My Expensive Bad Luck with Smartkeys

It was good for a chuckle too. Maybe you could get a $1 a laugh from everyone here.......

Just kidding. It's the old curse against ever finding anything when you are actually looking for it.

 

From what I understand you CAN reprogram a used key.
So good luck with it all.
I wish the 2006 could use them or I'd take one off your hands.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AlphaTeam @ May 1 2006, 07:38 PM) [snapback]248226[/snapback]</div>

I think that you can get the car to recognize a different key, but that key will never change. BUT, in order to do that they must have one of the original keys to tell the car that it is OK to add the other key.

It was my understanding that if you lost both keys you also had to pay several thousand for the computer replacement.

But no matter, it is a good incentive to keep track of the keys.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pjconner @ May 1 2006, 08:28 PM) [snapback]248359[/snapback]</div>

From other posts, it is the car that gets set to the fob so the fob would not need to be changed. The tech's explanation doesn't sound quite right. Unless the fob is damaged or not a correct Prius SKS fob, it should be possible for the car to accept it.

 

Here's my 2 cents, for what it is worth. I'm not very tech oriented when it comes to the Prius -- but this is honestly what I experienced.

Just like original writer, I had one SKS Smart Key fob for my 2004 Prius. Silver logo on back. Thought this was risky so bought TWO spares , also with silver logos on back, off ebay.

Called local dealer told them that I had an 'ebay' used smart key and could I have it reprogrammed? "no problem, bring it in .....about $20 estimate". Wow, I thought, great! After over an hour wait, the service rep says they had a problem. Despite consulting the latest Toyota literature, etc., the best they could do was reprogram the part of the fob that allowed it to act as a 'key'. In other words, they got it so I could stick it in the dash slot to start the car. They could NOT get the actual "Smart Key" functionality NOR the regular remote entry / lock functions to work. They stated it was simply NOT possible. They wanted to charge me $40 something for this and the metal key cutting; I said forget it, since I was promised that it would be 'no problem' and left.

Called out of town Toyota dealer. They chuckled at my previous experience, and told me the same thing "shouldn't be a problem, bring it in". I decided to have them try the OTHER key fob from ebay (remember, I purchased two) Well, my wife took the vehicle that time, and waited for close to two hours. They also had difficulty, but were able to 'reprogram everything' -- whatever that means. They got all 3 functions of the second used ebay fob (smart key, physical slot key, and remote lock / unlock) to work with my Prius.

I thought about it and was actually quite happy; I thought I would use the FIRST fob that was only partially programmed correctly as an emergency backup. The other would be put into regular use for my wife's use.

BUT, after my wife returned from the second dealership, the FIRST 'partially' reprogrammed key fob WOULDN'T WORK IN THE DASH SLOT ANYMORE! So I can only assume that when the second dealership said "we had to reprogram everything" that is exactly what they had to do....they basically reprogrammed the Prius! (and I'm guessing my original key and the second ebay key)

Again, I'm not very techy when it comes to the Prius. Perhaps someone else has a better explanation.

All I have to say is -- it IS possible to buy a silver logo Prius fob off ebay and get it reprogrammed to work with your car. The problem, I think, is finding a dealership that can do it. (If you live in Wisconsin, use Mark Motors in Plover!)

Mark

 

There is someone selling brand new, uncut SKS keys on eBay right now for $100. I am looking into this route and am also calling several local dealerships for an estimate of either programming and cutting that key - or - buying one through them right now. I will post the results of what I find.

Also, from doing a search of several dealerships on the net, I found that the best deal for a new key seems to be Metro Toyota in Cleveland. They have brand new, uncut SKS keys here for $150.00 http://www.metrotpn.com/ProductDetails.asp...mp;SortIndex=24. Since I am near Cleveland anyway, I may just end up buying it from them and letting them program it.

---edit

I just contacted Metro and they sell the keys online for $150.00. Having the key cut and programmed are at an additional cost of $44.00 plus tax. They also require you to prove ownership of the vehicle before they could cut the key. So, it looks like $200.00 total for a brand new key, which while expensive, is certainly less than what I have seen discussed on here before.