In my previous car, the BMW, you can separate out a key from the keyfob so that you can use it to lock your glovebox (and in the glovebox, you can lock your trunk). I found this to be useful when valets take my car or it goes into service, they can't go in the trunk. Do Pri's have any compartment you can lock with the pull out key in the fob??
My honda accord also had a lockable glove compartment. That is one thing I am missing along with the overhead pop down sunglass storage area. Still love my prius but those are nice touches on the accord.
ahh yes I do have the roof. I wanted that vent your car from solar panel feature for hot days in CA. Guess I traded that for the storage for sunglasses lol. Thanks for the clarification
Use for the mechanical key: If you don't have remote-start, but you want to start the car and let it warm up without someone driving it away, you'll find that the keyfob can't lock the doors while the system is in Ready. But, you can lock the doors using the mechanical key. As I was rather ill last week, I wanted to minimize the amount of time I spent breathing cold air. Letting the car warm up in the driveway wastes gas, but it's better than worsening my state into pneumonia! Locking with the mechanical key was the only way to make sure the car didn't "grow legs". (I live on a busy street, anyone could've seen the tailpipe vapor and known it was ready to steal.) Reason to separate the electronic fob from the mechanical key: Some time ago, I had need to leave a car parked at the airport, while I flew away. I had to leave the key to someone else, so they could come get the car later. But I still had to drive to the airport... Separate the key, leave the mechanical key with my accomplice. Use the fob to start the car and drive to the airport. Can't lock the fob in the passenger compartment (not only does it know better, but it also runs the battery down), so open the fuel door, then close and lock the doors like usual. After triple-checking for luggage, stuff the fob into the fuel door and close it. Later, accomplice walks up with mechanical key, opens driver's door, pops fuel release, retrieves fob, starts car, drives off into sunset.
Doesn't having the fob beside the car (in the fuel door) make it close enough that someone could just walk up and open the car door - or at least increase battery consumption because it is close to the car? This reminds me of a story my dad used to tell from the 1960s. He worked for GM and they would drive company pool cars to/from the airport when going on business trips. An outgoing traveler would write the parking location on an envelope, drop the keys inside, and leave the envelope at the travel insurance kiosk. A returning traveler would check at the kiosk to see if a car was available before hailing a cab. One winter night, dad returned from a trip and the lady at the kiosk was just closing up. She handed him the last GM envelope with keys, dad stuffed it in his pocket, and he headed off to get his luggage. Outside, dad looked at the envelope and it was blank. With only a car description written on the key tag - something like "White Impala" - to go on, dad trudged through the snowy parking lot, swearing about the guy who left him sticking that round GM door key in different cars for an hour.
You can disable the smart key function via the vehicle menu on the display system. That way you can take the manual key with you and leave the key fob locked in the car. I do this when I go surfing. I'm pretty sure the fob doesn't react well to salt water. iPad ? HD
Whoa...hadn't thought of that! I also do a lot of surfing and paddlesport ... back in the days when the keyless entry fob and the key weren't usually fused together, I'd just leave the fob in the car and take the key. Now I will be able to do that again!
I had a problem with a pair of prescription sunglasses from Costco. They told me that the plastic lenses had "checked" from being exposed to heat, and asked if I kept them in a compartment near the roof of the car, which I had done on occasion. Costco replaced the lenses, but advised not to use those compartments, which I have not done since. I like the convenience of the glasses holder, because it enables one-handed access and placement of your glasses by using your mouth to pull out the temples.
There is a trick to starting the car without the SKS active. You need to hold the fob against the power button for a few seconds until it lights up. Then you can press the button as normal. I learned this the hard way after coming out of the water. I had to google "how to turn in prius..." while sitting in my car.
