<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ May 3 2006, 04:47 PM) [snapback]249256[/snapback]</div> A co-worker just picked up his Prius over the weekend and that's what his sales person said. I was kind of hoping it was true since I have this fear that I will be out in the middle of nowhere and the battery in the key fob will die & I will have no way of getting in the car since there is no actual key.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chezypuffs @ May 3 2006, 01:53 PM) [snapback]249263[/snapback]</div> That's not true. There's a tiny key that's inside the fob. The ring itself is attached to that. Next to it is the lever to make it come out. If the battery in the fob dies, you can open the door with the key and stick the fob in the slot to start the Prius.
About running out of battery, don't worry about it. You can use the mechanical key to get in the car, then insert the fob into the slot to turn on the car. If you run out of battery while driving, a indicator will light up on the dash telling you the car does not sense the key. You can contiue to drive. Again, I don't believe charging the fob is true. The salesman can tell you anything to help them sale the car.
QUOTE: ."...and that's what his sales person said." Sales Persons' comments MUST be taken with more than a 'grain of salt.' The fob battery must be replaced when exhausted. It is a CR2032 button-type battery close to the size of a nickle and available at drug stores, Radio Shack, etc. - not hard to find. The battery is housed inside the fob beneath a cover and small-o-ring and only requires a tiny Phillips screwdriver to access. Mine is over 2 years old and working fine. Replacement instructions are to be found in the on pages 36-37 of my '04 Owner's Manual - should be about the same location in the '05 - '06 Manuals.
In case too few people have already said it to be believable, I'll add my voice: The fob uses a non-rechargeable battery. However, if the battery dies all you lose are the remote and SKS functions. The fob will still work if inserted in the slot, since it gets power (but not recharging) from the slot. You can always get into the car with the mechanical key hidden inside the fob. Smark folks, those Toyota engineers! Oh, yes: you can always buy a spare battery and a little screwdriver, and keep them in the glove box.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chezypuffs @ May 4 2006, 08:50 AM) [snapback]249708[/snapback]</div> It's to the right of the handle (on the driver's side at least). Do you have SKS? If so, it's to the right of the black button.
Howdy again, chezypuffs Can't see where anyone clarified the fact that a "conventional" key is included in your fob. The small ring is attached to it, and it can be removed from the fob by using the release slide atop the fob. Again: See pp 36-37 of the Owner's Manual for a diagram. The "conventional" key can be utilized to open the driver's side door if the fob battery has been exhausted, then inserting the fob into the dash slot permits the Prius to enable the Prius system and start the car. The "key slot" on the driver's side door is a conventional keyhole as illustrated on page 36.
Yeah, I've seen the mini key, just never noticed a key hole on the drivers door. Of course I never knew about the drawer under the cup holders til yesterday either. I will have to go down to the garage to investigate! :lol: Boy do I feel stupid! Sure enough, there's a key hole. For whatever reason I never noticed it! :lol:
