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Immoblilzer Bypass or Used Immobilizer?

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Ablinkin, Dec 8, 2016.

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  1. Ablinkin

    Ablinkin New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2016
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    Location:
    Eugene OR
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Newb around here. My 2001 left me stranded a few days ago and it's turned out the immobilizer has bit the dust. The local dealer wasn't able to reflash it or communicate with it at all. They want to replace it at a cost of 1150 dollars. Putting that much more money into this vehicle isn't in the cards. Especially after replacing the hybrid battery a year ago.

    Now my question is this: Is the immobilizer married to the cars CPU? Or would a used one work to restore normal starting? I realize that the keys are locked to the CPU or immobilizer. Both?

    I'm not afraid to put in one of the bypass boards available on Amazon or Ebay if the wiring diagrams from Toyota were to show the in's and out's needed.

    Any help would be appreciated. I would like to get it going again.

    After looking around the web, it looks like the best solution is an ECU, key transponder, and keys programmed to that ECU. All of it off a parts car of course.
     
    #1 Ablinkin, Dec 8, 2016
    Brian in Tucson and RCO like this.
  2. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2016
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    Location:
    Tucson AZ
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Looks to me like you can just swap the immobilizer--but I'm not sure. Here's some stuff about hacking the immobilizer, which makes me think it could be done with just an immobilizer. DIY: Immobilizer Hacking for Lost Keys or Swapped ECU

    At my local Pull a Part, there are 2 first gen Prius. I looked at the 01 about a month ago and it was pretty much unmolested. And I noticed there was a set of keys under the seat. An 03 came in a couple of days ago, & I planning a look see.
     
    #2 Brian in Tucson, Dec 9, 2016
  3. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    Location:
    Tucson AZ
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
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    I reviewed the hack video again. It seems that the key codes are stored in the ECU. The immobilizer appears to be just an amplifier and not involved in the key codes. So replacing it should be plug and play. If that doesn't do the trick, you'll need a replacement ECU and then do the hack to program the key codes in. Looks to me like a used ecu will do the trick, tho.
     
    #3 Brian in Tucson, Dec 12, 2016
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