SKS Key Technical Question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Redpoint5, Jan 22, 2015.

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  1. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    It's still worth trying the chicken dance with the old keyfobs. There must be a half dozen copies of it, with some variations on how long to hold a key, etc. Search for versions that are reported to work with new Gen3 vehicles.

    Techstream is clearly easier to use than the chicken dance, once you get it installed. I regard Techstream installation as a project by itself, sometimes more hassle than trying the chicken dance multiple times. That $22 version on Amazon is a Chinese clone of the $500 Drewtech device, along with a hacked pirate copy of Toyota's software. Dodgy, but the legal alternative is $500 + $55 for a two day license to the official Techstream.

    If the chicken dance or Techstream don't work, the next step is to do a seed reset. Seed numbers can be purchased for something like $35 each from a company in Lithuania. Or you locate a dealer/locksmith/mechanic who knows how to handle it. Best one I know of is Luscious Garage | Blog | Full Service Prius Key Programming in SF.

    If you end up needing a mechanical key reverse engineered from the lock, there is a cheaper alternative. A replacement lock cylinder and two matching keys was cheaper than the locksmith charge last time I checked.

    $100 each for the keyfobs with the A/C button was not a bad deal. They are rather rare on eBay, which means that you'd probably end up at a dealership to get them. And the ones you got can potentially be programmed with the chicken dance.
     
    #21 RobH, Jan 26, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    what is this talk about chicken dance on a gen3? if the manual keys don't work, then I would think things were already changed out. Those manual keys aren't easy to duplicate.....way over engineered for use on the door....and nothing else.

    If you feel those keys are rare and can be sold online for $100, then by all means sell them and get your money back. Then all you have to do is buy a new key and program it yourself.

    If you still want to try the reseed, contact member 3prongpaul after you get the minivci set up. He can probably help you with it.
     
    #22 JC91006, Jan 26, 2015
  3. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    I don't get $100 for an iffy used key transmitter.

    A BRAND new once from an on line dealer costs about $130 delivered.

    2012 Toyota Prius Parts - Camelback Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Parts - Free Shipping

    A custom cut key can be had for about $17 delivered.

    Toycut - ovnisf Keys


    That's where I got a new one and programed it with the $25 mini-vci and Techstream software
    from Amazon.

    I learned a long time ago from experiences such as yours to just pay a little extra for he simple and easy "guaranteed" solution.
     
    #23 Mike500, Jan 26, 2015
  4. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    Update:

    The 2 original mechanical keys work in the door. I assume that's all they are good for, and can't start the vehicle. I'll update when I get the mini-vci cable and try to pair these fobs back. If it works, I don't think $222 is a bad price for 2 fully functional keys with remote AC feature.
     
    #24 Redpoint5, Jan 26, 2015
  5. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Hey, you'll have three FOBs! Two working and a spare. As I recall, only two FOBs can be paired to the car at a time. But maybe that has changed.
     
    #25 David Beale, Jan 26, 2015
  6. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    No, according to my Techstream software, a total of five(5) can be stored in Gen III Prius models.
     
    #26 Mike500, Jan 26, 2015
  7. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    You may find it amusing to read through How to Program a New Key Fob for Full SKS Functionality | PriusChat .

    It's basically a history of getting the chicken dance to work on Gen2 keyfobs. I just realized that the Gen2 "plug the fob into the dash" part isn't going to work on a Gen3.

    But if you have a spare couple hours... Maybe the Gen2 procedure B dance might work on a Gen3 as follows: Remove the battery from the working Gen3 keyfob. Then wherever the Gen2 procedure says to "insert fob, remove fob" instead hold the batteryless working Gen3 fob up to the Start button. If you get the two beeps confirmation of ADD mode, you've got 40 seconds to get the battery back into the fob and press the two keys. Could probably do it with the circuit board out of the case.

    Just a WAG that might work. Techstream is clearly an easier procedure.
     
    #27 RobH, Jan 27, 2015
  8. MYEV

    MYEV New Member

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    I guess you shouldn't carry the DMV regristration in the glovebox if you are concerned about leaving identification behind for the theives.
     
    #28 MYEV, Feb 4, 2015
  9. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    I now have the mini VCI cable and Techstream software, but don't know how to proceed. I get a message that Techstream must be updated to proceed, and I'm taken to https://els.toyota.com/els3/login.do where I'm asked to log in. It asks for a user name and password, but I don't have one.

    Can someone PM me on what I need to do to proceed? I hope to add back the keys that originally came with the Prius.
     
    #29 Redpoint5, Mar 7, 2015
  10. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    You don't want to connect to Techstream with your computer connected on line. It will ask for an account and a password automatically.

    You won't get that message, if you are off line.
     
    #30 Mike500, Mar 7, 2015
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  11. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    Thank you everyone for the guidance. I feel like an expert now.

    To recap everything...

    I ended up paying $100 each ($200 total) for the original keys to the car. The original owner seemed to believe used keys were worth a lot, but I didn't take the time to explain why they weren't very valuable to anyone else. She also had the original EVSE, which I bought from her for $200.

    The original keys were not recognized at all by the car because they had been deleted from the key registration when someone added a used key and made it the master. The physical key that came with the car did not work in the door locks because it previously belonged to a different vehicle.

    I purchased a mini-VCI cable and Techstream software from Amazon for $22 shipped and installed it on a 32 bit Windows 7 laptop. Note that Techstream does not work on a 64bit OS, and there is no warning about that detail. I found this out the tedious way after installing the software on my 64 bit laptop and then getting an error while connecting to the ECU - "VCM not detected". The software doesn't say it's incompatible with a 64 bit OS, instead it gives that unrelated error.

    After installing Techstream on my wife's Windows 7 32 bit laptop, I had difficulty with Techstream insisting on registering and updating. Turning off the internet connections and editing the IT3System.ini file resolved these issues. The ini file had to be modified as follows:

    Edit IT3System.ini

    in Available Function Setting set the following

    [AvailableFunction]
    MinorFunction=1
    TISFunction=0
    UserFunction=1

    After all of that, registering the 2 used, but original keys back to the vehicle went without issue. I now have 2 working original keys and 1 non-original master.
     
    #31 Redpoint5, Mar 9, 2015
    kc410, RobH and Mike500 like this.
  12. RaZa

    RaZa Member

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    If some d-bag (even if its a woman) kept the original keys and offered to sell them to me I'd tell them to shove them you know where.
     
    #32 RaZa, Mar 12, 2015
  13. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Upon reading this thread, I guess I should be grateful that my dealer, without prompting, provided both original fobs with my Certified 3½-year-old Prius---although the (original?) battery was low in at least one of them.
     
    #33 CR94, Mar 12, 2015
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    indeed.
     
    #34 bisco, Mar 12, 2015
  15. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    In the words of Teddy Roosevelt, "SPLENDID."
     
    #35 Mike500, Mar 12, 2015
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  16. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    In another thread I explained why the original owner ended up keeping the keys and the EVSE. The car was involved in an accident and totaled by her insurance company. She asked insurance if they wanted the keys and the EVSE, and they weren't interested.

    The car was repaired and the mechanic purchased a used key and had it programmed in to the SKS as the master.

    I found the owners address in the nav as the home address, looked it up in the white pages, and called her to see if she still had the keys and EVSE. She was just about to list it on Ebay when I had contacted her. I paid her too much for the EVSE ($200) and keys ($100 each), but she seemed to think they were worth a lot considering the new price. Instead of trying to explain the technical reason they weren't worth much, I just offered the minimum I thought she would take and allow herself to think she was being charitable.

    I paid $13,400 for a 2012 PiP with 32,000 miles on the clock. It's certified by me.
     
    #36 Redpoint5, Mar 12, 2015
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