Can the smart key lock doors automatically?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(azzieo @ Aug 31 2006, 12:20 PM) [snapback]312195[/snapback]</div>

The only thing I have seen is that if you touch the door handle to unlock the car, but never open the door, the car will relock itself after a time.

Auto locking after you park the car and get out? I would say no.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(azzieo @ Aug 31 2006, 11:20 AM) [snapback]312195[/snapback]</div>

Based on my understanding of the Smart-key system, there is no technical difficulty in doing so. However, design-wise, it does not make sense. When the base unit does not sense the transponder, it can't simply "lock" up the system. Your kids may still be in the vehicle. Toyota may be liable for such a design if any mishap happens. Any lawyer would advise Toyota not to do so.

 

Then they should make it an option you can turn on and off (default is off, of course), and when you turn it on pop up a warning screen with an "I Agree" button... then we could have two "I Agree" buttons pop up every time we start the car!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(azzieo @ Aug 31 2006, 12:37 PM) [snapback]312208[/snapback]</div>

I would not like to have doors that lock automatically, as this would be more of a nuisance than a convenience. Think of a situation where you are unloading the car, taking stuff from the back seat but require multiple trips. Each time you leave the car, it autolocks. Each time you come back, you have to either unlock with the fob or touch the passenger side door handle. How would you 'tell' the car not to lock?

Seems like this would just complicate the whole process, and increase the likelihood of someone locking an infant in the car accidentally on a hot summer day by stepping outside the car for whatever reason while the key-holder has gone somewhere where they are not immediately accessible (such as running into the grocery store, etc...).

IMHO, just too much risk for minimal benefit. I think the black button on the door handle works splendidly, and you can still leave the FOB in your pocket or purse.

Kevin

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(azzieo @ Aug 31 2006, 12:37 PM) [snapback]312208[/snapback]</div>

The Prius has an anti-theft system that prevents someone from reaching into your car and unlocking it. It will simply refuse to unlock and will honk the horn for 10 seconds or so instead. It will only allow you to unlock it with the fob or the mechanical key.

See the following post: (I was posting by the name of rcroft at the time)

A Chinese (err Japenese) puzzle box

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(azzieo @ Aug 31 2006, 12:37 PM) [snapback]312208[/snapback]</div>

The difference is other methods involve direct human action. At that point, the responsibility is on the person who chose to lock the doors.

If it's automatic, then blame can be laid on the person who designed the automatic locking. The driver can claim they "didn't realize" the problem, and sue Toyota.

It's stupid, but unfortunately in a country where you can sue a restaurant for serving you coffee that's hot, product makers need to be overly cautious. We live in a society full of folks looking to blame someone else for their lack of thought, and using the courts to do so. That's why everything you buy is plastered with warning labels.

 

I think everyone goes through a brief phase of wanting an auto door lock, but I think if you give it serious thought you realize you'd ending up wanting to turn it off after a very short while.

Personally, I don't mind pushing the little button on the door as I close it because my hand is right there already

 

I prefer the feeling of security I get by pushing the button and hearing the beep. That way I know my car is locked, and I don't wander off expecting the car to lock itself when maybe it doesn't.

Maybe you even leave your fob in the car, it could easily happen, and then since you're not in the habit of trying to lock from outside, you walk away, and someone else drives away with it. If you're in the habit of pushing that button, you push it and the car beeps a few times and doesn't lock.

Or thieves get wise to this behavior and stalk Prius drivers, waiting for that moment (and it has to be a fairly long moment for auto-lock to make any sense) when the driver is walking away to just pop a door open, which would disable the auto-lock.

I used to be on your side, azzieo, but it stopped making sense to me pretty quickly

 

sigh

As with your thread about the MP3 player limitations, your comments remind me of how I saw life when I was much younger. You have good ideas but I would suggest you listen to the crew here on PriusChat. We have been using the Prius collectively for many man years and I believe I can assure you there is consensus that picking on the little irritations instead of focusing on great technology that is in the Prius will only make your use of the Prius a less happy one. Enjoy the stuff that few other drivers enjoy and dont sweat the little stuff.

Flame me if you wish but I believe I speak for many here.

 

There's also a "things I hate about my Prius" thread, and this stuff would go well in there

I recognize the imperfections, but it does little to dampen my irrational joy in driving this car.

But I don't think autolock would be useful. The MP3 thing, you've got a point and will improve in future models (maybe still years off, but it will come), but I think the auto-lock is a different story completely. It's too much of a puzzle and too many ways for it to go wrong, not just cause a liability issue for Toyota.

 

well if you leave your keys in the car and it auto-locks, then one of the aims of smartkey (that is, it won't let you lock the keys inside) is defeated and you find yourself stranded. maybe in the dead of winter, that poses a danger to the driver. or, it refuses to lock, leaving the keys inside the unlocked car just waiting for some dishonest person to take it.

say you decide to run a book to the library drop off, but you don't want to turn the car off because then you'll have to go through another warm-up cycle. you come back to a locked car. you're stranded.

or you can say that it won't lock itself while running... again a problem for vehicle security. you think the car is off, you get out and expect it to lock itself and walk away. someone else walks by your car in the parking lot and notices it's running and noone's around. they try the door handle. the car disappears.

so say you can disable it, but you have to press some button every time to do so. you think everyone's going to remember to or want to press that button every time? i'd be annoyed enough pressing the one "i agree" button all the time on the nav screen if i had one.

there are too many problems associated with it. the first thing you have to assume is that everyone who buys your product is a complete dumbass, or you get sued by someone who's looking to take advantage of you, as goes the unfortunate trend in american society.

it's not that hard to take responsibility for locking your own car. you have to take responsibility for locking 100% of all the other cars on the market as well. it's not like you're missing out on something you'd get with another car.

 

I wouldnt want the auto-lock feature on my car, not practical IMO.

 

Also, just because it could be engineered a certain way to make you happy, doesn't mean it should be. Over-engineering is as much of a problem as under-engineering.

A car company will certainly go for a mix of what's already on the market, and what they think most of their drivers will be able to use. So, even though you don't have children, the things people do with children in their cars is a major concern to auto manufacturers, and will influence their decisions.

Substitute "children" for any other object / person / lifestyle and you'll see why something you want won't always happen

All that said, come up with a mod to do it, and we'll all be curious to know how it works out for you!

 

You have to press one of the three lock buttons (driver's door, front passenger door, or lift back hatch). You can, of course, use the button on the fob, but it's easier to press the lock button on the outside of the door.

Tom