My car died

Did you try your real key? Our base model has a real key in the fob for times like this, to release the brake for towing.

-wiiprii

 

Yes, your key fob stores a real key in it and there are keyholes in the doors.

Once in your car slide the key fob into the ignition slot below the power button. This should allow you to start your car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pnsji @ Jun 1 2007, 11:53 PM) [snapback]453798[/snapback]</div>

Look on your fob. There is a mechanical key built to slide into the fob along one side This key will only open the driver's side door.

The battery can run down if you have been storing either fob too close to the vehicle. (I have the extra wrapped in tin foil and safely stowed away (on the advice of another PCer). I also keep my purse, which contains my fob that I use daily, well away from the Prius and all electrical appliances (15 feet has been good).

There's also a myriad of other ways to drain the battery, including leaving the car on and in park, not driving the Prius for 3-4-7 days and not turning off the smart key or the auto-off light switch (both things should be done when not driving the vehicle for a period of time), not turning off interior lights...hatchback area light switch and overhead map lights, etc., etc.

Just some things to think about...

 

Glad to hear it was something simple.

 

EXACT same thing happened to my wife today in our 2005 Prius. Drove it to our daughter's house and it ran fine. Went out to start it and it was totally DEAD! No door locks, lights, dash gauges, etc. :blink: She didn't leave the lights on or anything like that. Had to be towed on a flat bed truck to our Toyota dealer. I'm going to call tomorrow because service was closed when I tried tonight.



NOT a warm, fuzzy feeling for this car right now. :angry:



At least she wasn't on the highway.



Anybody have any ideas? (I see from above answers that it might be the 12 volt battery being drained but she said there was nothing left on)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mbarrows @ Jun 7 2007, 07:00 PM) [snapback]457742[/snapback]</div>

It's possible a 2005 12V battery could have died. If that little battery is abused, it could die prematurely. Something is always on, with a small but constant drain, so if the battery was weak...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Jun 8 2007, 01:00 AM) [snapback]457867[/snapback]</div>

Right you are Bill; the 12 V battery died and was replaced under warranty. The total bill was $0.00 and they paid for the tow charge too. Happy about that but scared about it happening again. I guess any battery can go dead.

PS - The Service Advisor said the battery wasn't abused (and I don't think my wife or I abuse it) and two years service seems pretty poor to me. I can't believe the SKS would draw enough current to run it down and the car is driven EVERY day!

 

Another question; when the Prius died, the door locks wouldn't work, etc. and one can use the key in the key FOB to open the driver's door but HOW do you get the car into neutral to be towed? A flat bed truck came and "dragged" the Prius onto the flat bed and took it to the Toyota dealer. Couldn't have been good for the tires (he didn't put roller type "dollies" under the wheels). :blink: If you can't get the Prius into neutral when the 12 V battery goes out, this seems like another design flaw to me. :angry:



Any comments or suggestions on getting the car into neutral with a "dead" 12 V battery?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mbarrows @ Jun 8 2007, 07:35 PM) [snapback]458458[/snapback]</div>

Jump it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mbarrows @ Jun 8 2007, 02:12 PM) [snapback]458203[/snapback]</div>

It wouldn't. Somebody left the rear hatch ajar or an interior light on too many times, and that's what killed the battery.

Always lock the car. It will beep if something is open.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hschuck @ Jun 8 2007, 09:48 PM) [snapback]458466[/snapback]</div>

Yes, after doing a lot of reading on the forum here, that is the short term solution if you can get somebody or a towing company to do it (and have read the manual and know where to connect the cables). The towing company that towed our car refused to do it ("the boss told me NOT to jump a Prius!"). This was the towing company our Toyota dealer recommended when we called (they also did NOT have a dollie for the front wheels).



Toyota should correct the design flaw that makes it impossible to shift the car into neutral with a dead 12 volt battery, however (I know, I know; the transmission shift is electric and run "by wire" and the parking pawl engages with an electric solenoid or something). They need to RE-design a fix for this!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Jun 9 2007, 12:19 PM) [snapback]458721[/snapback]</div>

She swears that she didn't leave the lights on or the tailgate door ajar. :huh:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mbarrows @ Jun 9 2007, 10:16 PM) [snapback]458947[/snapback]</div>

I'm sure nobody would ever fib about something like that!

Frankly, I've been caught a few times with the tailgate open—even though it's closed. You have to make sure that the latch is completely engaged, and that requires enough pressure to all-but slam it. Double-check the dash indicator lights (before your battery dies) or get into the habit of locking the car, either with the key fob or the touch buttons on the drivers' passengers' or hatch door. The car will beep and not lock if there is a problem.