Silly n00b Questions about the Prius

www.toyota.com

 

A lot of your questions can be answered there, or search for 'Prus reviews' on google.

 

i like noob questions

1. no. with the design of the prius a diesel/electric power plant would not work well. electric and diesel would both be low torque. would not work.

2. biometric? uhh.. uhh.. no? it senses where you are. ( more details later)

3. the prius uses electronic relays. it also uses a computer system with rolling codes. Your computer knows which fobs have which codes. They chnage when the doors unlocked, lock, the car starts... or.. anything. it's very secure ( so far)

4. no

5. extra.

6. i hear yes. check with your dealer.

7. look in your manual.

8. (self explanitory)

10. if the prius runs out of gas, it is recommended to stop. most go a mile or so to a gas station on electric. don't drain the battery, you can do major harm.

10. 2 12v outlets. front under the dash and in the center console. ( not sure on amps )

11. ( get a measuring tape )

12. .... what does it say?

12 B is for an engine braking/assist. it's designed to help slow the car down when going down steep grades. .

14. press it.. car seems to park? yeah. common sense

15. you see an inch or so of the window. only fthe front half of the windows though.

16. same as any other car.

17. ....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"84363)</div>

Umm, the reason Toyota's hybrid design works so well is that the HIGH torque of the electric motor at low rpm gets the car rolling more efficiently. (Something like 276 lb-ft. at 0 rpm.) The reasons there are no (known) Toyota plans for diesel-electric hybrids are cost and pollution: Clean-burning diesel engines are much more expensive than gasoline engines (so you'd have a double price premium - diesel on top of hybrid drive), and even the clean diesels produce many more smog-forming emissions.

 

1) Is there a Diesel/Electric Powered Prius? If not, Are there plans for one?

I think the other problem is the speed to start it. The Prius frequently shuts down and restarts the engine, often while the vehicle is in motion. Although you can often tell when it stops and starts, it feels no worse than an Automatic transmission shift. I don't think diesel could be that smooth and quick to stop and start.

2) Is it true that the Prius that has a Biometric Door locks?

No, but SKS does seem that way. If you have the Smart Key System option, the car sends authentication requests to your fob that you have conveniently left in your pocket. The back of the front doors have a touch sensor that when touched, causes the car to check for an authorized fob within 3 feet of the door you touched.

3) I understand that the Prius does not use an ignition key in the traditional sense... what has replaced it?

The key was replaced with a fob. There is a backup mechanical key that can open the driver door, but that's it. If you don't have, or don't want to use SKS, then you put the fob into a slot in the dash, much like a key. Then when you push the power button on the dash, the car will check the fob's ID, and power up if authenticated. SKS does the same thing, but you can keep the fob in your pocket, and the car will request its id over radio waves that work up to 3 feet from the cabin transmitter.

4) Can the onboard computer Receive Non-Map Updates for the software? like adding new functionality to it in the future?

Technically, probably, but not practically. I don't think anyone's been able to decipher and update the NAV database outside of DENSO, who is the manufacturer of the NAV system.

5) Is Bluetooth Phone Capacity an "extra" or does it come with the standard Prius?

It is extra, it is part of the NAV package. Without NAV, you do not have the bluetooth feature.

6) Does the Prius' Turn-by-turn direction voice speak languages other than english?

I believe so. Language offered depends on country sold to. North America is English and French, the latter probably because of laws in Quebec.

7) What are functions that the on-board computer can perform?

Too many to describe here. See owner's manual.
Are you talking about what the display can show? As the car has about a dozen computers.

8) Does the on-board computer use a touch screen?

The display does have a touchscreen.
OK, by onboard computer, I now know you mean the display. The display controls NAV, radio, HVAC, and can display your MPG averages as well as the energy flow from/to ICE, and the two motors.

9) What happens if the Prius runs out of gas?

Although Toyota seriously frowns on this, you can drive using electrical power for a mile or two until the HV battery runs below what the computer will allow.

10) Where and how many 12V outlets are there?? How many Amps can the supply?

There are 2 outlets, rated at 10amps (120W) each. Some have said combined, but each has a separate 15A fuse.

11) (This is probably the most random question you've read on here so far...) How Big are the cup holders next to the Driver's seat? (Depth x Diameter)

Never measured it.

12) On the Steering wheel, there is a button directly under the "info" button... what is it's function?

If you have NAV, then you have the bluetooth answer button, and the voice recognition. The NAV system can recognize a few dozen commands. Fun to use, but not very accurate.

13) On the Lever labeled "R N D" (I understand that they mean "Reverse", "Neutral" and "Drive") There is a fourth symbol/Letter... What is it and what purpose would the lever serve in that position?

B - Engine Braking. Emulates 2nd gear for slowing you down a bit going down hills without having to brake as much. Mostly not needed.

14) Above the Lever mentioned in my last question, there is a button labeled "P"... Does this Mean "Park"?

Yup. Car will set itself in park automatically though when you power down.

15) Do The Windows in the back roll down completely into the door? Or do they remain partially exposed when in their lower-most position?

Didn't check but I think not ALL the way.

16) What Effect would a lightning strike or a Full Spectrum Electro-magnetic pulse have on the Prius? I dare you to find out. *hehehe*

There's a thread I think on PriusOnline but might be here on this. Lightning usually will go around a metal shield, which in this case is the car body, but lighning being so unpredictable, and electronics being so sensitive to static electricity, there is a possibility that the electronics might be damaged. You should be fine though.

17) has anyone Penguinized the Navi Sys?

Again, may be technically possible, there is code on the DVD, but why would you want to alter and probably damage something you paid $3000 for?

 

hehehe uhh... go to a dealer and test drive one? hehe. i could imagine that. rather funny actually. hold on.. let me measure the cup holders.. ok... let's go. while driving.. let me flip this into R to see what happens *yikes* lol

good list of questions though. I like to see a compiled list. this way when people log on they get a few questions all at the same time. more info, the better.

 

I like to play games with people that Belle knows her owner (biometrics). I stand back and let them try to open the door then move forward and open the door. "Biometrics"! OK I am easily amused.

 

Same here. I think any of the senior posters would be willing to issue a test drive.

 

biometric locks: my favorite game is to walk up to the door and say "Open" as I grap the latch. Yes, my family is sick of it.

cup holder size (meaningful units): it will hold the 44 oz big gulps with tapered bottoms, but not the untapered.

 

Thank you, thank you - you have just expanded my repertoire of irritating mannerisms! :wink:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"84587)</div>

Except that you don't actually have to TOUCH the inside of the front door handles for the car to unlock. There is some sort of sensor which you can feel. I don't know if it requires simply the presence of an object or body heat to open without being touched.

You MUST press the inside of the release on the rear hatch. Sort of a gel filled plasitc feeling thing. Press once, wait a second for the door to unlock, then press again and lift. I'm not sure why this one doesn't work the same as the front door handles.

 

" I don't know if it requires simply the presence of an object or body heat to open without being touched"

Actually, the SKS uses RFID technology (Radio Frequency Identification). This is the same technology used by Easy Pass systems at toll gates and it is already revolutionizing inventory control in retailing. RFID chips can be made as small as a grain of rice and require no power. They give out data when prompted by a radio signal. This technology is already being used by Walmart, etc to catch shopplifters and to track inventory. In the future it will be possible to scan a grocery cart without unloading it and every item will be registered on the cash register automatically.

 

I have not had to touch the inside of the handle (that funny feeling plastic on the inside of the handle) to get the doors to unlock. I just slip my hand inbetween to unlock the passenger side, unlike the back hatch where I actually have to touch the car. Is this just my car being set too sensitive or normal?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jared\";p=\"96374)</div>

He was talking about the way the door detects your intent at unlocking it by touching the door handle.

We believe it is capacitive sensing, much like a mouse touch pad on some laptops. Water can sometimes trigger it also.
It is normal that passing your hand near the pad, but not actually touching it, activates it.

As for the hatch latch, you can hold the button and it will unlock. You don't have to press twice if you do this.