1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Can't get in with mittens on?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Freedom, Jan 16, 2009.

  1. Freedom

    Freedom Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2008
    535
    69
    0
    Location:
    Northeastern MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    It is REALLY cold here. Tonight I went out wearing mittens. Carmine was locked. Approached, put my covered hand on the handle and it would not open. I had to remove the mitten.

    Does this make sense to people who understand how this fob part works? I must say I was surprised. Took me a moment to even think what could be wrong, remove the mitten. Not a problem, more of a curiousity for me, I guess.
     
  2. okiebutnotfrommuskogee

    okiebutnotfrommuskogee Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2007
    1,813
    15
    0
    Location:
    Tulsa, OK
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Mine works fine with gloves on, in fact, I can unlock the car by just rubbing the back of my fingers across the outside of the handle (don't have to grip it), with or without gloves on.
     
  3. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
    389
    105
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina, USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Mine responds well with leather gloves on:)
     
  4. PriuStorm

    PriuStorm Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2007
    2,239
    149
    0
    Location:
    Davis, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I wear big insulated gloves and don't have any problems.
     
  5. Prius_SGP

    Prius_SGP New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2008
    58
    2
    0
    Location:
    Saint Genis Pouilly, France
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I find that when wearing gloves, depending on the thickness it is some times best to put your hand through the handle, wait a sec or two then try to open it.

    For some reason when the temp is really low here i found that the sensor takes a little longer to sense my hand.
     
  6. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2007
    1,540
    93
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    perhaps your fob battery is getting low or your keys/cellphone was jamming the signal?
     
  7. judymcfarland

    judymcfarland Queen of Moral Indignation

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2006
    578
    4
    0
    Location:
    Glendale, WI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I have the same mitten problem. Apparently Fiona wants to feel the human touch before she'll let me in - maybe she is verifying my fingerprints (LOL).
     
  8. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,985
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    I have no problem with thick gloves on. Pearl won't respond if I touch the outside of the handle or the sides of the handle (which I've done to verify she was locked a few times - hold the handle with fingers on the sides and pull). Note that if your gloves are so thick that they press the handle out when you put your hand in the gap -before- the sensor unlocks the door the unlock won't unlock the door. Any handle that is pulled to open while the unlock function is tripped will not unlock.
     
  9. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,188
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I remember another thread where someone was having the same problem. I am pretty sure that the sensor is a capacitive device - when you place your hand inside the door handle, you change the capacitance value of the sensor and the car interprets this signal to unlock the door.

    Perhaps some types of gloves may be better than others.
     
  10. Freedom

    Freedom Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2008
    535
    69
    0
    Location:
    Northeastern MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Great info. It is interesting, huh? These are "pop top" mittens, and if I pop the top so my fingers are bare, it works fine.

    As I said, NOT an issue for me, lol.
     
  11. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    641
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    No issues wearing leather gloves. However, big fat mittens don't work for me either