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Prius starting without fob

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Elstewart, Dec 13, 2012.

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  1. Elstewart

    Elstewart New Member

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    Hello all,
    My fiances' 2010 Prius is now starting without the fob anywhere near the car rendering it easy to steal. It started acting weird a few months back, but now this? Is there a way to reboot it? I have searched for a remedy, but I cannot find it anywhere, just where people start with the key in the car and then drive off aft they take it out.
    Thanks
     
    #1 Elstewart, Dec 13, 2012
  2. rcf@eventide.com

    [email protected] Member

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    Are you CERTAIN the other key isn't in the car? Make sure you have both keys in your hand and step away from the car!

    Richard
     
    #2 [email protected], Dec 13, 2012
  3. Elstewart

    Elstewart New Member

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    Positive. She was only given one when she got it. We had not had this issue before, we just by chance found out today.
     
    #3 Elstewart, Dec 13, 2012
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Did she buy it new? If so, it should have come with two fobs.

    Did she buy it used? If so, I'd explore the possibility that the original owner 'lost' it somewhere inside the car, and it has now shifted slightly from undetectable to a detectable position. (Despite Toyota's efforts, some folks have demonstrated that there are undetectable positions inside.) Or might have intentionally stored it as a backup, and the shielding (e.g. aluminum foil) that previously prevented radio detection has now been comprised.

    If it is inside, but hidden so well it cannot be located, then have a dealer re-program the car to accept only the known fob. This service will cost a few $.

    But despite these suggestions, I can't exclude the possibility of a true malfunction.
     
    #4 fuzzy1, Dec 13, 2012
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  5. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Is she shutting it down properly? It may just be starting as the battery gets low if not actually turned off and no longer in ready mode. Random starting is just odd and definitely a malfunction. And like others mentioned make sure there is no other key in the car. Maybe a previous owner hid it somewhere?
     
    #5 Paradox, Dec 13, 2012
  6. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Thread also moved to the appropriate 3rd gen forum from the Prius v forum.
     
    #6 Paradox, Dec 13, 2012
  7. Elstewart

    Elstewart New Member

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    Just so we are clear, it's not starting on its own. She just drive off today and didn't realize I still had her key. I will scour her car right now and report back. But is there any way to unplug the battery and let it boot up on its own, like a reset?
     
    #7 Elstewart, Dec 13, 2012
  8. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

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    Clearly, she got one key - the other is in the car somewhere - hiding - waiting to be discovered.......
     
    #8 rrolff, Dec 13, 2012
  9. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    Unless you were in the car and she started it and you got out, then she can drive away and car will run until she turns it off. Then she would be in trouble because it would not start again. I have never heard of this problem before, other than like everyone has mentioned, extra key could be hiden in the car.
     
    #9 retired4999, Dec 13, 2012
  10. Elstewart

    Elstewart New Member

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    Nope...she started it without the fob. Is there any way I can reboot my car? Just to verify its not something like that. I've looked everywhere I could think of and can't find anything
     
    #10 Elstewart, Dec 13, 2012
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Rebooting would be by disconnecting the 12V battery under the right-hand trunk floor, and leaving it unconnected for several minutes. The car must also be turned off, as it can keep itself alive if left in 'Ready' mode with this battery removed.

    It won't hurt anything, but neither will it help with anything that we are suspecting.
     
    #11 fuzzy1, Dec 13, 2012
  12. Elstewart

    Elstewart New Member

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    I know what you all are saying. I can't find it anywhere though. I will say, the funny stuff started happening after she hit a huge pothole and it jarred the car, but I have looked everywhere I could think of. Engine bay, trunk, under dash, seats, etc. no luck. I really don't want to have to pay to program a new fob, but I suppose it's better than having the ride stole.
     
    #12 Elstewart, Dec 13, 2012
  13. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Yes, that's a good place to start... Just disconnect the battery for a few minutes... The whole system will reboot / possibly clear up a malfunction.
     
    #13 PriusCamper, Dec 13, 2012
  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    As long as your doors can still be locked with your existing FOB it shouldn't be too much of a concern for awhile ... But having only one set of keys is way more hassle if you lose them rather than investing in a spare set before you lose them.. Make sure you also get a spare mechanical key cut (best price from Toyota dealer is less than $10). There's hours of reading on how to get a low-cost replacement FOB on Prius Chat...
     
    #14 PriusCamper, Dec 13, 2012
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  15. Elstewart

    Elstewart New Member

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    Thank you all for your responses. I just found that I wasted about 2 hours of my time. She told me she only got one fob when i started using her car to save gas. When I went to the trunk once again, I noticed a bag that wasn't there before when I changed a spare for her a month back. Didnt even think to look through it an hour ago. I was too busy checking all the crevices. I looked through it, and found a brand spanking new FOB still in the plastic from the dealership.
    One good that came out of my searches though, is finding this site. Great info, speedy responses, and no arrogant tones. Thanks guys, I'll be trolling this site from now on for my Prius info.
    Now I gotta talk to the fiance when she gets off work.lol
     
    #15 Elstewart, Dec 13, 2012
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  16. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Something similar happened to us recently.

    My wife told me she was having trouble locking the car with the SKS touch handle on the driver's door. No matter how many times she pressed the handle, the doors would not lock.

    I then discovered that my fob was missing. Turns out my fob came off my belt and fell between the driver's seat and center armrest. I guess the car was trying not to have a driver lock themselves out of the car with the fob still inside the car. ;)
     
    #16 xliderider, Dec 13, 2012
  17. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    yes that exactly how it works !!! if the a key is inside AND detected you can not lock the car with the OTHER fob ...

    Try !!!!
     
    #17 szgabor, Dec 13, 2012
  18. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    Nice to find a post with a happy ending.
     
    #18 Munpot42, Sep 25, 2018
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  19. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    You had to resurrect a six year old post to find a happy ending?
     
    #19 FuelMiser, Sep 26, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2018
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  20. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    The post was only 6 years old?
     
    #20 Munpot42, Sep 27, 2018
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