Disabling a 2005 Prius (non-destructive)

<_< sounds sneaky to me.... The easiest way I can think of is to disconnect the 12v battery. You'd need to take a look at the Owner's Manual to find that battery and disconnect it. Bad part: She'd lose all her preset radio stations. Might be worth it for the surprise element.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(iykisa @ Jan 4 2007, 02:50 PM) [snapback]370805[/snapback]</div>

You might switch her key fob with your second, and disable smartkey on yours so your car doesn't light up.

 

Non-destructive: steal/hide her fobs.

Semi-destructive: disconnect the 12v battery.

EDIT: Wow, Charles and Megan/Scott are quick.

 

Deleted on request of efusco.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Jan 4 2007, 02:12 PM) [snapback]370819[/snapback]</div>

Also note that the Troll with the porn sites joined at 1:37 p.m., and this person joined at 1:40 p.m. Coincedence????? Looks fishy to me.

 

Don't do anything to the car!!! Anything you do will make her think the car has broken down and she'll call the dealer and have it towed and probably get very angry at you.

Either steal both her keyfobs, or, better yet, invent some excuse/lie to tell her to keep her in town.

Think how you'll feel if you try to disable her car, and you screw up and fry one of the computers! Besides, disabling her car won't guarantee she stays in town. She might rent a car, or get a ride with someone.

Or you could even decide that surprise parties are stupid, and just tell her there's a party for her. Or tell her it's a surprise party for her best friend, and she really needs to come.

 

Howdy Alnilam

QUOTE: "This sounds like a really great Q & A wth a first-time poster, Charles. Like he couldn't figure something out for himself. You join a net to seek out such info? None of this looks suspicious to you? He's had a Prius for two years and he needs YOUR help?"

Thanks for your very constructive and helpful comment. Have a great day!

 

ok then, how about something universal to all cars? just let some air out of a tire and say you don't feel good about her driving on it, there must be a leak. just make sure you've got an air pump handy to add air back in once the cat's out of the bag.

 

Deleted on request of efusco.

 

Remove the dome and hybrid fuses.

If you take the tire route, deflate 2 tires, since the spare could be used.

 

I'd take the rotor out of the distributor. But be careful...it's difficult to get the clip at the back off, without breaking the tang!

(you might want to check the 'how to' manual, which is available online via a subscription)

Here's how I've done exactly what you're describing:
1. Push the clip up (towards the hood)
2. And then away from you
3. You'll hear a 'click' and feel it release if you're doing it right.

Then just remove the rotor and store it away for safekeeping.

When she goes to power up the car, she'll get an "ICE startup failure" warning on the MFD...that'll surely scare her!

 

Deflating tires strikes me as dangerous... she could not notice the deflated tires and drive on them, ruining them. Or if multiple tires are deflated this could trigger a police report of vandalism.

I think unplugging the 12V battery is the best approach. It's totally reversible and causes no damage. And if things go bad and she does end up getting someone knowledgeable to look at the car it will be the first thing they discover so they won't waste too much time diagnosing.

If you wanted to really mess with her, unplugging the HV battery would probably take a long time for even an experienced troubleshooter to diagnose.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jan 4 2007, 12:49 PM) [snapback]370915[/snapback]</div>

no rotor in a Prius no distributor either.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Jan 4 2007, 11:12 AM) [snapback]370819[/snapback]</div>

It is suspicious. There was no package 7 in the 05 model year, as his lists in his profile.

 

No need to disable the Prius. Everybody get under the tonneau cover, then when she gets in to start it up everybody jumps up and yells, "SURPRISE!"

Save me a piece of cake, not too much icing, please.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Jan 4 2007, 03:59 PM) [snapback]371018[/snapback]</div>

Thanks Frank Rotors and distributors are "old school" but I was not willing to respond! There are ways to set the check engine light that are not dangerous, but that may lead to a call to the dealer and tow and etc etc. I would find another way to do this. Could someone out of area or with an out of area cell phone call her and delay her enough for "SURPRISE". This requires guile I will defer to the Cool Chicks in Black Prius for that. No mere male would be able to match female guile.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Jan 4 2007, 03:59 PM) [snapback]371018[/snapback]</div>

I'm positive Natalie knows this, and was toying with the OP. She's a car enthusiast.