1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Gen 3 Dead accessory battery, manual key won't unlock door

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by cagemo, May 4, 2019.

Page 1 of 3
  1. cagemo

    cagemo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2006
    132
    6
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My 2014 Prius has a totally dead 12v battery. It unlocked normally with the fob last night but would not start, and didn't have enough power to re-lock the doors electrically. It was late at night, so I locked all the doors manually using the interior latches, thinking I could use the mechanical key to open the drivers door and work on it today. The mechanical key turns (clockwise, per the owners manual) but doesn't unlock the door. Searched the forums but can't find anything for this specific problem. Anyone have advice?
     
    #1 cagemo, May 4, 2019
    Last edited: May 4, 2019
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,135
    50,050
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    the manual key locked it last night?
     
    #2 bisco, May 4, 2019
  3. cagemo

    cagemo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2006
    132
    6
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    II
    No. I locked all the doors manually, using the mechanical interior door locks. The doors would not lock electrically, probably because the 12v battery is dead.
     
    #3 cagemo, May 4, 2019
    Last edited: May 4, 2019
  4. cagemo

    cagemo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2006
    132
    6
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My essential question: Is the drivers side, outside mechanical key operated completely by mechanical forces, or is it electrical in any way? If it's all mechanical, then I just need to figure out what's seized up or not working properly.
     
    #4 cagemo, May 4, 2019
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,482
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I suggest squirting a little WD-40 into the mechanical key hole to see if that would help the mechanical key to rotate sufficiently to unlock the door.
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, May 5, 2019
    tvpierce, Colin Garcia, cagemo and 2 others like this.
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,135
    50,050
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    and try a pair of pliers on the key to aid turning, but don't bend or break it, wiggle it back and forth.

    yes, it is all mechanical.
     
    #6 bisco, May 5, 2019
    Colin Garcia, cagemo and Bay Stater like this.
  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,422
    3,410
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I would use the key once a month or so just to keep it free of dirt and junk.
    The grease will harden over time, heat, cold, etc.
    Better safe than sorry...
     
    #7 ASRDogman, May 5, 2019
    spiralhelix, kc5dlo, Mendel Leisk and 3 others like this.
  8. cagemo

    cagemo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2006
    132
    6
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks everybody for the advice, and confirming it's all mechanical. I had tried pliers carefully and rotating it back and forth but not the WD40. Can never find that red tube... Will try that and report back.
     
    #8 cagemo, May 5, 2019
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,135
    50,050
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    hopefully, it's not disconnected inside the door. have you owned it since new?
     
    #9 bisco, May 5, 2019
  10. cagemo

    cagemo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2006
    132
    6
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I wondered that too. But I have owned it since new.
     
    #10 cagemo, May 5, 2019
    bisco likes this.
  11. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,174
    4,078
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    There's a website for that product.
     
    #11 Grit, May 5, 2019
    Last edited: May 5, 2019
  12. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,174
    4,078
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I use white lithium grease or the wd-40 rust & dust resistant line of dry lube. Regular wd-40 will get you trouble in the future.
     
    #12 Grit, May 5, 2019
    Johnny Cakes, Raytheeagle and bisco like this.
  13. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,422
    3,410
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    When you get it unstuck, if it is, you should remove the door panel and lube the lock with graphite.
    Or whatever toyota calls for....
     
    #13 ASRDogman, May 5, 2019
    Bay Stater and frodoz737 like this.
  14. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2019
    446
    343
    0
    Location:
    Sanford NC
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    Triple A can get in....they'll pry the door just enough to get a rod to the door handle and open it from the inside.
     
    #14 bettergolf, May 5, 2019
    Bay Stater and cagemo like this.
  15. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    ALWAYS use graphite, not WD.
     
    #15 frodoz737, May 5, 2019
    Johnny Cakes likes this.
  16. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,422
    3,410
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    WD40 will loosen it up, graphite won't. So AFTER the wd40, clean up the lock and use graphite.
     
    #16 ASRDogman, May 5, 2019
    kc5dlo and Bay Stater like this.
  17. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Silicon and graphite combined do not make good bed fellows in a lock.
     
    #17 frodoz737, May 5, 2019
  18. Usle

    Usle Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2018
    317
    139
    0
    Location:
    Me
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Lot's of ideas, the op disappeared, but....the op mechanically locked it from the inside, what's that?
    I'd contact toyota and ask, and keep calling dealers untill someone knows how to unlock when mechanically locked from the inside.

    Obviously the key isn't working, is there a sliding door or an incantation?
     
    #18 Usle, May 5, 2019
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,135
    50,050
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what's what?
     
    #19 bisco, May 5, 2019
  20. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,174
    4,078
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Toyota will probably say they..."never heard of it." Just like all the other issues that's been reported to them with that usual answer :p
     
    #20 Grit, May 5, 2019
    spiralhelix likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 3