As a relatively newbie in the Prius world, i was a little disappointed to see we can't release the hatch from the driver's seat. So i went poking around the net today and found two sites that indicate the 2006 has a power hatch release. http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/vehic...ota/model/Prius http://www.invoicedealers.com/cars/Features.asp?model=3785 But I can't find it. Are these sites wrong? I've looked through the manual and still can't find it. thanks.
Just hit the button on the door to unlock all doors, and this unlocks the hatch as well. As far as I know, there isn't any way to unlock the hatch and then have it spontaneously open itself. Not sure why you'd want that though.
Yup, like posted, the hatch simply locks and unlocks, so whoever is back there can open it themselves if you hit unlock. As for why you'd want that, i guess if you were picking someone up and their arms were full, it'd be nice to just pop it open so they can drop it all in the trunk without having to juggle their stuff.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Aug 4 2006, 12:20 PM) [snapback]297821[/snapback]</div> It would also be neat to be able to use it as a spoiler/speed brake for improved high speed braking. (The door opening could trigger a brake-chute deployment at the track.) The coolest thing would be to have a little toy sub-machine gun, tripod-mounted and pointing aft, in the trunk. When a tail-gater moves into position at your six, just pop the hatch open and watch that sucker back off! :lol:
I want a power hatch opener, but I want voice activation and a power closer, too. As an extention of SKS, I want to just walk up to the back of the car, declare "Open!", deposit my stuff, then declare "Close!" How cool would that be?
You might be confusing "release" with "opener" ??? Even if you "released" the hatch from the front, you'd still have to lift it. And if you're going to lift it, you might as well release it with the handle at the same time. There is no automatic opener... yet.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Aug 4 2006, 12:20 PM) [snapback]297821[/snapback]</div> But then it'd be more courteous if the driver actually got out and opened the hatch for them and help them unload.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Aug 6 2006, 11:13 PM) [snapback]298862[/snapback]</div> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ..........................GREAT ANSWER!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Aug 6 2006, 09:27 PM) [snapback]298868[/snapback]</div> Guys don't normally think like this.
makes sense. But I do want to make it a habit to help out. I'm starting to feel that guilt when I just sit in the car with the heater or A/C on while whoever it is loads the back.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Aug 7 2006, 12:13 AM) [snapback]298862[/snapback]</div> Ya, I guess. But if Totyota is using "release" to mean "unlock", then they should just call it remote hatch unlock. I don't have "power door releasers." I have "power door locks." To me, the word "release" is misleading. As to why I'd need it.. when I pick up someone to go to the airport, it'd be nice to just pop open the hatch like most cars can pop open the trunk. Thanks for the replies!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LeeN @ Aug 7 2006, 09:32 AM) [snapback]298995[/snapback]</div> I've encountered this twice in six months of ownership that I was stopped in a busy loading zone to pickup a passenger with luggage and wished the hatch would crack open 6-12" to make it easier to load. I think one time I had the car in Drive with the brakes on and the hatch wouldn't unlock. It took me awhile to figure out why it wouldn't open.
The hatch release is indeed power. However it isn't remote. The switch to operate the power hatch release is above the license plate. I suppose Toyota could have installed a remote trigger within the reach of the driver but then how would the hatch be opened? Also, although the release is powered, the hatch is effectively too heavy to clear it off the release unless someone is pulling up on the hatch while activating the release. Ever have to hit that release more than once because you weren't applying enough lift?
