Doors won't lock without FOB

Ah, yes, I had this problem when I first got my car as well. The little black button is part of the SKS system, so you can't lock the car using that button unless the fob is within range of the car. Locking from inside the car should still work though.

 

I was quite impressed when I tried to lock my door with the fob inside the vehicle and it wouldn't lock in that case either -- nice!

 

This has happened to me a few times, too. I know that on some of those occasions, I have had the fob in my pocket. For some reason, the little black button doesn't work, but I can lock the car with the fob. The next time, the black button works again. And it seems to work fine for a month or so, then I have to use the fob again. Not sure what's up, or why it doesn't work all the time.

I have also used the button with the fob out of range, I think. Now you are making me wonder if I really did!!

But how do I lock the car from the inside, if I am outside? I thought that was impossible?

 

I believe you can lock the car doors with the inside lock button with doors opened or absent fob, though I have to double check to be absolutely sure. With SKS, you can't keep the doors locked if the car detects the fob in the car, or even without SKS if the fob is in the slot.

Black button will give a long beep (complain) and not lock the doors if the fob is out of range of the door you are locking with the button.

 

From what I recall, there was no long complaining beep when I tried to lock the car with the black button. It was just silence, as if it ignored me. No flashing headlights to tell me it was locked, or anything else. Just nothing. I had to use the fob to lock the car.

I do know for a fact that the fob wasn't in the car, though!!

Good to know that I can use the lock on the inside as I am getting out to lock the car, though. In my last two cars, I was also able to use the trick to lift the car handle to lock the car door from the inside, as Thomas described. So you are saying I can just push the button, and not have to lift the door handle when the car door is open to lock the Prius?

 

My husband and I tried a few experiments with the FOB. I keep one in my purse so when we go someplace together he likes to drive but since I have a FOB already, he doesn't grab the second one. We have found that the black buttons don't work for the person without the FOB. A Snob FOB? He can lock the doors with the inside power lock and does that instead. We also found that I can unlock the door but unless I get into the car, he can't start it up. However, if after the car is running I get out of the car, it will still run. So he can drive off and leave me someplace but my Prius will give him a complaining couple of beeps.

 

I thought the same about the car not shutting down without the fob, as I was thinking of carjacking. However, Toyota designed the car with safety in mind, and it has several fail-safe modes. If the SKS were to fail (such as weak fob battery) while you are cruising down the highway, or even just stopped at the light, would you want the car to shut off?

Even with carjacking, once the car is shut off, it won't restart without the fob.

 

Yes, you can use the FOB to unlock the doors if you've used the power lock feature on the arm rest. However, if all the other doors are unlocked and you have a senior moment and don't remember unlocking them and just use the toggle on the handle to lock the driver's door, the FOB won't unlock the door. I have used the FOB, then, to unlock the door when I should have just used the black button to lock the car and then unlock as normal with the SKS. Wouldn't have had to go digging in my purse to find it. I've got to start paying more attention! Oh, you can lock your FOB in the car using the switch on the armrest, too.
Don't ask!