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I can't open my passenger doors without manually pushing the unlock button

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by screaming_piha, Sep 24, 2008.

  1. screaming_piha

    screaming_piha New Member

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    Hi...I just bought a 2008 Prius about a month ago. Ever since I got the Karr security system activated (a question in and of itself if I should have had it done), my door locks have been screwy. When I drive the car, I understand the doors lock automatically, and now when I get out and walk around to the passenger side, I can't open the doors, even when I have the smartkey in my hand. I have to wait like 20 seconds and then push the unlock button on the key and finally it will open. The technician for Karr said this was normal and that I would have to push the unlock button manually after I turned the car off and before I left my seat. Does this make sense to anyone? I guess I can learn to do this but it just seems ludicrous to me that I have to push a button to open the door and get my daughter out of her car seat without waiting! Please let me know if this seems wrong to anyone.
     
    #1 screaming_piha, Sep 24, 2008
  2. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    It sounds like you added a completely unnessary security system to your Prius and it is probably at the root of the problem. Have the system deactivated and see if the problem goes away.
     
    #2 firepa63, Sep 24, 2008
  3. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    package #3 already has an alarm
    you can upgrade package #3 to a glass breakage sensor for $165 msrp
    how much did they charge you for KARR
    are you sure you have KARR?
    if you have KARR you should have decals on the windows that say it specifically
    KARR systems actually have a seperate key fob with "karr" on it
     
    #3 rigormortis, Sep 25, 2008
  4. jelloslug

    jelloslug It buffed right out!

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    My salvage car had a Karr system it it when I got it. That was the first thing I threw out. The only thing it was good for was draining the 12V battery since I did not have the fob to shut it off.
     
    #4 jelloslug, Sep 25, 2008
  5. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    man those car dealers will literally throw anything on a prius i bet
     
    #5 rigormortis, Sep 25, 2008
  6. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    It sounds to me as if the security system is fighting with the Prius. So, as a result, things don't really work properly. There are few different instances with people installing third-party equipment and it screwing up the Prius in some way (alarm systems and "battery tenders" come to mind). I agree with the others that the alarm system seems to be worse than useless: not only is it unnecessary, but it seems to be interfering with other things.

    By the way, just to be clear, this does not happen on any stock version of the Prius. This functionality must be coming from the add-on alarm system.
     
    #6 Betelgeuse, Sep 25, 2008
  7. screaming_piha

    screaming_piha New Member

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    Thanks for all your help. The way I understood it, the Package #3 doesn't have an alarm, just the security system? I believe we were complete suckers for getting the extra Karr alarm (it was $700), and I'm going to try to get rid of it and get our money back.

    Oh, and yes, it's Karr. We have the decals and I called a Karr technician to come and fix the problem (I thought it was a problem) and he didn't really know how to use the Prius (didn't know how to open the door and lock it using the button) and then after visiting the Toyota dealer said that the unlocking manually was just what you had to do, and that they had heard of that problem before.

    So, now I'm going to have to fight with them probably to get rid of it.
     
    #7 screaming_piha, Sep 25, 2008
  8. 9G-man

    9G-man Senior Member

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    Demand it be removed and your money refunded, because it's having an adverse effect on the normal operation of your cars features.
    If you want an alarm, have the stock on activated.

    PEOPLE, stop letting the dealers push this kind of stuff on you. JUST SAY NO>
     
    #8 9G-man, Sep 25, 2008
  9. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    if you have a package #3 or more then you already have the alarm system activated. the only toyota thing you can to that alarm system is the glass breakage sensor...

    its totally optional if you want the alarm to go off if the windows are broken

    but yes. you already have the alarm.
    it comes pre activated from toyota
     
    #9 rigormortis, Sep 26, 2008
  10. jelloslug

    jelloslug It buffed right out!

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    You will also be interested in what your $700 bought:

    [​IMG]

    Yep, that's the entire Karr alarm system.
     
    #10 jelloslug, Sep 26, 2008
  11. pdhenry

    pdhenry It's HEEERE!

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    Does your fob have an alarm button? Doesn't that mean it has an alarm?
     
    #11 pdhenry, Sep 26, 2008
  12. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    no that just means you have a panic button

    if you have a package 3, that means you actually have the anti theft alarm
     
    #12 rigormortis, Sep 26, 2008
  13. screaming_piha

    screaming_piha New Member

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    So, I was wrong about the option package we bought. We actually bought a package 2 car. So now I'm wondering if the Karr alarm was something that you get in the package 3 but that we paid extra for since we only bought a package 2?

    I also found out that the technician from Karr thinks he can fix the "problem" of the doors locking when it's driven. He said there was an option called "ignition-controlled unlocking". I guess this differs from what I have, probably "ignition-controlled locking" where all the doors except yours remain locked after you get out of the car. I can't figure out why the default would be the locking, but maybe they can change it.

    I'm a bit unsettled because I can't find much info about the Karr alarm, what I would have had without buying it and what we have now. Just wondering how screwed we got from the dealer.
     
    #13 screaming_piha, Oct 1, 2008
  14. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    if you have a package 2, then you just ask the dealer to change a software setting
    in the car to turn the alarm on. this can range from FREE to $400 or something. if you spend the $400 you would most likely get the glass breakage sensor turned on.

    if you choose the stock alarm, the alarm will go off if someone forces a door or the hood open, if you want the glass breakage (microphone) installed, the alarm would go off if someone breaks the window. that sensor is totally optional. you can have the alarm turned on with or without it, its up to you
     
    #14 rigormortis, Oct 1, 2008
  15. screaming_piha

    screaming_piha New Member

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    I'm not sure why I find this so confusing, but I just spoke to the dealer, and he clarified a few things for me:
    1. The Karr alarm is something this dealer does independently, so that's why I've had a hard time finding any information out about it.
    2. He says the doors locking when you drive the car is a setting that you can change; it does not have anything to do with the alarm, but the smart key. He says the fact that I cannot open the doors with the fob indicates there may be something wrong with my smart key and that I should get it checked out.
    3. He says he has a car (not a Prius) where it automatically locks the doors when he drives it and he has to manually push the unlock button or press the unlock button on his fob to unlock any door but his. He saw nothing wrong with this. Is this normal for anyone else?
    3. He says the package 2 and 3 cars (and others?) do not have alarms, but security systems, and the alarms they are promoting (for $700) add an additional microprocessor to make it harder to simulate a smart key and shock sensors.

    This is what I understood from his phone call. If anyone has any other information, please let me know.

    Karne
     
    #15 screaming_piha, Oct 1, 2008
  16. hschuck

    hschuck Member

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    Unless this "door locking feature" is something new for 2008 your dealer is wrong. Automatic door locking when driving is not possible on a stock Prius. Can someone confirm for 2008 and 2009? Also, the sks does not support automatic door locking.
     
    #16 hschuck, Oct 1, 2008
  17. eagsc7

    eagsc7 Geocacher

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    That is correct. The 2008 Prius does NOT Automatically lock the doors when you drive. You can buy a mod from CostalTech for that though.

    What would be nice is to have the doors automatically lock 30 seconds AFTER there is no FOB detected around the car. For example, when you get out of the car to run in somewhere, it automatically locks the car once you shut the door, and walk away.

    Just a Thought
    The Steaks
     
    #17 eagsc7, Oct 4, 2008
  18. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    rong with this. Is this normal for anyone else?
    3. He says the package 2 and 3 cars (and others?) do not have alarms, but security systems, and the alarms they are promoting (for $700) add an additional microprocessor to make it harder to simulate a smart key and shock sensors.


    dude. that is a load of crap. if you want REAL SECURITY. spend the $700 on something useful like a LOJACK or OTHER VEHCICLE TRACKING SYSTEM

    question: why would someone bother "simulating a smart key" when the car is more then willing to help you make duplicates all by yourself.

    i think the dealer is just trying to get out of returning your $700

    ask him for your money back or some kind of store credit for a vehicle tracking system if he is unwilling for a complete refund

    i cannot believe they would say 'simulating a smart key'. oh man. its so easy for just anyone to make a spare key themselves, it may not work wirelessly, but the car would start, and your karr system wouldn't stop from someone from driving off with it

    i bet he is reading from a script

    the base package , package 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ,6 have security systems
    packages 3,4,5 and 6 have the alarm activated by default
    the base package , 1, and 2, can have the alarm turned on in 2 minutes
     
    #18 rigormortis, Oct 4, 2008
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