Anyone Know Anything About Toyota Hybrids - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

KarTek · #1 08-30-2014, 08:55 PM

So, I'm trying to help my friends elderly father who has inherited this high tech Highlander from his daughter when she bought an Audi diesel SUV.

Several times now, he comes home, shuts the car off, or thinks he has shut it off by pressing the ON/OFF button. Hours later, his neighbor has been coming to the door saying the car is running all by itself, locked up.

What could he be doing wrong? Is he possible activating the remote start feature or is there some special shut down procedure?

I'm corn-fused...

TylerH860 · #2 08-31-2014, 01:29 AM

No remote start. Easy to forget as your key stays in your pocket and the vehicle is silent in park....

Yes I own a prius.

97 SL320 · #3 08-31-2014, 08:34 AM

I really don't like the pushbutton start, a real key gives you a tactile feel. I'm guessing the gasoline engine restarts to keep the AC / heat going.

I place the push start up there with the 80's Buick Riviera touch screen that controlled the radio / hvac, Chryslers talking cars , Fords horn on the turn signal stalk , daytime running lights introduced be GM that use the headlights ( and wash out the turn signals ) and the clear turn signals that are invisible in strong light ( yellow lenses will glow where the clear ones don't. ) .

One fix would be to install a light at the top of dash / grille area showing that the car is still "on". Also check the parts dept to see if a real key conversion exists.

KarTek · #4 08-31-2014, 09:21 AM

I've been reading through the manual last night and it may have something to do with the relationship of the foot on the brake, the "gear" selector and the start button. It seems that if you park the car and hit the start button with your foot still on the brake, the system just changes modes rather than shutting down.

The proper procedure would seem to be:

Stop car
Selector in Park
Foot off brake
Press start/stop button

97 SL320 · #5 08-31-2014, 11:00 AM

Also add apply parking brake after selector in park. I see way too many cars being stopped against / bounced off the parking pawl.

Still, the push button start is too much of a mess and approaching programing a VCR level. . . I just want to turn the durn thing off!. . . .

Skippy · #6 08-31-2014, 07:20 PM

Most people with autotragics never bother with the parking brake, at least as far as I've observed in the U.S.

spdrun · #7 08-31-2014, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

Also add apply parking brake after selector in park. I see way too many cars being stopped against / bounced off the parking pawl.

Still, the push button start is too much of a mess and approaching programing a VCR level. . . I just want to turn the durn thing off!. . . .

Why don't auto makers move to a knob start with OFF, ACC, and RUN positions?

If the E-key isn't present, moving the knob to RUN would simply do nothing except turn accessories on. A knob would provide a positive indication of what mode the car is in.

INSIDIOUS · #8 08-31-2014, 08:49 PM

KarTek · #9 08-31-2014, 09:18 PM

OK, I drove t around some this evening and it's not really that confusing. Press and hold brake then press start to start. Selector in park and press start to shut down. It's pretty obvious when it's off as the displays go black and there's no light on the start button.

Time for some training I think...

Skippy · #10 08-31-2014, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

Why don't auto makers move to a knob start with OFF, ACC, and RUN positions?

If the E-key isn't present, moving the knob to RUN would simply do nothing except turn accessories on. A knob would provide a positive indication of what mode the car is in.

Motorcycles sold in the U.S. have been mandated to have a standardized engine kill switch in a standardized location for decades. It might be time to do that with cars.

spdrun · #11 08-31-2014, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

Motorcycles sold in the U.S. have been mandated to have a standardized engine kill switch in a standardized location for decades. It might be time to do that with cars.

Kill switches aren't standardized. I've owned bikes with a rotary switch (OFF-RUN-OFF), a rocker switch, and a button at various times.

97 SL320 · #12 09-01-2014, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

Most people with autotragics never bother with the parking brake, at least as far as I've observed in the U.S.

Cars should be wired like some electric forklifts , if you get out of the seat without applying the parking brake, the horn blares.

sloride · #13 09-01-2014, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarTek

OK, I drove t around some this evening and it's not really that confusing. Press and hold brake then press start to start. Selector in park and press start to shut down. It's pretty obvious when it's off as the displays go black and there's no light on the start button.

Time for some training I think...

Press start button to shut down, genious idea.

KarTek · #14 09-01-2014, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloride

Press start button to shut down, genious idea.

Following the MS Windows model...

KarTek · #15 09-01-2014, 11:52 AM

OK, here's a new one:

I was driving the car yesterday and when I got it, I heard a loud tone from I think, the interior or maybe from under the hood. This continued for a few seconds until I shut the door possibly or pulled the seat best. I'm not sure what silenced it but it was louder than a standard "key in the ignition" alert but not as loud as a theft alarm might be.

Any ideas on this one?