive)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by iykisa, Jan 4, 2007.

  1. iykisa

    iykisa Junior Member

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    My girlfriend and I are both Prius owners. Her family is having a surprise party for her this weekend, but she's talking about going out of town to a retreat.

    I need a non-destructive (and simple, please) way to disable her Prius so she can't drive it Saturday morning.

    Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

    Mark
     
  2. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    <_< sounds sneaky to me.... :rolleyes: The easiest way I can think of is to disconnect the 12v battery. You'd need to take a look at the Owner's Manual to find that battery and disconnect it. Bad part: She'd lose all her preset radio stations. Might be worth it for the surprise element.
     
  3. MegansPrius

    MegansPrius GoogleMeister, AKA bongokitty

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(iykisa @ Jan 4 2007, 02:50 PM) [snapback]370805[/snapback]</div>
    You might switch her key fob with your second, and disable smartkey on yours so your car doesn't light up.
     
  4. Skwyre7

    Skwyre7 What's the catch?

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    Non-destructive: steal/hide her fobs.

    Semi-destructive: disconnect the 12v battery.

    EDIT: Wow, Charles and Megan/Scott are quick.
     
  5. Alnilam

    Alnilam The One in the Middle

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  6. sbradyny

    sbradyny New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Jan 4 2007, 02:12 PM) [snapback]370819[/snapback]</div>
    Also note that the Troll with the porn sites joined at 1:37 p.m., and this person joined at 1:40 p.m. Coincedence????? Looks fishy to me.
     
  7. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Don't do anything to the car!!! Anything you do will make her think the car has broken down and she'll call the dealer and have it towed and probably get very angry at you.

    Either steal both her keyfobs, or, better yet, invent some excuse/lie to tell her to keep her in town.

    Think how you'll feel if you try to disable her car, and you screw up and fry one of the computers! Besides, disabling her car won't guarantee she stays in town. She might rent a car, or get a ride with someone.

    Or you could even decide that surprise parties are stupid, and just tell her there's a party for her. Or tell her it's a surprise party for her best friend, and she really needs to come.
     
  8. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    This is an interesting topic for a new member. Of course, it's possible that while looking online for a way to disable a Prius for legitimate reasons, he found Priuschat. Please, people, when talking about ways to disable a car - your car - let's not give away any trade secrets.

    Not only will they be captured here for the immediate use, they will be online stored in this database and Google's spiders for years to come.

    But I agree with daniel. If there's something wrong with her car she will freak.
     
  9. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    Howdy Alnilam

    QUOTE: "This sounds like a really great Q & A wth a first-time poster, Charles. Like he couldn't figure something out for himself. You join a net to seek out such info? None of this looks suspicious to you? He's had a Prius for two years and he needs YOUR help?"

    Thanks for your very constructive and helpful comment. Have a great day! ;)
     
  10. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    ok then, how about something universal to all cars? just let some air out of a tire and say you don't feel good about her driving on it, there must be a leak. just make sure you've got an air pump handy to add air back in once the cat's out of the bag.
     
  11. Alnilam

    Alnilam The One in the Middle

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  12. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    Remove the dome and hybrid fuses.

    If you take the tire route, deflate 2 tires, since the spare could be used.
     
  13. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    I'd take the rotor out of the distributor. But be careful...it's difficult to get the clip at the back off, without breaking the tang!

    (you might want to check the 'how to' manual, which is available online via a subscription)

    Here's how I've done exactly what you're describing:
    1. Push the clip up (towards the hood)
    2. And then away from you
    3. You'll hear a 'click' and feel it release if you're doing it right.

    Then just remove the rotor and store it away for safekeeping.

    When she goes to power up the car, she'll get an "ICE startup failure" warning on the MFD...that'll surely scare her!
     
  14. tmorrowus

    tmorrowus Member

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    Deflating tires strikes me as dangerous... she could not notice the deflated tires and drive on them, ruining them. Or if multiple tires are deflated this could trigger a police report of vandalism.

    I think unplugging the 12V battery is the best approach. It's totally reversible and causes no damage. And if things go bad and she does end up getting someone knowledgeable to look at the car it will be the first thing they discover so they won't waste too much time diagnosing.

    If you wanted to really mess with her, unplugging the HV battery would probably take a long time for even an experienced troubleshooter to diagnose.
     
  15. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jan 4 2007, 12:49 PM) [snapback]370915[/snapback]</div>
    no rotor in a Prius no distributor either.
     
  16. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Jan 4 2007, 11:12 AM) [snapback]370819[/snapback]</div>
    It is suspicious. There was no package 7 in the 05 model year, as his lists in his profile.
     
  17. PA

    PA Member

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    No need to disable the Prius. Everybody get under the tonneau cover, then when she gets in to start it up everybody jumps up and yells, "SURPRISE!"

    Save me a piece of cake, not too much icing, please.

    :)
     
  18. iykisa

    iykisa Junior Member

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    Thanks for all the replies.

    First of all, this was a serious inquiry.

    Second, I purchased the car in January of 2006, so it's not even a year old for me.

    Third, I would have sworn I have a #7 package - if I'm wrong, I apologize. I have CD changer, Nav, Voice, etc. Ooops - just checked elsewhere - I have #6. I'll try to change my profile.

    Finally, she has been convinced by her daughter to attend the 'dinner' for friends.

    Thanks again for the help!
     
  19. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Jan 4 2007, 03:59 PM) [snapback]371018[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks Frank Rotors and distributors are "old school" but I was not willing to respond! There are ways to set the check engine light that are not dangerous, but that may lead to a call to the dealer and tow and etc etc. I would find another way to do this. Could someone out of area or with an out of area cell phone call her and delay her enough for "SURPRISE". This requires guile I will defer to the Cool Chicks in Black Prius for that. No mere male would be able to match female guile.
     
  20. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Jan 4 2007, 03:59 PM) [snapback]371018[/snapback]</div>
    I'm positive Natalie knows this, and was toying with the OP. She's a car enthusiast.