Possible to get 3-door Smart Key in Prius II?

I don't think they can do this because there needs to be sensors in all the three doors, and I don't think the dealer can install these sensors (they need to be factory installed).

 

As I think we all see now, the dumbing down of the 3 door SKS (which I had in my pretty basic 2004) to one door in the 2010 II and III (and yes the all door programming works) is just a very very minor example of something quite wrong with Toyota. Obviously deaths from uncontrollable acceleration is 1 million times worse. To make it even worse, I still love my Prius -- I'm bringing it in for the brake software upgrade on Friday (this is the brake problem Toyota knew about and was beginning to repair just about the time I bought my 2010 in early January). I'm away from home right now but expect to see a recall on the 2004 gas pedal upgrade when I get home. Well maybe these cars will become rare collectors items some day.

 

I don't get it. You felt Toyota misled you somehow on the SKS when you had simply assumed certain features from upgrading from an earlier model. If you look at the Prius 2010 brochure, I think they spelled it out quite clearly in their list of options showing the differences between trim levels:

"Smart Key System(9) on driver's door with Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry"

shows as "S" (standard) for all trims II through V with IV and V having footnote 10 which reads "Includes front passenger and rear hatch Smart Key System"

(Footnote 9 is just their CYA on RF interference with devices such as pacemakers)

If you go to Toyota's website and compare the trim levels, as you hover over II you see "Available Smart Key System" and as you go to IV you now see "3-door smart key system". I would agree with you that they probably should have specified on the II that it's a "Driver's side SKS" as they did in the brochure in case someone didn't compare to IV/V trims, but I believe the information is out there, is not particularly hidden, and certainly not misleading.

As with any purchase, especially one of significant value like a car or house, the buyer should spend the time to investigate closely. Even when buying a new home, wouldn't you want an inspection first?

 

The SKS wasn't "dumbed down", the base system was "smarted up". Toyota replaced a non-SKS system with a single door SKS. How is this not a step up?

You can make an argument about which packages get what options, but that's a different issue that involves marketing decisions. Those of us that love the three door SKS think all Prius models should come with it. Those that think the SKS is a waste of money have a different perspective.

Tom

 

3-door unlock with the Prius II

The Prius II has one sensor on the driver's door. However, you can configure this sensor for 1-door or 3-door unlock. Do the following to toggle between the two configurations:

1. Stand outside the car with the remote.
2. Lock the car with the remote.
3. Simultaneously press all 3 buttons on the remote and keep them pressed for 5 seconds.

 

I stand corrected! Myself and the sales and technical staff at the Toyota dealer were simply too dumb to read Toyotas clear specifications. The company is clearly upfront and honest and vigorously discloses all the features and faults of their cars.

 

Re: 3-door unlock with the Prius II

I found that this can also be programmed by the dealer from their little laptop (the one they pay Toyota $8K for). Dealers seem woefully underinformed about the programmable options. I was also able to get the headlights to go off as soon as I stop the engine and open the door, instead of saying on for 30 seconds, to turn the backup beeper to beep once, to stop the automatic locking and unlocking of the doors, and some other things.

 

You're correct that the Gen II had models without the 3 door SKS, but by 2008 even Package 2 came with the 3 door system. Only the seldom bought by private parties Package 1 didn't have 3 door SKS as standard equipment. Seems like a lot of people made the assumption that Package 2 in the 2010 would be equivalent to Package 2 in 2008-2009. Obviously a very faulty assumption. The 2010 Package 2 has far less goodies than the prior year's Package 2. I do think Toyota could have been more upfront with this information by specifying some thing like "SKS system for drivers door only" everywhere it was referenced.

 

All of the literature I saw listed it as "single door SKS" or something like that.

Tom

 

I just thought if they used the word "only" it might have stuck out more.

 

I have to admit that it took me awhile to realize that there were *two* SKS options with the Gen III, owning a Gen II as I do.

If it were me, I'd put the full SKS in all Prius. It's just too good of a feature to leave out.

Tom

 

Exactly my point. If you read the white brochure handed out by dealers and comparing all the versions, smart key entry is listed as Standard for II, III, IV, and V. There are some small asterisks and small print in footnotes on the next page which do tell the whole story. So the answer is be sure you bring a magnifying glass when you look over these things.
Before that I naively thought Toyota was more trustworthy. Of course this all pales compared to what has happened since. By the way, re the software upgrade for the 2010 Prius, when I bought my car in early Jan 2010, the upgrades were apparently already in place in production. I guess they forgot to tell us that as well or was it hidden in a footnote too.

 

What this Plasmaclusterâ„¢ that is on the Package Prices of Trim IV & V?

 

Add me to the list of frustrated 2010 buyers that made a bad assumption regarding SKS. When we first got our 2006 we really didn't know what SKS was but we learned to love it during the last 4 years, especially the hatch release when our arms are full and decided to never again get a car without this feature. We got a Prius III with solar roof and nav and made a very poor assumption that SKS would at least as good as our 2006 so my wife will be reminding me for many years to come of my error when she tries to open the rear hatch with a bag full of groceries. Thanks Toyota.

 

Any update on if its possible to add in the sensors later for a 3 door SKS? I'm looking at a Prius III and I'm hoping to not have to jump to the IV in order to get the 3 door since I don't want or need the leather seating and homelink mirror.

 

I doubt you will be able to add the SKS sensors later for a reasonable cost.

I have a III and have not had any issues with only the driver's door sensor. I open the door and hit the door open switch for the other doors. Not a problem for me.

Granted it would be nice to be able to open the hatch when you have an armful of stuff. This only happens to me once in a great while so not a big issue.

Hope this helps.

 

That helps a lot. I was just hoping there would be a way to easily order the sensors to install ourselves later. Once I get my G3, I'll probably check for myself to see if the doors and hatch are prewired for sensors and possibly attempt to add them on

 

there may very well be wiring harnesses in place already. i'm curious.

 

My dealer recommended that I call Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331 and tell them of my unhappiness regarding this issue so I did that. They were very sympathetic and indicated that other owners had called then with the same issue. They are going to send me some gift, not sure what it will be but I cried on the phone to them about how dumb it was to reduce 3 key SKS to 1 key SKS for the Gen III without getting other features that we may not want. The dealer was excited about their response and hopeful that if enough customers call Toyota they may come up with a way to provide a kit so the dealer could install this option. I am not optimistic about this but would recommend anyone experiencing this to call Toyota and add their 2 cents. If enough of us contact them about this issue perhaps we can get some action. In any case you may also be able to get a free gift.

 

In the manual for the Gen 3 there is a description of how to make all doors unlock when drivers door is unlocked. This is on page 70. I did this hack, and now when I have a full bag of groceries, I first walk past driver's door, then rear hatch is automatically unlocked.

Chris