2010 Prius won’t unlock with the 12v battery dead? And key fob metal key doesn’t open driver side.

Have you tried wd40 and pliers on the key?

 

This may sound obvious, but did you turn the key in both ccw and cw directions?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Bummer. Cheers to fellow Prius owner with a dead 12v battery today!

Luckily my door was open, but I still had to figure out how to move all my junk in the cargo area through the 2nd row in order to flip up the floor enough to get my hand in there to open the cargo door latch. Fun times.

 

I seem to recall there’s a trick to popping the hood, through the front grill? Then you could get power to jump point.

second making real sure the mechanical key is not gonna work.

 

My mechanical key won't unlock the door, I thought it was a feature?

 

Yes, but you have to get under the cargo floor panel to access the cubby hole. Once you lift up the cover, there's a small access hole under the door where the lock assembly is located - there's a lever inside you move manually to release the latch.

I'm just going to get the TrueStart battery from Toyota parts counter, about same price as an auto parts store aftermarket so I'd rather get what Toyota carries

 

Yeah, OP’s dilemma (which even he’s forgotten lol) is everything’s locked.

short of AAA slim Jim, somehow get to the hood release??

 

it’s just like those 5 bumps below the parking light bulb. They’re not LEDs just ascetics

 

Ha, you should see what people have to go through when the 12v battery dies on a Tesla

 

Yep I have seen that. Door handle won't flip out? Freezing temps can have the same effect.

My friends BMW M3 had the "Foot Sensor," go out, WTH? It was at least a 1200 dollar part that the dealer has to reset? It disables, let's see, the mirrors (if they are folded in, you can't fold them out). The turn signal's don't work and the head lights only work on High Beams. Are you kidding me?

The Prii with some non, non functional metal key's? Is pretty lame by comparison? Don't let the 12 volt die and you don't have to worry about it. But a non functional metal key won't disable the car.

The A-hole in charge of quality control of the Metal Key "Feature," probably got a promotion?

 

Using the metal key now and then to unlock the door probably helps make sure it will when you need it to.

I've never had any trouble with mine.

 

That is why Toyota supplies 2 fobs with keys that mechanically unlock the doors. People buying used cars need to make sure they get 2 operating fins complete with mechanical keys that work. There is nothing Toyota could have done about your situation.

 

You mean the person that replaced the fob without a working mechanical key before they sold it to the dealer??

 

yeah there’s the rub: used purchase, metal key switched?