Smartkey programming deals in LA area???

Check around with other dealers for price and programming. Your're going to have to get it done at a dealer. By the way, the car is programmed to accept the new fob. The fob isn't programmed.

 

I agree that you'll need to get a new keyfob from a Toyota dealer. There are several online parts outlets, for example Parts.com - For every part of your life that can supply a keyfob for about $140. Just be sure you get the silver logo keyfob for the SKS system. I just checked parts.com and they only seem to offer one keyfob, and it's not clear if it is the black or the silver logo unit. Best to confirm with them which unit they sell. The menu tree for the unit I found was Toyota Prius 2006, Body Electrical, Keyless entry components, transmitter. List price $181, their price $125 + shipping.

Then you need to find a mechanic with access to a Mastertech 3100 scantool with Toyota software for at least the 2004 model. Since the Toyota dealerships have switched over to a newer tool as of 2008 (2007?) model year, there are a number of 3100s that are showing up on the used market. New the thing is at least $4500, but I saw one on eBay recently for under $900. More common price is $1500 to $2500. I watched Paul at Art's Automotive in Berkeley program 3 keyfobs for me, and he had it done in about a half hour for less than $50. So while any Toyota dealer can program a new keyfob, there should also be a number of independent mechanics with the required scantool.

Independents generally don't have the equipment to cut the mechanical key. A local hardware store messed up cutting my blank keyfob key, and obviously didn't have any more of them. So be careful about who you get to cut the mechanical key. I'd recommend a real locksmith for the mini-key that fits into the keyfob. But you can also get a generic Toyota key just about anywhere that deals with keys for about $2.

 

i called all dealers around the area (San Diego/OC/Riverside) in a 90 mile radius (over 1 year ago).

best i could do was $160 for FOB + tax + 80 programming = about $250

 

I did see one on eBay showing the keyfob in the original packaging. The vendor's other auctions were all new parts that you'd get at a Toyota parts department. So at least the image is that the vendor has some relationship that allows him to sell new parts. I'd give it about an 85% chance that it's a true story. Retail vendors can frequently get a better price from their suppliers if they purchase in higher volume. So they sometimes over purchase, and sell the surplus at bargain prices through outlets like eBay. Or they could be returned parts that the dealer mechanics just don't want to hassle with.

The majority of keyfobs on eBay are not going to work with a different car than they were originally paired to. It doesn't matter that some testing device says it's good, or that it works fine with another car. The problem is that the usage count has gone too high to allow it to be recognized by a different car. A unit that was just stored and never used might work, but you have no way of finding out short of actually trying it.

The advantage of buying a keyfob and the programming service from the same dealer is that if there are any problems, they can just keep trying different parts. If you bring in a part from outside and there is a problem, then you're just out of luck. Even if you get a full refund for an unusable part, you're still stuck for the programming service that didn't work.

Personally, I'd buy the unit in the original packaging off eBay for about $100. Then I'd take it to Art's Automotive in Berkeley for another $50. The next step up in probability of working would be $140 to parts.com, and a trip to Art's. For an unknown (but probably worthwhile) exercise, I'd do a major search for mechanics with access to the Mastertech 3100 scantool. If you find any, programming the car for your new keyfob would be a good test of their ability to cope with a Prius. As Clint Eastwood said in a movie I watched recently, "Are you feeling lucky?"

 

i just purchased an extra Fob last tuesday. it was like $188 plus $45 to program... after tax cost, $247

 

I'm in the same boat- would really appreciate an update to this thread after you get the key purchased from ebay and find the programming. I'm in Orange County- the dealership in Irvine yesterday told me "$185 for the fob, $200 for programming". Ridiculous!

 

Here are links to independent mechanics in the San Francisco area who specifically claim to service the Prius.

The only one I've used is Art's (in Berkeley), and it was a good experience. Art's Automotive

The webpage on keyfobs at Luscious Garage (Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists | Blog | Prius Key Fob Transmitter ) mentions their charge of $30 to program a car for a new keyfob. I haven't been there, but have heard a number of positive things about them. Luscious is in San Francisco. They probably know more about servicing high mileage Prius than just about any other place. Since they are willing to use aftermarket suppliers, some repairs have got to be cheaper than any dealer could manage.

Another hybrid specialty shop in San Francisco is http://www.patsgarage.com/ .

 

Beamann- thanks for taking the time to respond! Very much appreciated!

 

Oops- beamman- sorry I misspelled your handle in the previous message- too many n's, not enough m's. Thanks again- I just ordered a key from texan1998.

 

What? Shoot, I Wish you'd have told me that 4 years ago, when I first bought 2 used SKS fobs on ebay. Wait! ... oh never mind ... they've been work just fine, all 4 years now.

IOW, yes, you can still reprogram used fobs.

 

You're one of the lucky purchasers of used fobs. I've got one that didn't work, and have heard mostly about others that didn't.

I think it has to do with how many times the fob has been used. So one that sits unused for years will work, while another one month old that's been heavily used cannot be programmed for another car.

What's "heavily used"? Well the non-SKS fob has a counter in it that can be set to disable sending the seed value after 128 key presses. Now it would seem reasonable that somebody at Toyota knows how to derive a seed value from a serial number, but they're not talking.

 

New 2Gen Prius owner here. I have two smartkey fobs, but one doesn't work. Is there some exchange or trade-in with a Toyota dealership for a new one?

Thanks,
toyotally04