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Does Immobilizer light stay flashing all day and night?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Slugdoc, Jan 11, 2012.

  1. Slugdoc

    Slugdoc New Member

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    So, just getting used to my new 2011 Prius three. (250 miles).
    Noticing that when I approach the car (from behind it), I can see the immobilizer light blinking on the dash.

    From the manual I know it says something like "the immobilizer light will blink when the car is turned off to indicate..." But I assumed it stops after a few seconds.

    Why is it already blinking as I get back to the car hours later?

    My guess is that either it DOES stay blinking continuously OR maybe it started blinking again as I approached the car, since it sensed the Fob in my pocket?

    I was at least 15-20 feet away and I could see it blinking - I wouldn't think it would sense the fob from more than 3 feet or so away.

    I tried sneaking back and back to see if I could see it still flashing, but not sure.
    (I kind of feel like it's checking to see if the fridge light is still on when you close the door...)

    Anyone with knowledge?
     
    #1 Slugdoc, Jan 11, 2012
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    It blinks 24/7, except when the car is in operation. It is a little warning sign for car thieves to not bother with this car.

    Tom
     
    #2 qbee42, Jan 11, 2012
  3. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    True, and no different than most other cars on the road for the past 10+ years.
     
    #3 RRxing, Jan 11, 2012
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Blinks all the time. It's an indication that the car is equipped with a theft-deterrent system and that it's armed.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Jan 11, 2012
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  5. Slugdoc

    Slugdoc New Member

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    Aha!

    (Last car 2001 Saturn SL2. No power windows, locks, alarm, etc)

    So I imagine the battery drain on that light is roughly nil.
     
    #5 Slugdoc, Jan 11, 2012
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Correct.

    Tom
     
    #6 qbee42, Jan 11, 2012
  7. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    The light is nil, but I wonder how much the computer that runs the light consumes...
     
    #7 RobH, Jan 12, 2012
  8. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    If done right, it can consume a microamp or so, much less than the LED itself.

    Even done poorly, it should be pulling much less than the self-discharge of the 12V battery.

    But there are ways to do it really stupidly, consuming far more.
     
    #8 fuzzy1, Jan 12, 2012
  9. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    COMPUTER? It's a 555 timer. ;)
     
    #9 David Beale, Jan 12, 2012
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    ^^ That requires several extra components, for something that should be done with a spare IO line from an existing MCU.
     
    #10 fuzzy1, Jan 12, 2012
  11. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    It flashes way too fast for it to serve as a warning sign, unless a would-be thief assumes that a flashing light is the warning sign. I had to look up what the heck the flashing light said when I first got the car.
     
    #11 32kcolors, Jan 13, 2012
  12. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Car thieves are probably better informed about flashing lights in cars.

    Tom
     
    #12 qbee42, Jan 13, 2012
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Pretty much. A blinking red light is the industry-standard for alarm though now it also means engine immobiliser (but no thief is gonna take a chance as to whether an alarm is installed). At least ours is in a shape of a car and a key. Most are a simple plain red light.
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Jan 15, 2012
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