Locked Keys in 2010 Prius

Hmm, that shouldn't happen. If a fob is left inside, it should not lock but rather issue a long beeeep.

 

Are you sure the keys are in the car?

The only way that I know of to lock the keys in the car is to lock it from the driver's door armrest with the windows down, hit the window up button and then get your hand out of the way before the window closes.

Or, if your key fob is shielded by something so as to make it unable to activate the SKS system.

 

This is the right question. Without suggesting there is no possible way to lock your keys in the car, I will say that you really have to work at it. I was able to do it once, just as jdcollins5 noted:

Another question may be this: What Prius do you have, and is it equipped with the SKS? If it does have the SKS, then even if this shouldn't have happened, there are ways (remote options, I think) it could have happened.

This is another good question. If you left the key fob in a bag or purse, surrounded by metal (I don't think you need a lead shield, but close to it), the car may not have recognized it. Another way this could have happened is if the battery in your key fob (the one left in the car) is very low.

I would suggest a thorough search for your key fob outside the car before calling your husband.

If you can see the key fob through the window, then my best guess is you have a low battery.

 

You should have received a warning on the screen, either at startup or shutdown of a low battery in the key fob. In my experience, this doesn't happen everytime you use the key fob, but once you've seen the warning, there is very little battery power left. It could be that you missed the warning. The key fob either works or it doesn't, and once you've gone too far, I wouldn't expect it to recover enough juice to work again.

Without breaking a window (and setting off an alarm you can't shut off?) or getting your husband's key, I think you are locked out.

Hopefully, someone else has a better idea of what to do.

 

I don't quite understand the question. If the key fob had been inside the car with regular battery power, the car could not have been locked by the other key fob. If the key fob had been inside the car without sufficient power, the SKS system would not know it was present and would have allowed the car to be locked.

There may be other explanations, but I think low key fob battery is the best bet.

There have been other threads on the topic, but here is a recent thread letting you know which battery to buy and how to install it in the key fob.

 

I'm sorry for the frustration this is causing. If it is the key fob battery, you may want to replace the batteries in both key fobs at the same time. The extra $5 for the second battery may seem like a trivial expense in the end.

 

It doesn't matter if your fob battery is weak or your seat is shielding the SKS or whatever.
The answer to your question is...essentially..."no".

Right now you have about three choices....
Locksmith
New window
Produce your husband's keys.

Good Luck.


BTW....the SKS system isn't foolproof. It's not even fool resistant. I've goten into my car any number of times and received the "Key not detected" warning message with my fob in my pocket. There are several things that can reduce the life of the SKS fob including leaving it in the car for extended periods of time, putting it in your purse with a cell phone, etc.
When you get your fob back out of the car, consider replacing its battery.
If this is a recurring problem, consider buying an uncut keylet and placing it in an undisclosed exterior location in your car.

Good Luck!

 

If you have a 2010 II then you do not have SKS, if I remember correctly. You only have the remote lock/unlock feature with the key fob. This would explain why your husband was able to lock your keys in the car.

To determine for sure if you have SKS, can you walk up to the driver's door with the fob in your pocket or purse, slide your hand inside the door handle and unlock the car? If you cannot do this then you do not have SKS, only the remote lock/unlock feature by pressing the buttons on the fob.

 

The 2010 II has 1 door SKS - it's the 2010 I that doesn't have SKS.

 

OK thanks. I have the III and it has 1 door SKS. I was thinking the II did not have this but I guess it is the I then.

 

the FOB works just fine without the door key

 

Nice to hear from you, Dave! But . . . I don't think I understand your note.

 

oh this was in response to someone who said get a mechanical key made.

this is an unnecessary expense imm. i would simply take the perfectly capable mechanical key you already have and hide it on the car right now. i also constantly get the "key not detected" (kinda hard to believe since the car still starts) and the "battery low" warning.

i keep thinking i will stash key somewhere on car but unlike the OP, it is impossible for me to lock either key in the car despite the nearly deceased power power supply issues they both seem to have which has simply caused me to not be motivated to get it done

obtw; have been getting the low battery warnings for at least 6 months or more

 

Thanks for the clarification. I was wondering where you were headed with that comment.

I don't think your solution will work for those of us who carry other keys on the key fob. The key ring goes right through the part which holds the mechanical key. I still have other keys to carry around, and I'd just as soon keep them together with my key fob.

It's your bacon, Dave! When mine failed to open the door, I was lucky enough that it didn't cost me a lost appointment or worse. I had the key, of course, and I could start the car (knowing how), but for someone who has had their key fob locked in the car due to a low battery, the cavalier approach would not be the one to recommend.

 

You can lock a FOB in the car without shielding it. Sometimes I'll pick my wife up and she will leave her purse in the car with the FOB in it while we go eat and the car locks with no problem. I'm assuming it's because the car is using my FOB frequency and not hers which allows me to lock it.