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2008 has remote start - how do I use it?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by seaside1963, Aug 18, 2010.

  1. seaside1963

    seaside1963 Junior Member

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    2017 Prius v wagon
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    I just purchased a used, 2008 prius. Two days later, when I hadn't figured out what the beeps meant and how to lock and unlock it, I was standing at the closed hatchback, thinking I had just locked it with my smartkey fob, and started in to the house. But it was sounding to me like the engine had turned on. I turned around and peered into the driver's window, and sure enough, the engine was on, and the car was running. This was a parked car that I had returned to for some luggage. I had not just gotten out of it. It had been parked and off for several hours.

    So, when I pressed some combination of buttons on the hatchback and the smartkey fob, it spontaneously started? Does anyone know what the procedure might be to re-create that scenario? It appears this has a remote start, but I am unaware how to get it to start for me again.

    I purchased this at a Ford dealership, and the sales person knew very little (!!!) about this Prius. I think I knew more than he did, because I called Toyota with the vin # to find out what options were on the car; the sales guy didn't know.
     
    #1 seaside1963, Aug 18, 2010
  2. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    Ghosts. :eek:

    The gas engine starts and stops depending on the current power demands. Turning the car ON (or, more specifically, READY), activates the computers that figure out when the gas engine needs to run.

    When you parked the car, the computers figured out that it wasn't necessary to run the gas engine at that point. You probably thought that everything was OFF, but it was still READY. It isn't OFF until you press the Power button and the dash panel turns off.

    After running the computers (and the air conditioning if it was turned ON) for a while, the traction battery was drained low enough that the gas engine needed to run. It probably ran for about a minute to recharge the traction battery, and turned off again.

    Beep codes: 1 means the doors just locked. 2 means that the doors just unlocked, 3 means that you opened the door with the car still ON, continuous beep means you opened the door with the car still ON and IN GEAR :eek: . Continuous beeps means you are in reverse or somebody didn't put their seat belt on (these can be turned OFF).

    Welcome to PriusLand. I hope you enjoy your new electronic toy at least as much as the rest of us!
     
    #2 RobH, Aug 19, 2010
    seaside1963 likes this.
  3. seaside1963

    seaside1963 Junior Member

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    2017 Prius v wagon
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    N/A
    Well, that is the only explanation that makes sense. I must have forgotten to turn it off. Yikes, I can't think what would have happened if I had not heard the engine on, and left it like that all night...it seems odd that it could lock with the engine running. Too bad...I was really hoping it had remote start
     
    #3 seaside1963, Aug 19, 2010
  4. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    I don't think it is possible to lock the car with smartkey if it is still in READY mode.
     
    #4 2009Prius, Aug 19, 2010
    seaside1963 likes this.
  5. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    It probably didn't lock. It certainly beeped when you got out of the car, but that was due to being left ON, not due to pressing the lock button. In order to lock it while it's ON, you have to use a mechanical key.

    As for what would happen if left running, the car is designed to do that. It was a theft exposure, and a gas fume (CO) exposure if in an enclosed area, but mechanically not a problem. Would have used some gas.

    Several times recently I've left my car unlocked. I mean, you don't have to fiddle with a key to get into it, but you do have to do something to make it lock. I'd prefer that the car locked itself when it's turned off and the keyfob removed.

    Very few 2004-2009 Prius have remote start. Toyota never offered it, and the aftermarket units weren't designed for hybrids. A few very inventive installers figured it out, but very few. There are several threads here about remote start on a Gen2, and there is at least one "transponder bypass" unit that is supposed to work.
     
    #5 RobH, Aug 19, 2010
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