How to Program a New Key Fob for Full SKS Functionality

I can confirm that the chicken dance like procedure to make my SKS car forget all the other transponder key fobs works!

I confirmed that both my silver logo and pseudo-black (no) logo fobs started the car in the slot.

Then using the silver logo fob I inserted and removed it in the slot multiple times, leaving it in after the 6th insertion then I opened and closed the driver door 7 times and removed the fob from the slot.

The no logo fob was no longer recognized and would not start the car in the slot.

Next I used the original chicken dance (first part only) and the silver logo fob to add back the no logo fob transponder.

Both fobs worked to start the car again in the slot.

I think this would be a useful procedure D to add to the sticky original chicken dance post

This car came with no keys and I have not explored smart entry yet, I was happy to be able to create and copy working transponders so I could start it and work on it. More to follow . . .

 

The Prius key fobs are a bit strange in that the 4D RFID transponder chip embedded in the plastic fob case, which is used for authentication to start the car when in the slot, is distinct from and registered separately from the fob transmitter for door lock/unlock in both the black logo RKE (non SKS) and silver logo smart entry (SKS) fobs. The black logo fobs are simplex transmit only when buttons are pressed while the silver logo fobs are duplex and both transmit to the car for lock/unlock when buttons are pressed and respond to transmissions from the car for smart entry and starting while in your pocket without button presses. When initially paired, something is written into the silver fobs by the car, unlike the black logo fobs. Although there are (complicated) ways around it this write into the fob at pairing is why new fobs are required for the second part of the chicken dance.

I have two fobs with transponders which start the car in the slot but currently none which work for smart entry or lock/unlock the doors by button press. When I go through the second part of the chicken dance and get to the part about pressing lock on the old remote the locks cycle twice signaling it is not recognized, as expected.

When I go through the modified chicken dance cycling the ignition on/off three times (9 power button presses) to enter confirm mode the doors cycle through lock/unlock once when I remove the fob from the slot, signaling that the car knows about one smart entry SKS fob transmitter which is presumably in the possession of the previous owner.

Could people with multiple working fobs try the confirm mode and post the results? It should cycle the doors through lock/unlock multiple time signaling how many fob transmitters it knows about for door lock/unlock (even if you do not own them all).

 

I thought I should document how I used the orange 4C/4D "Toyota Smart Keymaker" I bought online for US $12 to make a working transponder key for my initially keyless auction project 2006 SKS Prius. I then used the chicken dance (first part) to duplicate it. Due to COVID the title paperwork is delayed so I cannot show the required proof of ownership to get the metal keys cut (by VIN) by the local Toyota dealer or a certified locksmith yet, but the quoted price is quite reasonable once the title arrives.

I bought two cheap, beat up, used Prius key fobs and a pair of aftermarket replacement cases with uncut key blanks and some batteries for them online. One was a silver logo SKS fob. The other had a no logo aftermarket case and turned out to be a pseudo-black logo RKE (non-SKS) fob. Both contain the same (4D?) transponder chip and can be used to start the car in the slot once registered to the car.

Since I am only talking about transponders starting the car in the slot and both mine are already registered, I used the silver logo fob and the insert 6 times and open the door 7 time chicken dance-like (first part) procedure to forget the no logo fob and confirmed it was no longer recognized and would not start the car when inserted in the slot.

Then, with the driver door open and the unrecognized fob in the slot I plugged the "Toyota Smart Keymaker" into the OBD II port and waited while things beeped, the security light came on solid and in less than a minute there was a long beep signalling registration complete. When I removed and then reinserted the no logo fob in the slot it started the car.

The Smart Keymaker can apparently do an ECU reset with the 15 minute timeout required for smart key programming too, but I have not figured it out yet since the documentation is "unclear".

 

I checked and the open/closed state of the driver door does not matter. The important thing is having the Silver or Black transponder key fob you want the car to recognize in the slot when you plug in the Smart Keymaker. This performs a quick reset of the Transponder Key ECU and forgets all the currently registered key fobs and then registers the key fob which is in the slot, similar to the chicken dance-like forget procedure described above. In both cases you end up with one, and only one, registered key fob. However, after the long beep from the Smart Keymaker you can remove and replace the first key fob with a second key fob for 5 seconds, if you have one, for a maximum of two total registered key fobs. The procedure will auto complete after the second one and the security light will go out. To exit after only one, repeatedly press the power button about 15 times until the security light goes out. Remove the Smart Keymaker and the key fob and try to start the car with the now registered transponder key fob(s) in the slot.

Still working on the remote buttons and Smart Entry, but for now you can drive your (formerly keyless) car!

 

Another success of programming both Immobilizer and smart key functions on first try! I bought a brand new OEM silver logo key online from a Toyota dealership in Richmond VA for $143. The instructions here were perfect doing both procedure A and B on first try.

I was thinking to use Techstream without clear instructions (as I have done with other tasks) but I decided to give a try to chicken dance first. The whole process was less than 5 minutes. Great posting!

I needed a new smart keyfob cause I accidentally destroyed my first keyfob years ago putting it thru my washer and dryer. Last week, the same happened to my last working key-fob. Luckily, I was able to open it, letting it dry for 24 hours without battery and it worked. There is a significant chance that water damage will finally destroy the smart capabilities of that used key-fob in a similar way that slowly happens to flooded cars or water damaged cell phones and electronics. To be safe, I ordered and programmed a new smart key-fob while the water damaged one was still working.

 

I get to step 4 of Procedure A and the anti-theft light never stops blinking, even after waiting a full five minutes. I have tried it several times with a brand-new remote from a Toyota dealer and with an aftermarket remote and get the same results with both. Do I need to go and pay a dealer to program it, or is there some way for me to program the keys myself? This is for an SKS equipped 2008 Prius with one working key.

 

Is the light blinking 5 times then a slight pause then 5 times ... etc?

If so, you have the maximum 5 keys programmed. You need to do the "Chicken Dance" variation to "forget all keys except this one" then start again with Procedure A. Lookup posts by @Okie-Steve for further guidance.

 

Thank you dolj, Okie-Steve and usnavystgc. I ran through the instructions in post#641 and cleared the remotes, and then used the instructions from post#1 to program both the key from the dealer and the third-party remote successfully. I did have to run through steps for procedure B a couple of times, but on my second attempt was able to program both remotes with steps 9a-9c without repeating steps 1 through 8.

 

Well done, datsunrobbie, glad you got it worked out.

 

Hi: Thanks for this Sticky/WIki/How To. It was very helpful. I have the SKS/Silver Toyota Emblem fobs on a 2004 Prius.

Just a note FOR THOSE HAVING ISSUES WITH AN OLD FOB NOT accepting the program...

Check that all of your buttons, including the PANIC button work/click. As noted above, they can get stuck - there are videos on freeing the buttons to move again. In my case, it was the panic button that wouldn't move. Ultimately, the comment above that an OK fob/3v battery will at least flash the little LED on the fob every time you press a button. This knowledge plus looking carefully at the stuck panic button, led me to work on the button. I ultimately sliced the fob apart carefully, pried the PCB out carefully and cleaned and reseated the panic button, which is moving for now. I used several light tiny dabs of super glue (not so much that it would be a pain to reopen later...) to put it back together. I sanded the sliced edges with emery board/fine sandpaper a bit... I brought it back to the car and it happily worked - perhaps it had been working all along, or perhaps my 10 attempts to program it above had made the difference. Anyway- check that you get the red LED for all of your fob's buttons. If not, it's a battery, a stuck button or a failed (can you fix?) printed circuit board. Once you've got the led on each press, you can proceed to programming - if you still need it.

 

I have a 2006 w 150k.
If the old SKS FOB does not lock/unlock the car with buttons(have changed batteries MULTIPLE times, checked for stuck buttons) but still starts the car in slot, can it be used to chicken dance a new SKS key?
I have tried repeatedly Procedure B and keep getting stuck on step 9a when holding the lock/unlock buttons on OLD FOB waiting to get the unlock/lock cycle of locks

 

No, the method of programming a key in this thread would need you to have working "lock/unlock" button on the original remote.

 

Score. This worked for me the first time
using my brand NEW fob I bought.

I did go the second hand ebay route at first...
and well, while I was able to complete procedure A...
I was never able to complete procedure B...
So, I returned it.

After buying a brand new remote from a toyota dealer...
the procedure worked like a charm.

The last procedure when you press the lock key on the new remote...
I was pretty hesitant... waiting for that lock cycle to kick in...
but it finally did kick in...

 

Worked great! Got my new OEM fob programmed. I have to execute 9b's button press twice and then right after, the door locks toggled in confirmation.

 

The only time a used key fob can be saved and re used in a prius is during an all keys lost condition.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Successfully programed a new fob for my 2008 with SKS from an online Toyota dealer on the first try with this guide! No modifications, performed exactly as written. Thank you so much for this. My dealer wanted $190 for the key and $450 for new key + reprogramming. You all have saved me so much money and time!

 

Hi ~ I just read your post and I tried reprogramming my new fob and at step 4, the same thing happened to me where the anti-theft light never stopped blinking. I've tried the chicken dance (i.e. inserting original fob 4 times and leaving it in the 5th time and then opening the driver's side door 6 times, opening and closing and then taking the original fob out and inserting the new fob in for a minute waiting for the anti-theft light to stop blinking, but it never does. I read your follow-up post saying you got the new fob to re-program but didn't really understand how it happened. Could you explain it to me or point to someone who could? Really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

I had one of my working 2005 SKS fobs recently stopped working when pressing the buttons- I installed new battery but still no joy - the red led used to light up but hasn't since the buttons stopped working- I can still insert it in the slot and it will start the car - - I am down to one fully working fob and plan to buy a new toyota one and reprogram it so that I have two again - I believe the car currently has 3 registered fobs - so the new one will make it 4 - any knowledge on where to get the best price on an original Toyota SKS fob? best I could find was about $170 plus shipping - also any idea on how to fix the fob that stopped working?

 

Toyota Parts Center Online.

heck to see if the button still 'click'. If not, the button on the PCB probably has accumulated enough dust and lint to stop it from working correctly. If you want to try and fix it, you will need to open the case to get the circuit board out to clean it. If the membrane cover over the buttons is damaged, then purchase a new empty case and transfer the cleaned and now operating PCB and RFID chip over to the new case.

 

What is the best way of gluing these back together. I’m currently using superglue, but the case breaks apart sometimes when removing or reinserting the metal key.

BTW you can remove the orange panic button and epoxy glue in a black bit of plastic to avoid irritating unwanted false panic alarms!