I've been running into this as "curbside pickup" places increasingly ask me to "pop the trunk" because they want to put things into the trunk, not a passenger window. Not only can I not figure out how to pop the hatch, I can't even figure out how to unlock it (other than by shutting off the car, exiting, and opening it myself with the handle). I looked in the owner's manual and couldn't find anything. Is there a way?
Yes, just have them open the hatch, as long as you have the fob and are near or in the car unlocked, or (locked I think) anyone can open the rear hatch.
Not being able to pop the hatch from the inside is one of my pet peeves with both our Gen 2 and Gen 4 Prii, but anyone standing in the rear should be able to open the the hatch if they know which lever to squeeze if the doors are unlocked, whether the car is in Ready mode or not.
Popping the hatch is a bit of an acquired skill? I'd be inclined to just wait by the hatch for the guy, then pop it for him/her, stand back a bit while they load.
That is probably the best plan. Especially with the Gen 2, there if less of a chance that the entire assembly will be pulled off by someone who assumes they just need more force to open the hatch, rather that waiting for it to unlatch and then opening it relatively easily.
Yeah, any kinda "valet" interaction seems risky with these cars. Then there's the Tesla 3: how do you open the #$@*! door on this thing??
Looked it up a few years back for a colleague who was ubering in a Gen 3 and didn't want to keep getting out to open the hatch for passengers. A quick look in the wiring diagram (more info) showed that the hatch open button circuit passed from the floor harness to the instrument panel harness at one of the pins of the junction connector that was (in Gen 3) right behind the plastic trim at the driver's left foot at the front of the driver's door. Short sweet wire run up from there to the blank switch cutouts at the left side of the Gen 3 dash. Of course I haven't looked it up for Gen 4.
I usually don't like to modify anything on the cars I buy, but that is one I would consider. I'm glad to know it is technically possible, at least.
A technique I've used with success is to find the terminal in question in one of those junction connectors, look up the part number (here's how) of the matching repair wire, and pick one up at the dealer. Then back the original terminal out of the connector housing and clamp it in a Euro-style terminal block: You can insert the terminal far enough into the terminal block that the clamping screw clamps down on the crimped part, you don't smash or distort the shape of the mating part. Join there also the free end of the repair wire you bought, and click the terminal on the other end into the original connector housing. Also clamp in a wire to your extra switch. Any time you want to go back to stock, just undo that and click the original terminal back into its original place. Good as new.
No opening the PRIUS hatch sitting at driver's seat. Yeah, I have been driving my wife's SUV with power gate for our weekly grocery pick-up.
If you do add a driver's position button as in #8, might also want to add a spring or something that would cause the hatch to lift slightly when you push the button. Otherwise it would unlatch, but nothing would really happen unless the person in back was pulling upward at the same time.
I find it strange that Toyota let you pop the hood and pop the petrol flap from the driver's seat but not the hatch.
Has there been a liftback that could be opened from the driver's seat? I thought it was only saloons. (not counting the electrically operated tailgate of SUVs)
That is not social distancing. At Sams Club today, they asked me and had no issue opening the hatch without explanation.
I had to look up the word "saloons". I knew the definition 1, but not 2. A sedan. OK! sa·loon /səˈlo͞on/ noun plural noun: saloons a public room or building used for a specified purpose. "a billiard saloon" BRITISH an automobile having a closed body and a closed trunk separated from the part in which the driver and passengers sit; a sedan.
My '89 Supra has a hatchback which can be popped open by pulling a lever next to the driver's seat. It is totally mechanical. Unfortunately, I believe the cable has become a bit stressed over the years. Rather than stress it further, when I need to gain access now, I generally open it from the rear using a key. The hatch must be spring-loaded somehow. Either using the lever or the key, the the hatch visibly separates from the frame beneath it.
