This same exact question was asked in another thread not too long ago. The general consensus was that you should bury it in the sand somewhere, but don't forget to mark it with a flag that says "key for nearby 2010 Prius."
I used to bury my clothes at the beach when I was a kid and sometimes my jacket to avoid paying night club club cloakroom fees. For some reason I would most often be unable to locate them in the sand/soil even an hour or so later. This would also explain why I would find a lot of watches and metallic personal possessions when I used to comb the beach with my metal detector - again when I was a kid.
My dad once found a pair of jeans with $10 and change in the pocket with his metal detector on the beach. It was late in the evening and no one else was around. The jeans fit my sister and I'm sure dad kept the $10 I was scuba diving in a local lake, I got out after a dive and couldn't find my keys...I pulled down the top of my wetsuit and I had stuck them in there, apparently while walking around before the dive, and forgot about them and dove to 60' or so with my Jeep electric opener fob. I took it apart, laid it in the sun for a little while and *poof* all better. It still works 10 years later. Not to say I'll try this if (WHEN) I get my Prius, but water*pressure wasn't the end of that fob. I wouldn't try it while diving, but just going in the water, could you get away with a small waterproof box tucked somewhere in your wetsuit? Robbin
When I run road races and don't want my keys with me while I run I put them inside my wheel well from under the car. If I'm in a "seedy" area and want to make sure nobody is watching I tie my shoe by the side of my car and then slip them around the tire and into the wheel well while I'm down there.
That, to me, is waaay too risky. Isn't there a spot inside the car where the fob cannot be sensed by the fob sensor? Then, I'd just take the little spare(emergency?)key off and have that in my wetsuit pocket.
Have you ever tried something like this? Keypod car key safe You can attach it to the tow hook usually. I don't know how it would work with the fob sensor, but given that the key would be outside the car maybe it would work. Or, maybe there is a way to temporarily disable the fob sensor when you want to go surfing?
I'm pretty sure you can't unlock the doors without a key if the car is locked with the fob inside. I know for sure you can't if the car is on.
I wonder if the metallic bags they provide with toll transponders will prevent the fob signal from activating the car the way they keep the transponder from registering on the toll booth sensor? That way you can pop it in the bag and into the console and take your key. If that doesn't work maybe a metallic box. Might be worth looking into.
Okay, I just tried this one and it works great. Pop the hood, put the fob, (with little key removed), on the oil fill cap area, close the hood, lock the car with the little key, take little key with you, problem solved. Fob is not close enough to activate doors and you can't open the hood without getting in the car. Mike
Awesome! That's a good one! This morning I ended up popping the battery out of the fob and left it in the car, only taking the key into the water. This worked just fine but I think your method is better because taking out the battery can be a hassle( I dropped the battery between the seat and the center console). Thanks.
Okay, even better than the last one !!! Take out little key, put fob in the car, lock car with little key, voil'a, doors won't open even with the fob inside. No need to remove the fobs' battery even. Unlock with little key to get back in. Thought of it yesterday but for whatever reason, didn't try it. Tried it today though, works great. Mike
Well, yes but... That leaves the Power button unlocked even if the door is locked. If someone gets past the door lock (brick through a window will do), then they've got the ability to start the car and drive it away. And the alarm system, if any, is probably disabled. If you remove the battery from the keyfob, then at least the crook has to find the keyfob and know what to do with it. Mind you that mechanical key for the 2010 is a lot more secure than the Gen2 version.
It may sound slightly weird, but it may work. You should try wrapping the key fob in tin foil and leave it in the car. It may be enough to prevent it from communicating with the car. At least, this is what I-Pass and EZ-Pass recommend when shipping a transponder.
I tried leaving the fob in an Altoids tin can but that didn't work. I'll try tin foil, though. Thanks.
