It hopefully won't be for a couple of years but when the time comes to replace the 12v battery the only one available seems to be from Toyota. Does any one know if other manufacturers plan to make one for the Prius?
Also a friend of mine is thinking of getting a Prius and asked if it is possible to lock your key fob in the car if you have Smart Entry. I wasn' t sure.
Thanks,
EC
I wonder if one could get by for a while with a 12V riding mower battery.
There is a Westco battery out there but I believe there also is some battery terminal kit for it. Personally, I'd go with an Odyssey if it would fit the compartment. Had great luck with them and they last a long, long time (they call them a dry cell).
I've "tried" to lock the car with the Smart Key inside it and it wouldn't lock. Kept giving me some annoying beeps and flashes until I figgered out the damn key was in the jacket pocket inside the car and the buttons outside weren't allowing me to lock the car.
Oh, I won't mention how many times I've also washed the damn fob key thing and run it through the clothes dryer. I just replace the battery as a precaution from overly active battery activity just to be safe. Pretty durable key.
B~
Although I have been unsuccessful in locking my key in the car to date, I'm sure that someday I will manage to figure out how to do so -- probably when I'm five or six hundred miles away from home (and the spare key).
Kari
If you have the Smart keyfob in the front passenger area (where the internal sensor can find it), then the North American NHW20 Prius will unlock the doors when you try to lock them externally. All North American Prius will not let you lock the doors externally if you have the key in the ignition/dash.
However, if you lock the doors externally with the mechanical key, you should be able to keep a Prius on and with the doors locked. (You should first check the legality of leaving a running motor vehicle unattended, and/or idling laws, in your area.)
Also, you can make your Smart keyfob "invisible" to the internal sensors by wrapping it up or boxing it in certain types/amounts of metal. Alternately, you could just take the battery out of the Smart keyfob, and that can be stored inside of your vehicle as well. (it'll work if you put it in the dash slot to start the car, but none of the Smart functions nor the remote buttons will work.)
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