I need to lock my 2010 Prius with the air conditioner running when I leave the car. I am travelling with dogs in the car and must make short (5 minute) rest stops in high heat. With other cars I lock the car and left the motor and air-conditioner running. The key FOB has outsmarted me. Any ideas? Thanks.
It's not nearly as convenient as using the fob, but you could lock all doors using the automatic locks BEFORE you open the driver's door. Then open the driver's door, close it, and use the mechanical key to lock the driver's door. The car will be locked and running until you come back where you'll have to again use the mechanical key to unlock the door.
Use the mechanical key. As a side note, since the Prius engine will be off much of the time, you may want to leave a sign in the window saying that the dogs are okay and air conditioning is running. Otherwise some well intentioned person is going to break your glass to rescue the dogs, or otherwise make a scene. Tom
Great suggestion, but I think there will be some ppl out there who still won't get the idea and break a window regardless. Personally, I would try and park in the shade, turn it off and wind all the windows down half way.
I was thinking of a thermometer on a suction cup on the inside of the window, right next to the note. I'm worried you're right though, that someone would not get the point and try to 'save' my dog just the same. But I figure the thermometer might give me better odds and I'm still going to have to give it a try eventually.
just used this feature yesterday while traveling with our dog. left the remote in the car and used the metal key to lock the doors. worked great. as a side note, if you use the metal key. when unlocking the door, turn key once for drivers side, turn twice to unlock all doors. also, remember to use the emergency brake just in case the dog figures out how to put the car in gear. ;-)
Great to see this being used for a good purpose! CAUTION!! Always keep the remote with you! What you did was to leave the car running AND give a thief the opportunity of a lifetime: A Prius already running WITH the key fob available! Perhaps not everyone knows the Prius quirks as well as some of us Prius nuts, but it is possible (and maybe not that difficult) to get into your car in that situation. Because the key fob is nearby (even though it is inside the car and not outside), the antenna could be ready to send/receive info. Because the system is already ON, it may be more susceptible to this scenario. Pouring a decent amount of water over the sensor on the door handle is likely going to be enough to unlock the door(s). For those of you who've washed your cars with a key fob in your pocket, you'll know that this happens. You'll hear the car beep to signal it is unlocked (just as when you place your hand on the door handle). Once this happens, the doors may be opened for 60 seconds. Someone who knows what he is doing will simply open a water bottle and pour it over the door handle sensor until the car beeps and the doors are unlocked. I believe the antenna system is only supposed to lock or unlock if the key fob is outside the car, but I haven't read that in the Owner's Manual, nor have I tested it out. Perhaps someone can confirm. In any event, this is much too risky a scenario. Please ALWAYS keep the electronic key (key fob) in your possession. If nothing else, it is the best place to store the mechanical key! This is a fabulous warning! Thank you! It also works great for children and other passengers you may not fully trust. I do recall reading about someone whose dog was able to shift the car into neutral. This is particularly easy on the Gen3, because the shifter is on the console, and you only need to hold it for a second or two on "N" in order to shift the car to neutral. Use of the parking brake prevents the car from just rolling away.
Another trick to avoid leaving a FOB inside: While in the car, running, lower the driver's window, open the door and get out, leaving the FOB on the seat. With your arm through the driver window, lock all doors, get the FOB and then pull the automatic window-up button. Voilà . The car is running, all doors locked and it thinks the FOB is still inside (you cannot exit the car with all doors locked so the FOB MUST still be inside!). Use the mechanical key to unlock the door when you need to (neither the SmartLock of the FOB button will work as the car thinks the FOB is inside the car).
Not true...the only way they're going to get into the car is by breaking a window or jimmying the lock. Not going to happen...it's only true if the fob is outside the car. This is true based on my testing. A gross overstatement. Again, the only way into the car is by breaking a window or jimmying the lock and someone who wants to steal the car is going to do this whether they think the fob is inside or not (assuming your dogs aren't too menacing).
Thank you for providing information based on your own testing. If there is no way to get the water trick to work when the fob is inside the car, then window breaking seems to be the only way to get it done. Though it appears your testing takes away the concern about the water trick, I do not agree that the warning is a gross overstatement. Without the key fob there is no way to restart the car after it has been turned off. With the key fob, the car is the thief's.
I did exactly as you suggested, and it worked perfectly. It was a great trip and the dogs loved the view with the seats down. Thanks.
What about installing Remote Start? Turn on the A/C, leave the car with your fob, lock it, and press the start button. It should run the A/C for 10 minutes. Plus the car cannot be stolen--maybe not a problem with dogs, but other pets left in the car might not be such a threat.
