2012 hidden exterior door lock button!!

The Owner's Manual is your friend. While not well organized, it contains a surprising amount of useful information.

Tom

 

It's always amazing to me that people will spend $20k-$30k on a potentially lethal piece of machinery and yet NOT take the time to read the manual cover to cover. Now don't get me wrong, I almost never read user guides / owners manuals on anything else as I subscribe to the theory that if I need to its too complicated (and I'm a smart guy anyway). But again, on something so expensive that could kill me or someone else if operated improperly, you bet your a** I do.

 

I definitely read everything I could find on the car (Prius v 3 for me) before I bought it and everything I was given after, but there's only so much you can retain. The salesperson told me about this feature, but there were things he didn't, which I later learned on these very forums (or on my own). Even the biggest things can be missed pretty easily in a little booklet; I'd fault whoever sold him the car before I'd fault his laziness or reading comprehension.

 

There's another couple of lines, same orientation, on the underside of the handle. Serve the same purpose.

 

Now, if it were, say, health-care legislation, I could see not bothering to read the two thousand pages.

 

I did exactly the same thing! And I had read the manual -- or at least skimmed the parts that I was unfamiliar with. I thought I knew how to lock the doors, because I assumed it would be the same as on my 2005. I was so pleased to learn about the little lines and what they do!

By the way, there's still a button for the hatchback.

 

I think it is well established that cars are lethal pieces of machinery. The potential was proven shortly after their invention.

FWIW, I do not plan to read the manual cover to cover. There are some parts that are either not applicable or too damn boring (legal disclaimers, etc.) for me to bother. Knock yourself out if you want to do that, but cut the rest of us some slack.

 

Before you go all crazy and discover something new, there's also a small button next to the rear hatch release. It is to lock all the doors.

 

:suspicious:

I got happy for nothingout:

 

Cut the guy some slack, and while you are at it I need some myself.

In my line of work I have to deal with 4 'manuals'

1. Simplified reduced data about 3 pages
2. Hardware Manual about 1000 pages
3. Software Manual about 1500 pages
4. Errata sheets to tell you where the previous information that you diligently 'read'
is wrong and possibly why your prototype does not work but bit the dust....blah..blah..blah.

But it good to have a reference document so you can read the disclaimer under the 'get it ready' gun.

 

I don't [can't]want to learn everyting at once,it's kinda fun finding out new stuff.I learned the important things first and I don't think locking my car with the fob put too many people in danger,ha.

 

Pretty sad that your dealer didn't explain something so basic to you when you took delivery of the car! My dealer definitely did.

 

Who said he didn't...

 

Our salesman didn't mention this feature when we took delivery of our 2011 Gen3 recently.

My wife remarked how she misses the button that locks the doors on her 2011 Gen3, which I have on my 2010 Camry SE with smartkey. I'm going to have to look for those lines on the door handle and show her.

 

I'm kind of surprised this is an issue for people.
I didn't have the luxury of having a salesperson that could show me anything upon delivery.
But it's a door handle... you have to touch it eventually.
The first time i grabbed the handle it unlocked of course. So you know there has to be a way to lock it too. But grabbing the handle again didn't seem to work. I saw the lines on the handle and just touched them out of curiosity. Woah! It locked! Whadda ya know. Technology is cray-cray-crazy.

 

Not to mention that on a gen 3 you have to be on a level 4 or higher to have the smartkey open the passenger door or trunk lid.