Finally gave in... bought an automatic

[Stubby79]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Congrats!

I notice you call this car a "Prius" in your fuel log. Freudian slip? Wishful thinking?

Also: how much did the wee beastie set you back, if you don't mind me asking?

My bad. Probably because the only Toyota I was searching for a long time was a Prius. I keep forgetting what it is I bought when I go for parts or searching online.

I probably paid too much, considering...$2500...though I don't feel ripped off, considering how solid it is and how well it runs (in spite of how it's been treated).

I could have picked up a sedan two days later for $1800 (it sold PDQ mind you), but it wasn't blue and it wasn't a hatchback. (I wouldn't have paid more than a few hundred bucks for an "ugly" automatic). Basically I paid more to get what I wanted. (though, after shopping around, $2500 is on the low end of most Echos selling locally. Most start at $3000 and go up from there).

[MetroMPG]

You're definitely not in the hole!

Not to diss your Echo success, but are you keeping your e-mail alerts active, watching for Prii?

[Stubby79]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

You're definitely not in the hole!

Not to diss your Echo success, but are you keeping your e-mail alerts active, watching for Prii?

They're still there, though I haven't paid them any attention this past week. I haven't seen anything but price gouging since the cost of gas shot up a few weeks back. Why do you ask?

[Stubby79]

Passive Immobilizer...?

It apparently has one.

As far as I cant tell, it's just a blinking light on the dash that flashes faster when the door is open. I haven't "set it off", or if I have, it didn't do anything.

There's a button under the dash that goes with it.

How are these things supposed to work? I've been in and out of it a thousand times in a thousand different ways and it's never given me a headache starting or otherwise. (Maybe I'm just "doing it right" each and every time?)

Only real concern is that it won't start one day and I won't be able to figure out how to get it going again.

[jcp123]

Wow. I'm guessing the Echo attracts the type of owners who neglect their cars. I had a not-too-dissimilar experience with mine (my in-laws had bought it new).

I don't know about Bluetooth units, but I know my UltraGauge will have a slight draw. If it sits for more than a week (it constantly sits for weeks), I'd unhook it from your OBD port.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Stubby79

Passive Immobilizer...?

It apparently has one.

As far as I cant tell, it's just a blinking light on the dash that flashes faster when the door is open. I haven't "set it off", or if I have, it didn't do anything.

There's a button under the dash that goes with it.

How are these things supposed to work? I've been in and out of it a thousand times in a thousand different ways and it's never given me a headache starting or otherwise. (Maybe I'm just "doing it right" each and every time?)

Only real concern is that it won't start one day and I won't be able to figure out how to get it going again.

Unless you disable this feature at the ECM reprogramming it, a coded key will always be required to start. I'm not sure if a non-coded key would interfere with the alarm if it's used only to open the doors, and I have never seen any way to selectively disable the passive immobilizer through an under-dash button.

[Stubby79]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Unless you disable this feature at the ECM reprogramming it, a coded key will always be required to start. I'm not sure if a non-coded key would interfere with the alarm if it's used only to open the doors, and I have never seen any way to selectively disable the passive immobilizer through an under-dash button.

This isn't a factory, built-in system. It's aftermarket. No transponder in the key, nor a separate one hanging off the key ring.

There's a flashing LED on the dash (that I thought was just decoration/blinking LED for theft deterrent) and I've noticed someone has tapped in to the wiring harness when I looked behind the glove box and under the carpet. Then I found the button screwed in to the fuse panel cover, wires leading off behind it (rather annoying).

It presumably disables the starter or fuel pump under the wrong circumstances. And enables it under the correct ones. I just have no idea what those circumstances might be.

Could be as simple as not pressing the brake before trying to crank it over, or the ignition has to pass through the accessory position before going to the start position. I have no clue, as I've never had to deal with one that didn't either have a remote or a transponder.

As long as it doesn't kick in before I get around to putting a real alarm on it, it won't matter.

Originally Posted by jcp123

Wow. I'm guessing the Echo attracts the type of owners who neglect their cars. I had a not-too-dissimilar experience with mine (my in-laws had bought it new).

It's being an econo car that tends to attract the kind of person who would neglect it. In my opinion.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Some sort of backyard-engineered interlock...

[Stubby79]

Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Megatronix-Pa.../dp/B000U3DU8G

[Stubby79]

New wiper blades today! (Rain in the forecast for the next week)

Got out a tooth brush to continue interior cleaning! (Ewwwww!)