Toyota-issued plastic emergency door key

I got the plastic key with the delivery paperwork when I picked up my AM-7 on October 25. I was cautioned that it's probably only a "use once and carefully" item.

After due deliberation (procrastination?), I went to the dealer and had them make me a key. It's made from a standard Toyota blank with a smooth, oblong-shaped black plastic top and raised Toyota logo.

Cost me $ 11.50.

There is a little "Key Hut" in a nearby shopping center that makes auto keys for as little as $ 5.00. I'm sure you could find such a place near where you live.

My next challenge is to figure out where on the car to put the Hide-a-Key box so that my wife or I can:

1. Easily reach it

2. Remember where I put it.


Bob

 

Got this a few weeks ago, just before getting my keychain.

Having SS/SE, it's fairly pointless to have them make it, plus I forgot to last time I was at the dealer. Oh well.

-m.

 

I never got the plastic key, and I've had my Prius a bit over 2 months. But what's the point??? There's a real key in the fob. And apparently the car won't let you lock the fob inside. And the car won't start without the fob, even though the key will let you in.

 

I never got the plastic key either. Did it come from Toyota America, regional, or your local dealership? I've seen these before, and I think they should be available at most places that cut keys. They fit in wallets better than most keys, but, from those I saw, should only be used once or twice, and very carefully. I think they can usually cut 2 keys in a credit card sized blank; home and car, or car and car.

 

My plastic key came in the mail from Toyota National, postmarked 10 days after my purchase.

The Envelope said "The 'key' to your satisfaction is enclosed".

In addition to the plastic wallet-key blank, there was a flyer explaining that I got a free web page at www.myToyotaPage.com

The card with the key attached was imprinted with my Dealer's Logo/Address, so it was probably done by National on behalf of the dealer as part of a standard campaign. It may be that if they charge the dealer for doing it and if the dealer doesn't sign up you won't get one (speculation on my part).

The Flyer with the Plastic Key said a number of things:

"Thank you for taking delivery of your new Toyota..... Your satisfaction is our #1 Blah Blah..... Please contact us if you have any concerns...."

Then, the real meat of it.

"In a few days you may recieve a survey..." (which we all know is the dealer satisfaction survey. The dealer REALLY wants you to give them perfect marks on this.

"As a token of our appreciation, we have enclosed a gift.... please stop by our parts or service department and we will cut the key for you free of charge"

 

I got the famous plastic card-key from Toyota in the mail last week, but I noticed on the card there was a caveat for the Prius. Something about it won't work in the ignition anyway...

Isn't the metal/plastic key worthless, except to get you in the door, and maybe set off the alarm system?

If the battery in the key remote dies (with remote only, no smart-entry/smart-start), aren't I stuck?

Or am I missing something?

Jay

 

Just a reminder to folks that don't have smart start/smart entry like me - you CAN lock your key in the car if it is not in the ignition. The car is smart enough to know that the key is in the ignition and will not lock the door, but if you took it out and left it on the seat, in your purse, dropped onto the floor, you can get locked out when you press the lock button on the door.

 

Oh, I didn't know the fob would work in the ignition without any power in the fob battery.

Rockluvr,
I didn't think about using the lock button on the door.

That all makes a lot more more sense now.

Thanks!

 

I had a spare key made at a local hardware store for about $1.75.

It used a regular Toyota blank.