breaking into a prius

Hey Starla, now you are down to one key and fob, and you are advised to get replacements made and programmed. If your last one gets lost, the car will need a new body ECU to run again, and this is even more expensive.

Everybody else, find a way to have the spare fob/key with you on those long trips, because there really isn't anything that tow truck drivers can do to help you.

DAS

 

Just a few points about the Prius key situation.

I took delivery of mine Tuesday, so I have not had it a week yet. While I am still learning all the details, I can tell you that Toyota sent me a plastic card that the dealer can cut a door key for you from, and the advice was to have that in your wallet so entry into the vehicle is possible.

Also, the new car manuals and paperwork had a tiny metal tag on the master car key loop. The manual instructs that this bit of metal with numbers on it be put into a safe place so that, if all chips are lost, Toyota can make you a new one without replacing any car components.

In addition, a Prius owner can have up to four sets of chips, a Prius owner up to five sets if s/he has Smart Key.

Some preventive steps surely seem to be in order for us all to avoid that fate.

One thing that does NOT work that well in my book is the hide a door key in the magnet tiny box holder bit. People find those things in my experience.

 

I never got one of those Plastic key card things when I got my Prius.
Do you think if I went to the dealer they would be able to order one for me?
If I do get one of these keys, Im going to have another Smart Key made for me. Then Im going to take the battery out of it, and put the Smart Key and the Battery in the trunk below the spare tire. So, if im ever locked out, I can use the plastic key, get into the car, open the trunk, get down to the spare tire, and put the battery in the Smart Key and it will work.
You wouldn't be able to keep the battery in the Smart Key because the car would see it as "Inside" the car and wouldn't let you lock it.

 

If you take your key out of the fob and bring it to any hard ware store they can make a metal replica for under $2. I made a "sawed off" version of this by cutting off most of the tab. I keep this in my wallet along with my 'mad money'. The I wrapped my other fob in thick aluminum foil and hid it *inside* the car. I feel this is the best solution short of paying for another fob for problems like yours. I never got the plastic key maybe I could have saved the $2.

 

:clap:
Starla, that was a great story -- highly entertaining!

Thanks for taking the time to post it.

 

Yikes, what a day you had! I'm going to find my little metal tag and keep the number in my wallet (if I get robbed they'll think it's my PIN), not that it would have helped in a situation like that.

That tow truck was amazing. Could it be used as a flatbed? I thought that our cars could only be towed safely on flatbed trucks?

FYI, AAA members can get one of those credit card type keys made for free (or at least it used to be free several years ago).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(starla30\";p=\"63944)</div>

OMG! I'll bet the Marco folks really appreciate that. :lol:

 

The thing about the plastic key is that it is "metal detector friendly". Other than that, it has no qualities over a metal key cut to match.

I still have yet to get the plastic key cut, Toyota says it is a "credit card" key that will not start the engine, merely get you into the car.

The game plan of getting the extra key fob (chipset) and putting it into a rear compartment covered in thick foil or battery out with screwdriver ready to install as a kit is a worthy combination.

I do not take my key fob out of my pocket when I am by myself but I do when I have passengers and I am unlocking the doors for all.

On long time for distance trips with friends in my vehicle, I typically give the trusted friend my extra key, just in case I lose mine. And if I don't trust my friends well enough to do that, I am not going to go on a trip with them any distance anyway.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ammiels\";p=\"63920)</div>

I put some tape on the bat in the fob.. then hid it.. small, out of the way.. and will be lost in all the junk in the car..

I have thought about getting another fob.. but at 200-250+ ouch... wish there was a cheaper source, like the Prius Classic..

I have a cut key I carry to get me in...

later

 

I don't think they can give you a new fob with the keycode, but after finding out that the fob transponder code is fixed (not rolling), they could very well provide a replacement. It seems the remote door lock function is the only thing that's rolling code.

I think it's the transponder ECU, not the body ECU that needs replacing. SKS ECU may be another.

I had someone contracting for Roadside assistance change a tire for me just before Christmas. The subject of opening the car came up. The difficulty is that the car auto-locks.

 

This is old news to most but I think it is worth saying here:

The key alone (metal or plastic) will not allow you to start
the Prius.

It's only function is to unlock the door.

The only way to operate the Prius is with a Fob, with or without a battery.

Protect your Fob or know where to find a spare.

Robert

 

Rather than take the fob out of my pocket, I do the courteous act of opening the front passenger's door, which, of course. unlocks all the doors. You could, of course, open the driver's door first and quickly hit the 'unlock all' button on the inside of the door.

 

if you walk up to the hatch just touch the latch for about 1 second that will unlock all the doors or if by the front passenger door just touch the latch and it'll also unlock all the doors.

 

The Smart Key System can be programmed to open all doors when you open the driver's door. I remember that there are three possible settings for unlocking the car with the SKS. It's fully explained in the manual.

 

This is correct. The key code on the metal tag only allows them to cut a mechanical key for opening the door.

This is news to me. For a year I've been reading that it's a rolling code. Where did the new info come from, Dan?

While leaving the spare fob in the car without the battery would work, note that if someone did get in by breaking a window, and found the spare, they could drive the car even without a battery in the fob. Only the SKS and remote functions require the battery. Inserted in the slot, a fob without a battery will allow the car to run.

 

Someone else had mentioned it for the remote start thread. At least the passive transponder is probably fixed code, as there is no substantial power from the fob to produce a code when it's in the slot (it will work without the fob battery). That would not be able to do active calculations to produce a new code and store it.
Rolling code is only explicitly mentioned for wireless remote door lock in new car features. Not mentioned for SKS, both which require power from fob batteries.

I admit it's not proof positive, but on careful consideration, makes sense to me.

 

How expensive is the "plain" fob? A plastic key in the wallet, coupled with a well-hidden plain fob, would get you out of a jam, and not break the bank so much as the programmable fob.