Page 129 of 600

1293-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
PRIUS c_U
■Operation signals
Vehicles without a smart key system
The  emergency  flashers  flash  to  indicate  that  the  doors  have  been  locked/
unlocked. (Locked: once; Unlocked: twice)
Vehicles with a smart key system
A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate th at the doors
have been locked/unlocked. (Locked: once; Unlocked: twice)
■ Security feature
Vehicles without a smart key system
If  a  door  is  not  opened  within  approximately  60  seconds  after  t he  vehicle  is
unlocked, the security feature automatically locks the vehicle again.
Vehicles with a smart key system
If  a  door  is  not  opened  within  approximately  60  seconds  after  t he  vehicle  is
unlocked,  the  security  feature  automatically  locks  the  vehicle  again.  (How-
ever,  depending  on  the  location  of  the  electronic  key,  the  key  may  be
detected as being in the vehicle. In this case, vehicle may be  unlocked.)
■ When the door cannot be locked by  the lock sensor on the surface of the
door handle (vehicles with a smart key system)
■ Door lock buzzer
If  an  attempt  to  lock  the  doors  is  made  when  a  door  is  not  full y  closed,  a
buzzer sounds continuously. Fully close the door to stop the bu zzer, and lock
the vehicle once more.
■ If the smart key system or the wireless remote control does not operate
properly
Vehicles with a smart key system: Use the mechanical key to loc k and unlock
the doors. ( P. 520)
Replace the key battery with a new one if it is depleted. ( P. 451)
Use your palm to touch the lock sensor. 
     
        
        Page 144 of 600

1443-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
PRIUS c_U■
Notes for the entry function
●Even when the electronic key is within the effective range (det ection areas),
the system may not operate properly in the following cases:
• The electronic key is too close to the window or outside door  handle, near
the ground, or in a high place when the doors are locked or unl ocked.
• The  electronic  key  is  on  the  instrument  panel,  luggage  cover  o r  floor,  in
the door pockets or glove box when the hybrid system is started  or power
switch modes are changed.
● Do  not  exit  the  vehicle  with  the  electronic  key  placed  on  the  i nstrument
panel or near the door pockets. Depending on the radio wave reception con-
ditions,  it  may  be  detected  by  the  antenna  outside  the  cabin  and  the  door
will  become  lockable  from  the  outside,  possibly  trapping  the  electronic  key
inside the vehicle.
● As long as the electronic key is within the effective range, th e doors may be
locked or unlocked by anyone. However, only the doors detecting  the elec-
tronic key can be used to unlock the vehicle.
● Whether  or  not  the  electronic  key  is  inside  the  vehicle,  the  hy brid  system
could be started if the electronic key is near the window.
● The doors may unlock if a large amount of water splashes on the  door han-
dle, such as in the rain or in a car wash when the electronic k ey is within the
effective  range.  (The  door  will  automatically  be  locked  after  a pproximately
60 seconds if the doors are not opened and closed.)
● The  lock  and  unlock  sensors  may  not  work  properly  if  they  come  into  con-
tact  with  ice,  snow,  mud,  etc.  Clean  the  sensors  and  attempt  to  operate
them again.
● If  the  wireless  remote  control  is  used  to  lock  the  doors  when  t he  electronic
key  is  near  the  vehicle,  there  is  a  possibility  that  the  door  m ay  not  be
unlocked by the entry function. (Using the wireless remote cont rol to unlock
the doors may resume the function.)
● If the  door  handle becomes  wet while the  electronic  key  is with in the  effec-
tive range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that ca se, follow the
following correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
• Place  the  electronic  key  in  a  location  6  ft.  (2  m)  or  more  awa y  from  the
vehicle. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
• Set  the  electronic  key  to  battery-saving  mode  to  disable  the  s mart  key
system. ( P. 142) 
     
        
        Page 400 of 600

400
PRIUS c_U
7-1. Maintenance and care
●Working  from  top  to  bottom,  liberally  apply  water  to  the  vehicl e
body,  wheel  wells  and  underside  of  the  vehicle  to  remove  any  di rt
and dust.
● Wash  the  vehicle  body  using  a  sponge  or  soft  cloth,  such  as  a
chamois.
● For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thoroughl y
with water.
● Wipe away any water.
● Wax the vehicle when the wate rproof coating deteriorates.
If  water  does  not  bead  on  a  clean  surface,  apply  wax  when  the  vehicle
body is cool.
■Automatic car washes
●Fold the mirrors before washing the vehicle. Start washing from  the front of
the vehicle. Make sure to extend the mirrors before driving.
● Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle su rface and
harm your vehicle's paint.
● In certain automatic car washes, the rear spoiler may interfere with machine
operation.  This  may  prevent  t he  vehicle  from  being  cleaned  properly  or
result in damage to the rear spoiler.
■ High pressure car washes
As  water  may  enter  the  cabin,  do  not  bring  the  nozzle  tip  near  the  gaps
around the doors or perimeter of the windows, or spray these ar eas continu-
ously.
■ When using a car wash (vehicles with a smart key system)
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective
range,  the  door  may  lock  and  unlock  repeatedly.  In  that  case,  f ollow  the  fol-
lowing correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
● Place the electronic key in a location 6 ft. (2 m) or more away  from the vehi-
cle. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
● Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the sm art key sys-
tem. ( P. 142)
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in
prime condition: 
     
        
        Page 431 of 600
4317-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
PRIUS c_U■
Location
The  12-volt  battery  is  located
under the rear right seat.
■Removing the 12-volt battery cover
Remove the 2 clipsPush  in  the  center  part  of
the clips
Remove the clips
Disengage  the  3  clips  and  3
guides  on  the  back  of  the
cover and remove the 12-volt
battery cover. Guides
Clips
12-volt batter y
1
1
2
2
1
2