Hi. New to this. I'm OCD enough to always prefer to check that I've locked my doors. However the used 2006 Prius opens only with key fob on me, and as long as that's the case it will ALWAYS unlock. So no ability to see if its locked. Ideas? Ummmm also if I may ask.... nervous about getting this used auto.130k miles on it. I had a mechanic check it but he didn't flag the electric system as a trouble and it started fine for test drives. However after sitting for 2 days it appeared to not start immediately. When it did move, I couldn't tell if it was just rolling by gravity or actually maneuverable. Again - any feedback from those with more knowledge (that would be pretty much anyone here.)
If it truly was OCD, the gold standard treatment of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) says to purposely wonder whether you locked the door and then do nothing to check on it. What I do, though, is use the door handle lock button which will make the car beep to show that it's locked. Also, you could go around the entire car and make sure all the lock indicators on the inside are in the locked position. In regards to the lock issue, what do you mean by not starting? If you could give us more info, that'd be great.
Welcome to Prius Chat. If your car has the SKS (smart key system) option the button under the steering wheel may be turned off, check your owners manual. Starting issues, start by having your 12 V battery checked. Old cars usually come with old batteries.
The door doesn't unlock until you reach for the handle, so if you just sneak up to the car and look through the windows without grabbing the handle, you'll be able to see that it is locked. Or if you pay attention to the amber turn signals, reach for the handle, and see them flash for you as the door opens, you'll know that it was locked, and just now unlocked for you.
Just turn the SKS off. Then the car will work just like a car with a regular fob. You will have to put the fob in the slot to run it though. Personally I do that every time myself anyway.
Thank you. When I go to start the car, it makes a very soft whining sound under the front hood, then no sound. Before I bought it (used, a couple days ago) the couple times I started it it just sounded like a regular car and started without problems. Now that I have outlaid 7k on the "as is" (no implied warranty no remaining warranty , on the 06 130k-ish mile car, its declining to start reliably. I don't know what trim level it has. So far after about 45 panicked seconds it has allowed me to finally silently put it into reverse with a little 'regular engine turnover and run' noise. I've read elsewhere that maybe replacing the 12 Volt battery in the back (which I'm honestly unsure it has one of, being not automotively gifted) might help for a while. Any idea if it has one of those, what replacement of the 12 Volt (if it has one) 'in the back' would run, and if it would help? My employer will not tolerate lateness, and its going to be harsh in the middle of winter on the night shift of a hospital to have to get going an hour early so I have time to try and call for a taxi to be at work in time.
Is the ready light not coming on after you push the start button with your foot on the brake? Depending on the temperature and the charge on the traction battery the gas engine (ice) might not start right away. That’s normal. If it freaks you out you can push in the gas petal when it’s in park. After the ready light is on. That usually starts my engine up The whining sound is probably the electric water pump pumping the hot water from the “thermos” to the engine to help warm it up. Again perfectly normal, for a Prius that is.
Normal startup will include silence with a light on the dash that shows "READY", then within 5-10 seconds the engine will start. If you could describe exactly the issue, whether you don't see the ready light or don't hear the engine run within 5-10 seconds or ever, or something else, that would help a lot.
I can back mine up and start down the street before my ice starts. Depending on how much I press on the gas petal.
That's unusual. Wouldn't that only happen if the entire system is sufficiently warmed up (or, of course, with the EV mod)?
Nope, California weather and I live slightly downhill so I usually park and start with my battery on the first green bar.
I wonder if it has to do with the weather, because my engine always starts no matter the battery level. I understood that to be the design intention.
the 12v fires up the computers and relays. it is in the hatch area under the right rear floor board' after you make the car ready, the motors in the tranny spin up the engine. that is how the engine can constantly run and shut down, thousands of times a day
My Gen 1 would always start the engine immediately with the turn of the key. It was the first generation, after all, and they didn't want it to behave too weirdly for people used to a conventional car. My Gen 3 pretty much never starts the engine immediately with the press of the button. The READY light just comes on, and I get about ten seconds, or out of the driveway and a bit down the road, before the engine starts. Those ten seconds also make for a little grace period where I could push the EV button if I don't really want it to start at all. I don't have a Gen 2 right handy, but if I remember right from driving them, it'll take several seconds to pump out the thermos, and then a little bit after that, it'll get around to starting the engine. You can, of course, start driving as soon as you see the READY light, and leave the engine to start when it feels like it.
When I started my gen 2 in the bat cave this afternoon I hit the stopwatch on my phone and it was 15 seconds until the ice started. I heard the pump start first to use the thermos to heat the engine. I did have the heater on though. I’m pretty sure when I start the car on a summer California morning with the climate control turned off I can drive at least 1/10th of a mile before the ice starts.
