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Dead battery, no key, Help!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by digix, Jan 14, 2010.

  1. digix

    digix New Member

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    Hi everyone,

    In last week, because of lot's of snow in our country I was driving my Jeep, and left Prius by garage, outside. Due to cold weather 12 V battery died. And I don't have the key, just a smart-key. (key is left blank, I bought it like this)

    So I have to power 12V battery to get car unlocked.

    Any ideas how can I do it? :confused: maybe there is any 12V battery positive wire that can be reached from outside? Or is there any way to open the hood, so I could find 12V system and power it from external charger. (I'm an electronics engineering student, so I just need to get to the wires to get it started, but haven't got an idea how can I do it...)
     
    #1 digix, Jan 14, 2010
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    The fob contains a mechanical key (attached to the key ring) which will open the driver's door. Pushing a small slide frees the mech key from the fob.

    Or, !! Do you mean that the mechanical key is blank? it was never cut to fit the door lock? That would be very silly. In that case, the least damaging thing is probably to have a locksmith or Toyota dealer open the door. Otherwise I know of no way to get in without causing damage.

    Cold weather by itself will not kill the 12V battery, so it must have been near death already.
     
    #2 richard schumacher, Jan 14, 2010
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I'm sure that the locksmiths in your country have the equivalent of a "slim-Jim", which is a thin blade tool used to slide between the window glass and the window gasket, and hook on to the mechanical lock linkage inside the door, in order to open it. As Richard indicated, your best bet is to hire a locksmith to open the door for you. Good luck.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, Jan 14, 2010
  4. digix

    digix New Member

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    It was the first thing that I thought about. But I think there is easier way to do it myself... I will try to unlock the hood, I mean... how hard could it be
     
    #4 digix, Jan 14, 2010
  5. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    If you can't access the hood release, which is inside the car, it will be very difficult to open the hood without damaging the car.
     
    #5 firepa63, Jan 14, 2010
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Not hard, if you are willing to punch a hole in the plastic grille so that you can access the cable leading to the hood latch... :cool:

    It still might be cheaper to call a locksmith for help, than to replace the grille...
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, Jan 14, 2010
  7. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    You can go to the dealer and give them the VIN number and your ownership paper. The dealer can like up the key code from the VIN and cut the mechanical key for you. But it is not cheap either.
     
    #7 bedrock8x, Jan 14, 2010
  8. digix

    digix New Member

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    Thank you for suggestion. locksmiths opened my car in one minute, and took only 30$ :) I have taken the battery out for a charge, hope everything going to be alright :)
     
    #8 digix, Jan 15, 2010
  9. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I recommend you consider replacing the 12V battery now as a preventive move since it is 4 years old, to avoid future such incidents. Or, have a mechanical key made to reduce the impact of having a dead battery. Or, do both...
     
    #9 Patrick Wong, Jan 15, 2010
  10. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Absolutely do both. The old 12V battery is already nearly dead, and some day the *fob* battery will die; either way you will be locked out again.
     
    #10 richard schumacher, Jan 15, 2010
  11. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    And get your key cut.

    Tom
     
    #11 qbee42, Jan 15, 2010
  12. digix

    digix New Member

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    Thank you, I have changed the battery already, and gave lock for locksmiths to get the key cutted ;)
     
    #12 digix, Jan 15, 2010
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