Electric Lock on Doors Not Always Working

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by comatoes, Aug 1, 2013.

  1. comatoes

    comatoes #GreenLife

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    I've got a 2007 Touring and all of the 4 doors don't always lock when I push the button outside of the car or the key fob. Sometimes the front left or the front right doesn't lock. When I push the button or the key fob I don't get the single beep to let me know they are all locked. I just hear a click, click.

    If this happens I try each of the front doors to see if I can open one and usually I can open one and I have to manually lock it. I don't seem to have any problems unlocking the doors.
     
    #1 comatoes, Aug 1, 2013
  2. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Probably bad 12 volt boot battery in the trunk especially if its the original battery. Eliminate this possible issue first. Second mode is the important one the one with the load on the battery:

    Weird stuff happening? MPGs dropping? Test The Battery | PriusChat

    Second could be the FOB battery may be bad. Red light that illuminates on the FOB when pushed should be bright red. Directions in owners manual how to replace that battery. Takes a 2032.
    Replace both my fob batteries every year on my 07.
     
    #2 edthefox5, Aug 1, 2013
    comatoes likes this.
  3. comatoes

    comatoes #GreenLife

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    Thanks, I could test the battery. I just replaced it within a year. The car would sit dormant a few months ago for 3 weeks. Could that endanger the battery? I would turn off the button under the steering wheel.

    I replaced the key fob battery probably a year ago. I can do it again for a few dollars. Could this cause one or the other side to not lock?
     
    #3 comatoes, Aug 1, 2013
  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Sitting dormant for 3 weeks is not good in this car even with the SKS disabled since there is a keep alive load albeit not large but then again the 12 volt boot battery is quite small. Please do the test best in the morning and post the 3 voltages. The second one being the one most important. Your newish battery may have become slightly sulphated.
    I see you have a sub etc so that battery gets a workout. If it was me I would throw it on a charger every few weeks
    and charge it to max once in a while. The battery will never see max installed.

    Have you noticed your mpg decreasing also?

    The battery test and fob battery replacement is just going through the simple things on the checklist imho. Cheap and easy first.
     
    #4 edthefox5, Aug 1, 2013
  5. Drdiesel

    Drdiesel Active Member

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    Sounds like the actuators are getting weak. I see this often on older cars. They just don't have
    the power to lock anymore. Don't buy some aftermarket actuators. They're junk. Buy OEM replacement stuff from
    Toyota.
     
    #5 Drdiesel, Aug 1, 2013
  6. comatoes

    comatoes #GreenLife

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    I live in an apartment building and I can't run a charger :/ I guess I could pull it, but I never took it out. I bought it from a dealer since I needed one immediately and the cost was a wash.
     
    #6 comatoes, Aug 1, 2013
  7. comatoes

    comatoes #GreenLife

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    I'm starting to lean toward the actuators. Symptoms match up to those described in:

    Fixed: Door Lock Actuator in Gen II Prius | PriusChat

    Hopefully I can do the $10 + time fix they describe here.
     
    #7 comatoes, Aug 1, 2013
  8. Drdiesel

    Drdiesel Active Member

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    Yep! If it was the 12V battery, you would have other problems and all the locks would function alike :eek:
     
    #8 Drdiesel, Aug 1, 2013
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