Keyless Security Hack (Prime not tested)

it's probably the same as the lift back.

 

If there is a will there is a way. Locks just keep honest people out.

 

This information is relevant to folks planning to not operate their vehicles for a while. I'm away from mine for three weeks and didn't realize this. Luckily there's another car and a big pile of pipes blocking the car in the driveway.
From the owner's manual (p. 283):

When the vehicle is not driven for extended periods
●To prevent theft of the vehicle, do not leave the electronic key within 6 ft. (2 m) of the vehicle.
●The smart key system can be deactivated in advance. (→P. 732) ​

 

I volunteer at MSP airport. This weekend a couple came to me for help because their battery was dead in their key fob. I don't know the type of car they had parked there, but they said that they couldn't start the car until they got a new battery in their fob.

Please tell me this isn't the case for the Prime!

 

Interesting, thanks

RE: Battery-save mode. I actually wouldn't mind AT ALL if I could turn off the keyless entry, and just go back to the "when approaching vehicle, simply press the UNLOCK key" routine I did for years with my old car.

But even if you put it in battery-save mode, the battery-save mode is immediately cancelled once you push any button again (like the "UNLOCK" button). And I don't think people are going to do the following routine every single time they leave their car: (a) lock the car (b) hold down one button (c) push the other button twice (d) make sure it flashes 4 times. Sheesh. Now for the spare key that I put in a drawer, I certainly put that one in battery save mode, but from what I understand (am I wrong?) there is no way to turn off the keyless part and keep it off (without having to do it each time) and still be able to manually press the UNLOCK button to get in your car -- because it seems pressing the UNLOCK button takes it out of battery-save mode.

 

In the Gen3 Prius, they could start the car by holding the fob next to the Power button while pressing that button. I don't have a Gen4 or Prime to compare, but it seems very unlikely that either would take a step backwards.

Did they say anything about doing this? It seems likely that many drivers either won't know about it, or will forget, especially when stressed.

On my 2012 Three, I can completely turn off SKS from the Display Audio menu, by going to 'SETUP | Vehicle | Key System with Elec. Key'. Units with different trim levels or Audio/Nav equipment may have somewhat different menu paths.

This ought to foil the described hack. The Lock / Unlock buttons still work.

But SKS is also what allows drivers to start the car without having to hold the fob up to the Power button. This issue will greatly reduced the popularity of turning SKS off.

 

Gee, I didn't know that. I have a gen 2 - does that work as well? Wait, never mind, I'm getting my Prime NEXT WEEK!

I didn't ask them that, but I did mention that my fob has a key inside. They insisted that wasn't the case for their car. Again, I don't know what kind of car it was, so don't know if there is a workaround for starting it without the fob battery.

 

my old bookkeeper had a chrysler that wouldn't start with a dead fob, and it had an ignition key.

 

The FOB for the Prime has a key inside for emergency use. Most FOBs are that way. So those people at the airport had a key but probably did not know it.

 

I know 3 other Prius owners that have a physical key in their Fob and none of them knew about it until I told them.

 

The key in the fob opens the driver door. That is its only use. Hold the fob on the Power button when starting the car with a dead fob battery.

 

For the Gen 2, I believe there is a slot below the power button for a dead fob to work.

 

Anyone know what model the battery is in the fob. I wouldn't mind getting a spare.

 

in the Gen3 i got a warning that the fob battery was low and i remember it took me at least 2-3 weeks before i replaced it with no issues. I'm assuming i'll get the same message in the Prime in a couple years ...

 

You can use the physical key inside the fob to open up the fob to get to the battery. Changing the battery takes about 10 seconds. If you take it to a Batteries Plus store, they'll probably change it for you.

 

I don't know what model battery is used in the Prime, but the one in the PiP was a common one that you could find at any store that sold button batteries. There is absolutely no reason to pay the dealer $$$ to change the fob battery.

Edit: CR2032

 

*sigh* RTFM



The rest of the process is in the manual too, starting on page 627