tricks for a door that won't close

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by marlyn, Jun 5, 2023.

  1. marlyn

    marlyn New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2023
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My driver's side door on my 2010 (140k miles) was just clipped by a speeding pick-up. It will need a new door frame, which sadly means the car is totaled. In the meantime, the door won't shut all of the way, I just had it jumped because the battery died overnight. I turned off the dome light, any other tricks or ideas so it doesn't keep dying while I try to figure out what to do with it?
     
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,880
    4,818
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    A decent body shop can fix a bent door frame... As long as air bags weren't deployed, it's not totaled... As for 12v drain, In the door frame you'll find a pin switch that needs to be pushed in or disconnected to turn door open light off on dash.
     
    Johnny Cakes and ColoradoBoo like this.
  3. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    1,033
    772
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Removing the door sill light is easy. Since I stealth camp, did that so that there is no light when the door is open.

    Would the door open light on the dash be enough to discharge the battery overnight? Or is it it a matter of keeping the computer active that drains battery?
     
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,558
    10,334
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The dashboard LED itself is minimal. But based on previous threads, it seems that the other electronics that are kept awake by the door switch, are significant. So the door switch needs to be tricked or altered into thinking the door is fully closed.
     
    Johnny Cakes likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    58,484
    40,281
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Might be able to tape the door switch to stay down (indicating closed). They’re pretty strong though. Or put a spring clamp on it?
     
    Johnny Cakes likes this.