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HELP!! LOST KEY FOB-VEHICLE NOT PROGRAMMABLE

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by JENROMMEL, Dec 8, 2015.

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  1. JENROMMEL

    JENROMMEL Junior Member

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    I lost my key fob for my 2011 Prius (no spare), bought new ones off of the website replacemyremote. I called a few locksmiths and no luck. Towed the car into the dealership (waited 5hrs) they told me I needed a new ECU and my car was not responding to their programs. They said my car has gone into safety mode where no one can get through to the system, not even them being "Toyota". "This happens to prevent people from stealing the car." I said, "But I am at a Toyota Dealer, doesn't Toyota have a special code to by pass this safety feature?" They said, "NO, not even Toyota can help." So they want to charge me around $1800 for a new ECU, to be able to program the key fob. Is this ridiculous way of trying to get money from me or a real thing that happens to Prius owners? HELP!!!
     
    #1 JENROMMEL, Dec 8, 2015
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! i would call toyota and ask them if this is correct. if not, try another dealer, or auto locksmith. all the best.(y)
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 8, 2015
  3. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Unfortunately, this is real and its not just Prius owners. It's any car that has "smart" keys. The only other option for you would be to get a used ECU from a junkyard that has a working remote. You might try calling Steve at Autobeyours.com to see if he knows of a source for a used ECU with a working remote.
     
    #3 usnavystgc, Dec 8, 2015
  4. JENROMMEL

    JENROMMEL Junior Member

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    Spoke to Steve he was a very nice and understanding guy, but told me he specializes in Gen2 Prius. But gave the same advice to call a junk yard to find a ECU w/ remote.

    But my question is has anyone ever heard of a Prius not being able to be programmed because of a "Safety Feature" on the vehicle. And then a Toyota dealer not having an override code to by pass this safety feature.
     
    #4 JENROMMEL, Dec 8, 2015
  5. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Yes, this is the unfortunate aspect of new technology. If you lose all keys/remotes, the ECU needs replaced. Dealers have no override codes.

    Is there absolutely no chance of finding your old fob?
     
    #5 usnavystgc, Dec 8, 2015
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    On the Gen2 cars, I know you can reseed the car, delete all the old keys in memory and add a new one. I'm thinking it should be the same for the Gen3 cars. Toyota should know this!!
     
    #6 JC91006, Dec 8, 2015
  7. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Does this have more to do with you losing your original fob and replacing with new ones?
    When you bought the replacement fob(s) did they ever work? Did you do something to try to make them work? (Reprogramming attempts).

    I can understand Toyota putting safeguards into the system that would make it difficult or impossible for someone to buy a fob and easily get into a Prius or start the Prius.
    But I can't understand Toyota making those safeguards absolutely impossible to bypass.

    IMO you shouldn't have an otherwise perfectly good working ECU and no other option but to buy a new one, just because a communication problem between the ECU and the Fob has occurred.

    If The Toyota Dealership failed to get this set of fobs to synchronize with your new fobs, after 5 hours, what guarantee do you have that with replacement of the ECU the same problem won't manifest?

    I don't really have the answer here, I'm just curious what the answer becomes.
    I can understand a "safety mode". But it shouldn't be irreversible.
     
    #7 The Electric Me, Dec 8, 2015
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    This might help. Search it for "all keys are lost".
     

    Attached Files:

    #8 Mendel Leisk, Dec 8, 2015
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  9. JENROMMEL

    JENROMMEL Junior Member

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    No, purse was stolen with the fob inside, along with the rest of my life. I purchased two fobs from a known website who guarantees their remotes. I believe the Toyota dealer is trying to rip me off and telling me I need a new ECU in place of their incompetence to program the new fobs. So I have now ordered a new fob from a different dealership ($217) and had my vehicle towed there today, so we will see....
     
    #9 JENROMMEL, Dec 8, 2015
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all the best!(y)
     
    #10 bisco, Dec 8, 2015
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  11. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    What you have is called an "all keys lost" situation. There is a procedure that all Toyota dealers and many locksmiths can do called a "seed reset". After a seed reset, the first proper model keyfob can be registered, even if it is used.

    A rare situation is that your particular car has an unusual model keyfob. The most common model is ACX, but you could have any of at least a dozen others. A dealer should be able to look up the proper model using your vehicle ID.

    The Gen2 (2010+) Prius does not use a transponder, and does not have the black/silver logo types of keyfobs. But there are different models.
     
    #11 RobH, Dec 8, 2015
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  12. JENROMMEL

    JENROMMEL Junior Member

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    Lost my only fob I had, bought two off a website that guarantees their remotes, called two locksmiths to try and program them, no luck. Then towed vehicle to Toyota dealership where they couldn't get remotes to program. Claimed it needed a new ECU and that's why they weren't able to program remotes. Towed my vehicle back home, unplug battery for 72hrs, called the second locksmith who had more knowledge then the first, still no luck. Called a different dealership and ordered a remote/fob from them and towed vehicle there today, part comes in tomorrow. I hope I have better luck at this second dealership. :(
     
    #12 JENROMMEL, Dec 8, 2015
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  13. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    What did the second dealership say?
    Are they pretty confident they can get the new fob to work?

    Or did they mention the possibility of having to buy a whole new ECU?
     
    #13 The Electric Me, Dec 8, 2015
  14. JENROMMEL

    JENROMMEL Junior Member

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    I didn't mention anything about my whole ordeal to them. I wanted a fresh new opinion with no clouded judgment for the blame game. Whether it be the locksmith or the fobs I ordered off the internet. So I just simple told them lost all remotes and ordered one from them. So we will see what they say.....
     
    #14 JENROMMEL, Dec 8, 2015
  15. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Hope it works out.
    But you've now purchased two new fobs? One of the internet and now one through a dealership?

    Given the cost of an ECU I'd probably give it a shot. BUT at some point you don't want to be throwing good money after bad. Fob's aren't cheap themselves.

    Hopefully this works and then the issue is solved.
    I think I would of gone with full disclosure to the next dealership. If only to see if they agreed with the first dealerships diagnosis. If it's true that the ECU can go into an irreversible safety mode? Then you really don't want to waste any more time or money on solutions that aren't going to work. I would of been curious if you had told them your full experience what they had to say.

    But good luck, let us know how it plays out.
     
    #15 The Electric Me, Dec 8, 2015
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    3, i think.
     
    #16 bisco, Dec 8, 2015
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  17. JENROMMEL

    JENROMMEL Junior Member

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    YES! 3 key fobs- 2 off internet for $255 (with emergency keys included) and now 1 from the dealership $217, but all that doesn't add up to the $1800 they wanted to charge me for a New ECU. I'll be sure to update you all. Thanks for the advice!
     
    #17 JENROMMEL, Dec 8, 2015
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  18. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You can give them the other 2 to program, it should be done at no charge since they are already programming the 1 remote. It's all done together.....1 or 3....same thing.
     
    #18 JC91006, Dec 8, 2015
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  19. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    #19 usnavystgc, Dec 8, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2015
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  20. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    There were some threads by 3prongpaul, he did mention the possibility of reseeding when you lose all keys, ecu replacement not necessary. But this was done on a gen2, I'm just assuming the gen3's are the same.

    Art's automotive has on their website this service as well.
     
    #20 JC91006, Dec 8, 2015
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