Driven Without The Key

[Ikelos]

Hi all..........two cases this week of cars being stolen, one of them where a lady was killed by the scum that jumped into her car when she had left it running, the question is, if you left the Prius running how far would it get if the thief did not have the key, I have forgotten a couple of times and got out to get something from the garage, about 8ft away, with the key still in my pocket, it made a warning sound but the engine never cut out.

[Fujisan]

if you left the Prius running how far would it get if the thief did not have the key,

A guess (and it is a pure no fact guess :P ) is that as long as the car was started with the key the system will be happy.

Imagine, driving down the motorway and the car looses contact with the key for whatever reason (low key Battery, radio interference), would you, or more importantly in these days of litigation because they designed the system, Toyota, want the engine to immediately stop.

Not sure, just a guess.

[timberwolf]

Until the car runs out of petrol or is powered off!

Another possible scenario is to start the car, leave the car after starting it and then lose the key (perhaps it falls out of your pocket). Without the keys, you then get back into your car and drive to your destination, power off the car, and then search for your keys - now you are stuck, you can't lock the car and you can't power on again. :(

I'm so glad the UK Gen 2 Prius did not have the SKS option.

[dawesy]

yeah a guy i work with did that. dropped his missus off at the supermarket while he went for diesel (auris with smart entery) wasnt untill he came out after paying he realised she had the fob fortunately it was the supermarket filling station and his missus wasnt long.

but yes as long as its running *(ie ignition on) it wont stop unles it runs out of fuel stalled or turned off

[Ikelos]

so that it's then, you can drive it away and keep going till it runs out of juice, just have to put up with the warning sound.....and that is another query sorted.........