mechanical key does not work

Only thing I can imagine is the car's 12v battery dying and you cannot unlock the door with the remote.

This however does not explain why the mechanical key doesn't work

 

how many miles on her? when was the last time the mechanical key worked?

 

I don't have any advice...
I'm just following with interest.

Let us know what is eventually discovered, as I it's hard for me to imagine how a solid, mechanical key, as long as it is the right key, fails to work.

 

This thread: Battery flat & manual key won't work!! | PriusChat

And some others where a locksmith or slimjim was used.

I recommend graphite powder sprayed into the locks yearly and occasional use of the mechanical key jsut to exercise the lock mechanicals.

 

next problem, how old is the 12v?

 

yeah they dont use slim jims anymore they use bags that slip in between the door and frame and inflate the bags and it bends the door out enough to pull the door lock open.

 

Those bags that bend the door frame can cause permanent damage to the doors. You may start hearing wind noises leak into the car now

I thought you tried wd40 earlier?

 

Be careful as you are going down a very dangerous road. The 12 volt battery is stone dead as a light was left on. Many a Prius has been totaled with a bad jump start. It was the most common first post here years ago. Hundreds of reports of bad electrical damage after a jump start. Many say its because they hooked the jump leads up backwards but given how many people report this damage and so many after a AAA jump I'm kinda thinkin' its more than that. I think it may be the huge surge the 12 volt buss see's when you have a stone dead 12 and here comes an AAA truck with basically a 500 amp supply they hook to the battery. The initial inrush of current is huge. And not good. If I had a super dead 12 in my car I would either bring a new 12 to the car and install it or have it towed home so I can do just that. Or maybe go buy a portable jump pack. Which is somewhat current limited. Either way that 12 in your car is done. When its so perfectly discharged like that it sulphates quite quickly and will never hold a decent charge again.

Good Luck.

 

I recommend taking the battery out and charging it up. You can then probably use that battery for a while until you're able to locate a new battery. But definitely replace what's in the car now, especially if it's over 5 years old

 

JC I guess I reference everything to my beat up old back and if I'm going to pull that pos battery out I sure as hell am not going to stick it back in. It's getting a new battery which I see the OP has wisely decided.

But, your probably in much better shape then me and don't understand.

 

Sometimes that battery is hard to locate, so you can simply charge that old battery to buy you a little time. But I agree it's best to just replace it with a new one, then you only do it once

 

I don't know if this is valid.
But I've read a few places that recommended NOT using WD-40 as a lubricant. Mostly bicycle advice.

The forwarded argument being that WD-40 is a old school petroleum based lubricant that after using, and as it ages will actually attract dirt.
While the newer synthetic lubricant sprays, do a better job of repelling dirt.

I don't know if any testing has ever been done. Or if it's not just propaganda of the synthetic spray lubricant companies.

I've occasionally used graphite in my automobile locks in the past.
I like WD-40 as a product.
I now own both WD-40 and a "Synthetic" spray lubricant.

 

Good idea, just tried that. One thing I noted, when either locking or unlocking with the mechanical key: I can hear a concert of cachungs from all four locks. Also, it doesn't take a lot of effort. What this says to me:

Even with the mechanical key, there's electrical activation working the door/hatch locks. So this again points to a weak 12 volt battery methinks.

 

Wd 40 is more of a cleaner than a lubricant

 

After reading your post I just tried my key and noted the same sounds of all the door electric actuators. Mine did not take much effort either.

I would hope with a dead battery that the mechanical key can still move the mechanical linkages and open the driver's door!

 

try it again after unplugging the battery.....with the windows down of course