So a few months after I got my ' 07 Prius (this was in 2015), I went to visit my sister in San Francisco for Pride. I was on the road car camping/living out of my car and there were already a bunch of people crammed into my sister's friend's apartment, so I elected to just do as I had been doing and sleep in the back of my car. I threw up some makeshift curtains, so as to not weird out passersby, and then went to sleep just as I had done. Around 5 AM I felt a small rocking in my car that kind of stirred me but I was still mostly in dreamland. I was then sharply awakened by a thundering crack that shook the whole car. I was stunned for a moment. My first thought in my sleepy haze was a tree branch had fallen on my car. I moved my curtain out of the way and saw my whole rear right passenger side window was cracked, and on the other side of the cracked glass was the dude trying to break into my car. When he saw me he ran for it, but now I had this shattered window. So thankfully because I was sleeping there, nothing was stolen, but I was out a window, which I took care of first thing. So what concerns me, because I'm about to go on the road again, is that my car alarm did not make a sound. The rocking motion I felt when I was still sleeping was them trying to test for a sensitive alarm. When they actually broke the window that didn't trigger it either. Does anyone know a way of either increasing the alarm's sensitivity, or finding an effective aftermarket alarm system? Also could it be related to the fact that even though my car was locked the key was on me? Thanks in advance!
Toyota offers a glass breaking sensor at extra cost; but I've never seen it in any auto. I doubt your car has an alarm. Dozens of after market alarms are available at a wide range of prices.
You most likely don't have an alarm. Almost all GenII's with an alarm were aftermarket installed by the dealer, not Toyota. There is a Toyota alarm that I assume does work with the Prius as there is a Techstream option to enable it, but I have never seen it. Always aftermarket. My guess is you don't have an alarm at all, so therefore wasn't enabled. Also how did you lock the car but keep the key with you inside? If you did not shield it properly from the SKS sensors (assuming you have SKS) then your 12v will be draining all night and anyone can unlock the car by just touching the door handle. And start the car to drive away too...
The only Prius alarms I've heard about were aftermarket. The new cars that came with alarms, had third-party systems installed by the dealership or by a regional Toyota franchise. Therefore, this is not a Prius issue, but an issue for the maker of your third-party alarm system. If you have no such aftermarket system ...
I don't think you need an alarm. I think the curtains are what attracted the thieves in the first place. It indicates you are hiding something.
I stand corrected. Many Prii, including my own, ARE equipped with an alarm system. The 2008 owners manual on page 84 explains it, including why the OP's did not go off. From page 84: " Triggering the alarm: The alarm is triggered in the following situations: A locked door or back door is unlocked or opened in any way other than using the entry function, wireless remote door lock function or using the mechanical key. ( The doors will lock again automatically.) The hood is opened while the door is locked. Setting the alarm system Close the doors, hood and lock all doors. The system will be set automatically after 30 seconds. The indicator light changes from being on to flashing when the system is set." (MY NOTE: The indicator light is the red car with the key that flashes near the windshield. I always thought it was just searching every few seconds for the smart key.) From Page 85: "Triggering the alarm The alarm may be triggered in the following situations: A person inside the car opens a door, a back door or the hood. The 12 volt battery is recharged or replaced when the vehicle is locked." Apparently the alarm isn't set off by breaking glass or the car being rocked. It's an alarm system but a poor one since it does nothing to prevent someone from breaking a window and taking whatever they want. For that matter, apparently a thief could even jack up the car, steal the rims and the alarm won't go off.
interesting. I checked my bought new 07 sks package 2 and no alarm. Dealer never offered it as an option. What trim is your car? I put the window down and locked the car with the fob. Put the fob far away. The flashing of the key icon rhythm never changed over time. Flashed every 2 seconds. I reach into the car and can open the door no alarm. It does all the sks alerts like if you leave the car running and get out it beeps non stop ANd beeps if you try to lock with door ajar but no anti theft alarm..
i wonder if it uses the car horn? all i have to do is have my wife lock me in, wak away with the fob, and i open a door from inside? i guess that will help prevent prisoners from escaping.
I have an '08 Touring package 6. I had my daughter check it with me. She sat in it while I locked the car and walked away to the end of the driveway. She waited at least a minute and got out. The car started acting exactly the same as if I had hit the panic button.
the lesson here, if you're going to sleep in your car, have someone else lock it and take the fob. if the prius starts a rocking', open the door for them.
Thanks for the update. Apparently this is a feature that did not carry over to Gen3. My 2012 manual has no index entries for any alarm, and the key fob Panic features doesn't indicate any way to trigger it other than with with fob. The 2012 and 2010 brochures don't seem to mention any alarm for any trim level. So I must amend my previous reply to apply to Gen3 only, not Gen2 too.