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unable to lock doors, what's up

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by xrep, Jan 20, 2008.

  1. xrep

    xrep Junior Member

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    I've had some other questions about the door locks and I'm wondering if this new chapter is somehow related. I'm having problems locking and unlocking the doors. Exiting the car yesterday, I attempted to lock the doors using the switch on the armrest, my usual fashion of locking up. The locks cycled to lock then unlocked on their own. I repeated this several times with the same result. I attempted to use the lock switches on the outside of the doors, nothing. I attempted to manually lock the doors, the back doors locked okay but the front doors would not stay locked, they cycled open agian. The key fob would not do the trick either. I had to leave the vehicle unlocked. When I got home, all worked okay. My wife was nearly locked out of the car the other day but finally the system allowed entry. What's up? It's an 04 Prius, an early 04 I might add if that makes any difference. I have changed the batteries in the fobs about a year ago. Would this issue be covered by our extended warrenty?
     
    #1 xrep, Jan 20, 2008
  2. paulccullen

    paulccullen New Member

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    Normally, when the doors won't lock, like when a door is ajar or when a key fob is still inside, the car simply beeps at you. This lock/unlock thing sounds like a malfunction.

    I see a visit to your friendly neighborhood Toyota dealer in your future. I would expect/hope that this would be covered by your extended warranty.

    But first, see if someone else here on PC has also experienced this lock/unlock problem and can shine some more light on it.
     
    #2 paulccullen, Jan 20, 2008
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Well now, this is where I would disagree. Or at least say that it depends on the set-up.

    I also normally use the armrest button to lock the doors. In this case, when the fob is inside the car, the locks will unlock without a beep. I'm nearly 100% sure of this (and am tempted to test it but it's 7ºF outside).

    You are correct, Paul, only when pressing the outside lock button. In that case, when the fob is inside the car, you will get a long beep.

    Xrep,
    The first thing I would like you to do is locate your second fob. Wherever it is, just find it. The scenario you have painted sounds exactly like when someone inadvertently had the second fob in the glove box.

    And when you say that your wife was nearly locked out of the car, should we assume that this happened after your not-locking experience? That is to say that you did eventually get the car locked but it then would not unlock.

    I just want to make sure we have everything straight so others can provide completely accurate answers.
     
    #3 TonyPSchaefer, Jan 20, 2008
  4. Bear68

    Bear68 Member

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    One other quick question.... since a lot of 04s were not built with Smart Key.... was yours? If you don.t have Smart Key, you will want to have the dash key slot checked since it might be experiancing an intermittant short that causes the car to believe a key is still in the slot....
    If you do have SKS, make sure all doors and the rear hatch are securely closed.(check for the red door ajar light on the dash) Then make sure you don't have a key inside the car. Please let us know what you find.....
     
    #4 Bear68, Jan 20, 2008
  5. xrep

    xrep Junior Member

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    The second fob was not in the car when this problem occurred. The doors will lock using the armrest locking switch with the fob in the car and my butt on the seat. The doors will unlock if the fob is inside when you close the doors. I did some more testing today and found the problem to be identical to trying to lock the doors with the system turned on. This '04 was purchased in Oct of '03 and it came with the Smartkey feature which we love. That short in the "key" slot sounds like a real possibility. We never use the slot, ever. Other problems I have had with this system include, but are not limited to, the doors locking and unlocking while I am hand washing the car, the chirp that accompanies the locking/unlocking being inactivated and no longer operable, locking system failing to unlock the doors and this problem of not locking, occurring a couple times now. There's something wrong with this system. I'm just fearful when I take it in, as I have in the past, they send me away after having the car for a day and not doing anything to locate the problem, just saying they weren't able to duplicate the problem, see you later.
     
    #5 xrep, Jan 21, 2008
  6. DeekoPete

    DeekoPete New Member

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    I hope I don't sound too lame when I ask this, but have you tried replacing the CR2032 battery on the fobs? Granted, I don't know how likely this is, but I remember reading another post about something very similar and it turns out it was the key fob and SKS not communicating properly...
     
    #6 DeekoPete, Jan 21, 2008
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    The second fob suggestion was just a shot in the dark.

    I haven't had any major issues with my '04 SKS. I've experienced a few of the things you've described but was able to explain them away. For example, the doors have locked an unlocked while I washed the car but since I had the fob in my pocket I wrote it off. The item that disturbs me the most is the disappearance of the "lock chirp." Though I would love to get rid of mine, when it goes away unexpectedly it's not a good thing.

    All I could think of is that for some reason the car thinks that the fob is inside the car when you attempt to lock it from the outside. But that's inconsistent with the issue of not being able to unlock it. Perhaps it's a problem with the RF antenna not properly detecting the fob. You wouldn't be able to unlock the car if the antennae doesn't "see" it. Another shot in the dark.

    I hate to say it but it sounds to me like you will need to take it in. This is not only a malfunction but a security issue as well. I once made a Technician sit with me in a previous car until he witnessed and acknowledged the problem. Perhaps the next time you take it in, you can somehow coerce someone to stand with you next to the car as you attempt to lock/unlock the doors. That way it's not you trying to explain it but them witnessing and explaining it themselves.

    Keep us posted.
     
    #7 TonyPSchaefer, Jan 21, 2008
  8. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Close the rear hatch properly
     
    #8 patsparks, Jan 21, 2008
  9. okiebutnotfrommuskogee

    okiebutnotfrommuskogee Senior Member

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    I too have experienced the locking and unlocking of the car when washing it. So now I leave the fob far enough from the car that they can't talk to each other. An easy way to solve that problem.
     
    #9 okiebutnotfrommuskogee, Jan 21, 2008
  10. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Take a reading on the 12v Aux. battery in the right rear of the trunk, as sometimes when it gets too low, door lock/unlock symptoms can happen.
     
    #10 hill, Jan 21, 2008
  11. hschuck

    hschuck Member

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    The first problem you note (doors unlocking and locking while washing) is not an SKS problem. When the doors are locked, water spray can trigger the door unlock function if the fob is in range; the door re-locks after 30 seconds if it is not opened after being unlocked. Leave the car unlocked when you wash it or leave the fob out of range. I can't help with the other problems(?).
     
    #11 hschuck, Jan 21, 2008
  12. xrep

    xrep Junior Member

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    After a trip to the dealer and leaving it there overnight, they found nothing, and charged me nothing. They did spend a fair amount of time looking around for other areas of service they could sell me but they never came up with any answers. I did ask if they could re-activate the chirp, thinking it could be related, but alas that was not done either. It's so freaking frustrating to get the "loose nut behind the wheel" diagnosis. They did say they thought there were rodents in the engine compartment at some time and recommended moth balls to help discourage them. No evidence of chewing, only the possibility of nesting. I did some serious looking and saw nothing. I will re-post if the problem persists and if there is a solution found. Until then, thanks for all the help. BTW, the rear hatch was shut and I did go around and open and close all the doors when the problem was occurring. It behaved just like the key was still in the keyslot or the system was on. I have insturcted my wife that if she has this problem again to re-cycle the system on and off and hopefully that will re-set the locking system. Thanks again for the help and interest.
     
    #12 xrep, Jan 22, 2008
  13. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    I sometimes have trouble locking up because the G--d--n seatbelt gets caught in the door.
     
    #13 Doc Willie, Jan 22, 2008
  14. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    You are not required to take your car to the dealership where you bought it. My suggestion would be to take it to another dealership. Some techs are better than others, or more willing to delve deeper to find the problem.
     
    #14 daniel, Jan 23, 2008
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