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My 2008 Prius has no lock button on the hatch

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by traindirector, May 28, 2008.

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  1. traindirector

    traindirector New Member

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    Hi all!

    I've had my 2008 Prius since the very end of last year, and I really enjoy driving it. But there's something different about it, and I can't find an explanation anywhere...

    When I first drove it home and finished a thorough exploration of the back, I closed the hatch and thought of how nice a button on the hatch to lock the car after closing the hatch would be. But I thought Toyota had decided the Prius did not need a third lock button, and that explanation made enough sense to me. I also noticed a strange noise, almost like something plastic rattling around a little in the hatch whenever I shut it. I accepted this as something the hatch did.

    The next month, I noticed a new Prius around the block—from the same dealership—that looked just like mine. While I was admiring it, I noticed that it did have a lock button, which started me thinking... and since then, I've noticed a lock button on the hatch of EVERY generation II Prius I've seen since (which isn't a small number).

    I've looked on the internet for pictures or descriptions of a Prius without a hatch lock button, also to no avail. Just recently, while closing the hatch, I noticed the rattling noise seemed to come from approximately where a loose button attached to a wire might dangle, and had the thought that maybe I do have a lock button in the hatch, but for some reason my hatch lacks the hole where it would normally be exposed.

    Does anyone have a Prius without a hatch lock button? Do other people's hatches make a rattling noise while closing? I have a white package #2.

    It's not a case of button envy, and the theory I posited above doesn't seem very likely, but every time I see a Prius and see the button I get a little more curious...
     
    #1 traindirector, May 28, 2008
  2. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    They only do not have a lock button there if they don't have SKS. So if you have SKS, and lock buttons on the two front doors...you're probably right!
     
    #2 SW03ES, May 28, 2008
  3. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    What's a lock button?

    I don't think I have one on mine.

    I have SKS. But don't think I have a lock button.
     
    #3 Boo, May 28, 2008
  4. hschuck

    hschuck Member

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    Boo
    The lock button is the black button on the exterion front door handles and the hatch for locking the car with SKS.
     
    #4 hschuck, May 28, 2008
  5. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    LOL! I never knew that! (My salesman knew less about the car than I did; and I think my eyes must have glazed over when I came to that part in the Owner's Manual.) Yes, I have it. It's to the right of the Toyota logo. Tomorrow I'll lock the doors by just pressing on one of those buttons.

    Now I'm worried about traindirector. He has Package #2 which includes SKS and which means he should have a lock button on the rear hatch too. I think traindirector's hypothesis is correct (missing lock button, noise like loose wire).
     
    #5 Boo, May 28, 2008
  6. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    [Jeez, two stupid mistakes in one day. Perhaps my meds need adjusting... thanks to 9G-man for the correction below.]
     
    #6 richard schumacher, May 28, 2008
  7. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    The dealer can and should make sure you have the SKS lock button in the lift gate trim. This picture shows the non-SKS trim that you have.
    [​IMG]​
     

    Attached Files:

    #7 Bill Merchant, May 28, 2008
  8. Turbogizzmo

    Turbogizzmo New Member

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    I request pics of the doors with button and hatch without! :)
     
    #8 Turbogizzmo, May 28, 2008
  9. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    I wonder if Toyota made the mistake or the section with the button was damaged during shipping and the dealership / shipping company made the mistake and just slapped the wrong panel on there anyway.
     
    #9 morpheusx, May 28, 2008
  10. freshmtt

    freshmtt Dachshund Addict

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    Here is a pic of the back of my 2008 package 2 Prius. The lock button is the little black button to the right of the Toyota Emblem.

    All of you that have a Package 2 2008 Prius should have the lock button, see below,, my Prius is a Package 2 and I have the lock button, if you do not, something is wrong.

    [​IMG]
     
    #10 freshmtt, May 28, 2008
  11. prius729

    prius729 New Member

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    Traindirector,
    Please post a pic of the back of your prius so that we all can witness this anomaly.
     
    #11 prius729, May 28, 2008
  12. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    I wonder why the hatch lock button is way over to the right.:confused:

    It's like trying on a too loose pair of pants, and ending up with four front pockets.:p
     
    #12 Boo, May 28, 2008
  13. traindirector

    traindirector New Member

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    I've been looking for an excuse to take pictures of my car... I'll snap some and post them when I get home.

    I went through all the checklists of items to make sure I had before accepting the car... I guess a hatch lock button should be added to the lists!
     
    #13 traindirector, May 28, 2008
  14. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Oy! If every possible manufacturing defect were on the checklist we'd never get the car home :_>
     
    #14 richard schumacher, May 28, 2008
  15. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    We bought a new Jeep many years ago, and it was missing the emergency flasher button. Upon inspection, it was missing the entire wiring harness for the emergency flashers. Talk about a lack of inspection. It did have the hole in the dash for the button, so at least they got that part right.

    Tom
     
    #15 qbee42, May 28, 2008
  16. 9G-man

    9G-man Senior Member

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    That's the whole idea with SmartKey. You never have to touch the keyfob again, to unlock nor lock the car. Did you ever wonder to yourself why you were still having to use the fob? Or what the buttons on the car were for?

    The quick reference guide covers all these essential things, for those who don't like reading Owners manuals

    Totally unnecessary, the rear SKS button is located in the license plate light housing, that is easily removeable and replaceable. I have a hard time believing that the button is not there, if you have SKS, but anything can happen​
     
    #16 9G-man, May 28, 2008
  17. traindirector

    traindirector New Member

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    Buttonless hatch Prius

    Here are some pictures of "the anomaly":

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Now the question: how did it end up this way?
     
    #17 traindirector, May 28, 2008
  18. Sheepdog

    Sheepdog C'Mere Sheepie!

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    :pFreak! eeek!

    I think they can fix that
     
    #18 Sheepdog, May 28, 2008
  19. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    That's strange. Well, mistakes happen. I hope you will get a hatch with a button.

    Also, I thought the button color matched the color of the car. Well, what do I know, I have a black beauty. :D
     
    #19 Michgal007, May 28, 2008
  20. Huntceet

    Huntceet Junior Member

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    Where's your rear wiper?
     
    #20 Huntceet, May 28, 2008
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