I've checked the archives and have pieced together a lot of information about the security technology of the SS/SE system and I have a question I could not find there. Does the SS/SE system in any way decrease the likelihood that a thief would be able to hot-wire my car? I have read that without the key fob, the Prius' ECU will act as an engine immobilizer. But even if I have the SS/SE system, can't I still open and start my car with a standard metal key? Does that mean that all Prius packages (with and without the SS/SE system ) are equally difficult (impossible) to hot-wire?
You need the cooperation of the computer in the car to run it. You could hack the computer but hot wire in the conventional sense will not work. Everything I have read about this wonderful system says that unless the computer that runs the systems is on board and working for you the car is a door stop. The only hot wire would be to replace the computer with one you can activate.
The car can be opened with the metal key, but it requires the fob which uses RFID to start if you insert into the dash. Unless you can spoof the unique ID and possibly rolling code of one of the fobs that's programmed to work with your car, your chances of getting anywhere are slim to none. That, and with the non SE/SS car, the fob must be all the way into the slot as well, which, unless someone triggered the two switches inthe slot along with the spoofed ID, they're not going anywhere In a nutshell - the only way this car is leaving without you is if it's towed or if someone steals your key (or if a dealer/mechanic secretly programs an additional key while working on yours).
Ouch. I had not thought of the dealer of mechanic thing. A shady dealer or group or just a disgruntled employee. The risk would be small but it gives one pause. (also I love a good conspiracy theory, now if we can just weave; Elvis, the bay of pigs, and Sadam into it then it would be great!!)
My wife is always telling me that I leave the window cracked too far when it's hot outside. Her argument is that someone can reach in and unlock the car. I figured that no one would want to steal a Buick Regal. So my arguement of "there's nothing in the car to steal" was returned with this: "Someone can open the glove box and take a registration form with our address on it. Then they reach up and take the garage door opener. Before we're home, they've already been there, entered through the garage and made off with all the stuff in the house." That's what I get for falling in love with someone much smarter than I. (I thought of that stemming from the "duplicate key" theory and the thought that the dealer/mechanic would have your repair and billing information pointing them directly to your car's address)
Wow, that's clever thinking! Perhaps a little too clever... So, how much do you know about the past of this woman you've married? And how often do you receive gifts of big-screen TVs and furniture with change prepackaged in the cushions? :lol: Also, what about the GPS that are in the BCs? (They aren't in the non-navigation packages, are they?) Could they be used for tracking in some fashion, if not on their own, when a bluetooth-enabled phone got close and possibly reported the location? Brad
Similar to another thread on one of the yahoo boards recently regarding the NAV system. Alarmists caution against programing your home as "home" in the unit lest the unscrupulous dealer or service tech use it to drive to your house, use the Homelink to open your garage and possibly house doors, pack all your belongings into the hatch back, drive them to a convenient location for storage and then get back to the service department to deliver your car after its oil change. All while you patiently read the newspaper in the service dept. waiting room. I guess I'll take my chances. Matt [I love living on the wild side]
with an active enough imagination anything can happen.. . for the most part, a thief will have a very difficult time taking your car. it however, is not likely chained down (unless you havent paid your parking fees this month) so they can still tow it away. without the fob the car will not run. however, it still has some very valuable and as yet some very rare parts that will fetch good money (witness reports of people paying $5000 over sticker to own a Prius)
I can vouch for this! When I had the rental I once pulled my keys out of my pocket as I have done several times a day for years and put the remote starter fob in the slot. Fit JUST FINE as it is almost exactly the same size, but the car wouldn't start until I replaced it with the Prius fob. DOH!!
If they are open that much, why bother to lock the car at all, just leave the windows all the way down
I had a heck of a time one day, Bruce, when I accidently locked my keys in the car. It started out as a hot day and then threatened to rain. I ended up calling AAA to come and unlock my car so I could roll my windows up. Just in time too; a few minutes later it started raining.
Lol, Had the same thing happen years ago to my dad. He had just bought himself a new car when I was a teenager, and I was badgering him for a pair of keys (as kids will do). He finally caved and got me a set of keys made. The following week, he locked himself out of the car with the engine (and air conditioner) running on probably the hottest day of the year. I drove my old car down and opened it for him, and he thanked me by letting me drive the new car home while he drove my old beater back. Dads can be cool Dave.
rick, a person at work was telling me he might be able to hack the bluetooth and gain control off the computer through that. i told him to go ahead, i'd love to know if that actually would work i don't think it will, but it's interesting to think about none the less. in regards to the dealer programming an additional key paranoia. car dealers can do this already with regular keys. and the old way is a lot cheaper to copy. -drew
all they do is write down the key code on the invoice (their copy) and they have the ability to make a copy any time they want. We used to do this in the dealership I worked at to be able to repo the car without any hassel. Walk up unlock start up and drive to the tow truck a few blocks away, waiting with the sling down and ready to drive on hook up and roll.
Takes alot more than writing down the code w/ either Prius now unless the key has actually been programmed into the ECU. This requires: 1. The old key as an authenitcation mechanism. 2. The new key for the ECU to learn. As for bluetooth, I highly doubt it.
I'll see your doubt and multiply it by 1*e24. Breaking into the ECU via Bluetooth sounds like the kind of wacky scheme you'd see on Alias. I.e., smoke & mirrors & Marshall, but nothing behind the offhand tech references.
i worked for a high risk repo specialist and the average model of car only had 20-50 different possible keys anyway. a few hig end cars might have had 200 but there were also some cars (namely Ford Pickups) that only had a dozen different combos. (that is the reason why they used different keys for ignition and door to double the odds, but as you know the door was nothing to open. realize that we were penalized BIGTIME for damaging the vehicle so breaking stuff was out of the question) so that method is pretty much useless on the Prius. besides i was under the impression that the keycode was reprogrammed everytime the fob was removed. is that not right?
Just curious: how'd AAA open up the door? Was it one of those doodads they slide down the window to hook the lock?
