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"Disabling" a Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by danoday, Dec 15, 2005.

  1. danoday

    danoday Member

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    OK, there is some explanation involved in this one. I purchased one of VAIS's IPOD adapters for my wife's Prius as a Christmas present. Now, I have to figure out how to have it installed so she doesn't know it is there (until Christmas morning, of course).

    I found a shop that is willing to put it in, but need to figure out how to get the Prius away from my wife for a day. Here's the plan: I need to disable her Prius so that it doesn't start or doesn't run temporarily. Once she trys to use it and finds it not working, I can 'offer' to take a look, and let her use my car for the day instead. Once she leaves, I can 'undo' whatever has been done to disable the car, and take it to get the VAIS unit installed.

    Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do something to temporarily sabotage a Prius? Something easy to do that doesn't cause any permanent damage? My wife isn't technical, so it doesn't have to be too elaborate.

    Dan
     
    #1 danoday, Dec 15, 2005
  2. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    Maybe you could take the gas cap off (or at least loose). That should give a warning.
     
    #2 aaf709, Dec 15, 2005
  3. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Would it work to hide her keys? :)

    Or maybe you could disconnect the battery so it won't start, but you might have trouble explaining how it happened, and how you fixed it so easily all by your onesy.
     
    #3 hyo silver, Dec 15, 2005
  4. mehrenst

    mehrenst Member

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    Just pull the 12V battery link under the hood, close the hood and lock the driver's door using the mechanical key. Make sure you keep the spare fob with the mechanical key with you because you will need it to open the driver's door. Door's won't open using the SmartKey and even if she manages to get in the car using the mechanical key it won't power up.

    After she leaves you simply open the door, open the hood and replace the link, Power on and drive away. B)

    The downside is that radio presets will be lost (not sure about NAV POIs)
     
    #4 mehrenst, Dec 15, 2005
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    "Look honey, I've invalidated your warranty! Merry Christmas!" :)
     
    #5 richard schumacher, Dec 15, 2005
  6. 8AA

    8AA Active Member

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    Do you have SKS? Does your wife know about the button under the steering wheel that disables SKS? Do you think that she would know to put the fob in the slot on the dash, or would she say that the power button isn't working?

    Couldn't you just borrow the car for the day because someone at work would like to see your hybrid car?
     
    #6 8AA, Dec 15, 2005
  7. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Pull the orange service plug off the HV battery.
     
    #7 tochatihu, Dec 15, 2005
  8. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    That would be the easiest and safest.
     
    #8 aaf709, Dec 15, 2005
  9. jbarnhart

    jbarnhart New Member

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    I"d just go old school. Let the air out of the left front tire and then tell her you noticed she has a flat. She leaves, you pump it up again and you're on your way. (Cigarette lighter pumps are cheap and easy to get if you don't have one already.)
     
    #9 jbarnhart, Dec 15, 2005
  10. danoday

    danoday Member

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    Well, that might work in a 'normal' family, but not in this case. First off, we both work from home. Second, we're a two Prius family... each of us own one!

    I also bought one of the VAIS IPOD interfaces for my Prius!

    Dan
     
    #10 danoday, Dec 15, 2005
  11. danoday

    danoday Member

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    Hmm... simple yet effective. This one will work. Thanks for the suggestion!

    I also have a compressor that she probably doesn't know about.

    Dan
     
    #11 danoday, Dec 15, 2005
  12. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Can you take the batteries out of the fobs? No response. Must be something wrong with the RFID. Maybe the battery in this one died; try the other one. No response? Well shoot, the car must be acting up.

    "Stupid hybrid high-tech RF crap. Now I have to have it towed in.
    You go on to work and I'll wait for the tow truck."
     
    #12 TonyPSchaefer, Dec 15, 2005
  13. aka007ii

    aka007ii New Member

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    Get up a few hours early and jam the garage door in case she wakes up and goes looking for you. Then just go install it yourself. It's a better present if you tell her you did it. Just leave the cable rolled up along side the glove box and Christmas morning go out and run the cable through. Takes a few minutes. No drilling required. Won't wake her up.

    [Broken External Image]:http://calpriusgroup.us/images/aka007ii/P3030715.JPG
    [Broken External Image]:http://calpriusgroup.us/images/aka007ii/P3030716.JPG
     
    #13 aka007ii, Dec 15, 2005
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