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

We have a Nissan Murano with 3 door SKS. Hitting any one opens all doors but it is still an advantage to have 3 door. As we approach the car, whoever gets there first can open the doors and start getting in without having to wait for the other. I wouldn't go back. It would be different if it was just me.

Roy

 

Did the Chev get 46mpg, carry 7 airbags, have a 5 star crash rating and meet or exceed 2009 emission control regulations?
By the way, you can unlock the doors, including the hatch with the remote on all Prius models.

 

Wow !!! A three door Smart Key. It must have taken some really expensive software to pull-off that one.

Keith

 

I don't think 1 door smart key is skimping. Toyota has kept the pricing surprisingly low for such a fine car coming out with the important things like .... driver's comfort, etc...

Besides, you could always open the driver's door by smart key, then hit the unlock button inside the door, simple.

 

For me it will likely be a package 3.....the only thing we need from the package 4 upgrades are the 3 Key SKS and the Autochrome Mirror w/ Homelink. For what it's worth, I was able to add the Homelink mirror at the dealer when I bought my 06 Package 4 Prius (which didn't come with it standard). I wouldn't be surprised if the package 3 has the wiring harnesses in place to wire up the additional smartkey sensors in the passenger door & hatch....car manufacturers are notorious for pre-wiring for options that the finished car may or may not end up having.

 

"Need" is a funny word.

 

most people wont even notice the difference... it is very much like the difference between 3 and 5 door smart entry.... I have Auris with single door and lexus with 5 doors... honestly i barely ever notice that i dont have trunk smart entry Auris, i more notice lack of rear door smart entry but thats so easy to work around - just pull drivers handle first before getting in the back.

 

The easiest way for Toyota to modify the 3-door SKS system to 1-door is to not install 2 of the sensors. Which says to me that there is a good chance that adding the missing sensors is all that is required to upgrade a 1-door to 3-door SKS. The only real way to find out is for someone to try it. Now, next question is whether the 2010 sensors are the same as Gen2. The door handle button is different, so that will have to be changed.

 

Count me in as bummed at the lack of 3-door SKS on the Prius II or III, especially after offering it at a similar "package level" in previous years. Touch Tracer appears to be the "luxury option for the masses" this generation.

That said, how does one open the trunk in a 2010? Is there a button on the key fob? Do you insert your key?

 

If you are thinking about adding a touch sensor at the hatch, don't forget you will also have to install a antenna under the back bumper.

There is a small antenna under each door that has the touch sensor to read the FOB. this job is harder than it seems.

 

I just asked this question last night on a different thread (I didn't use the correct key words in my searches ) The book didn't seem to indicate this as an optional feature as it does with some others.

I have a friend who has a gen II and I thought it was a cool feature. I am raising a guide dog puppy. They ride on the passenger side floor. With my Jeep, I had to dig the key out of my purse or take off my backpack and dig it out to press the smart key to open the passenger door (yes, my hands are almost always full )

When considering the Prius, that was a big plus in my mind, to have that convenience... That said, it's not worth the extra $ for all the extra stuff that I don't need and even had I known before I bought my II it wouldn't have changed my buying decision, but I'm still bummed hwell:

I did know about the lack of autochrome mirror that will also miss from my Jeep, but again, not a deal breaker, just a bummer. There are so many other pluses that I guess I can handle the disappointment

Robbin

 

Might be slightly off topic but... I was originally looking at the III's and somewhat at last minute decided to get a IV due to color availability and just because leather is nice. The 3 door SKS wasn't really a big factor in that. However, I must say that after having it, I would be frustrated if I didn't have it. The trunk sensor is very useful. The passenger side door has been useful on days when I just need to run out to my car and get something out of the glove box or center console.

 

As i posted elsewhere we were extremely annoyed by lack of the 3 dr smart key in the 2010 II and III. We were annoyed at Toyota for dumbing down the smart key and hiding it in the fine print, we were annoyed with ourselves for not reading all the miniscule footnotes before buying our II, and we were annoyed with the sales and service staff for not even knowing what Toyota had pulled off. When we couldn't open the passenger and hatch doors on our 2010 as we could on our 2004 I called the salesperson and also looked on the web. I read some of the discussion here and found the proper paragraph in the manual so I realized what was going on. Simultaneously we drove to the Toyota dealer since the salesperson said she could fix it in a few seconds. I didn't discuss what I had found out just to see what they would do. Of course she couldn't do anything -- she was looking for something that was no longer there -- apparently it was in the 2009 and definitely in the 2004. The service manager came out and guess what, he couldn't fix it either (of course). After about 1 1/2 hours they finally found the paragraph in the manual telling them they could reprogram to open all the doors at once when they touched the drivers door -- a sad if better situation than the single door for us. They were obviously chagrined that they didn't know about this change and even offered to buy the car back for full price and sell us a IV or V. Well guess what, as much as we love the 3 Dr smart key, not at $4000 + so we will keep our 2010 Prius II but with a bad taste in our mouth re Toyota. So we learned our lesson -- don't trust Toyota -- don't assume that when they say they have a new and improved version it's really new and improved. Read the fine fine print, and as we should have known all along "let the buyer beware" but to Toyotal -- FOR SHAME!!!

 

As I posted in another thread, they didn't dumb it down. (Not that I like how they've packaged it either in the 2010. I posted my dismay about this at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-3-door-smart-key-in-prius-ii.html#post832725 and possibly elsewhere.) SKS was NOT standard on the 2nd gen even though most probably had it.

The choices went from no SKS or 3 door on the 2nd gen to 1-door SKS or 3-door SKS on the 3rd gen. So, on the 3rd gen, they did technically improve the availability of SKS by making 1-door SKS standard but unfortunately, they seemed to have raised the entry price in order to get 3-door SKS. :/

Yes, it is a shame that your dealer's sales and service department didn't know the answer immediately. This wouldn't be the first time Prius owners have found knowledge lacking at dealers.

 

"The choices went from no SKS or 3 door on the 2nd gen to 1-door SKS or 3-door SKS on the 3rd gen. "

Actually the choice is now (on the 2010 II) driver door or all five doors.
One thing I'm still confused about. Our sales person referred to a switch on the 2009 that you could apparently throw to go from just drivers door to drivers door plus other doors. Do you know what that is? And I still would call it dumbing down compared to our 2004 even if it's a little smarter than the 2009. They just don't make smart entry the way they used to and if, for example, you look on the window description unless you line up a window from a II next to a window from a IV and look letter for letter you may well miss the number "3" next to smart entry. The standard items look almost identical in all of the things you are likely to look at when comparing the II and the IV. This is deception and I suspect planned deception to deceive the buyer (although of course the deception could be unintentional -- let's hear from Toyota on this -- did you fool us on purpose or by accident? --- or is that like asking did you stop beating your spouse?)

 

If I'm reading your post right, you're mistaken. The salesperson is either wrong, or he means something else. The Smart Key System, where you place your hand near the handle and the door automatically unlocks, is either 1 door or 3 doors as mentioned above. That "switch" mentioned is merely a customization that can be done for the 1 or 3 door SKS, where if you open/unlock 1 door, it unlocks all doors. It however does not mean that it will enable the sensor for all doors, because it just doesn't exist for the Prius II or III.

 

We may be having trouble communicating. In our 2010 II, when the fob is reprogrammed as per the manual, when you touch the driver door handle (with the fob in your pocket) all 5 doors unlock: driver, passenger, two rear doors and hatch. Thats what it says in the manual once you find it, and that's what happens. There is no switch that I know of in our car but I was wondering what the switch did in the 2009 (if there was one).

 

I'm not talking about the behavior after customization.

When I'm talking about 1-door SKS or 3-door SKS, I'm talking about the presence of (working) antennas, sensors and a lock "button" on/at the doors. On the 2010 Prius II and III, that's only present on the driver's door. On model IV and V, it's on the driver's door, front passenger's door and rear hatch.

Look for the words "smart" at Toyota Vehicles : Toyota Announces Prices for 2010 Prius / Toyota.

On the 2nd gen, you either got NO smartkey system or 3-door SKS.

No smarkey system == no antennas, touch strips and no lock buttons on any door. You can only unlock doors from the outside via the key fob or mechanical emergency key. My former coworker has a 2nd gen this lightly equipped.

 

Well I take it your very upset about the change in your smart key system. But your anger at Toyota is misplaced. It's the potential owners primary responsibilty to YES read the fine print.

Since The Prius I, doesn't really exist except in very limited fleet release, when purchasing a Prius II your purchasing the entry level Prius. IMO it's very, very well equipped for a first level automobile.

Don't trust Toyota? What did they do? Even the Dealer offered to put you back at square one, and if you wished you could of gotten a Prius with the 3 door SKS, but you don't want to pay for it. What more could anyone do?

Yes, you should of read the fine print. Yes, perhaps the salesmen, sales department should of been more informed. But if you don't read the fine print or investigate, purchase then become upset, are offered the chance to upgrade at no loss, but paying the price to upgrade...then exactly how were you wronged?

You have a beltless engine, redesigned lighter HSD powertrain, no gas bladder and numerous other improvements. Yes, you don't have the same 3 door SKS. Takes a casual glance at the brochure to realize you weren't getting it.

Plus you let the service department waste their time for an hour and 1/2 trying to do something YOU knew they couldn't do? Okay, they should be knowledgable...but wouldn't it of been nice to tell them "Hey guys, if I'm understanding correctly, we can't reprogram the key." These guys are busy, it is a new model and sometimes the learning curve for everyone takes some time.

I can't believe they offered to buy the car back at full price and allow you to upgrade. What more could you want?

I think dealerships sales staff should have good knowledge of the products they are selling. The Prius offers so much technology that I think the learning curve is slow. I've test drove both the generation 2 and generation 3 and both times felt I knew much more about the vehicle than did the salesperson. Maybe this shouldn't be the case. But ultimately I feel it's the purchasers responsibilty to know what they want, what is a priority to them, and then know what they are buying. Toyota isn't hiding this information, I find it amazing what IS included in a Prius II. What other entry level trim level offers more "goodies" standard?

My advice, enjoy the $4000 dollar savings and don't blame Toyota because you didn't do your homework.