Driving the Prius without the Smart Key?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darinf @ Jun 6 2007, 07:32 PM) [snapback]456925[/snapback]</div>

Yes Darin, something similar but not so serious has happened to me. I do know that the car beeps when you leave the car with the smart key while it's still running. Try it. There is a beep but it's easy to ignore and also easy to not know what the beeping car is trying to tell you.

I have left my car at a parking lot in NYC with the smart key in my purse...you leave the car running for the attendant. He took the car (it was probably beeping inside but I didn't hear it because I was walking away). When I returned to get my car they charged me $35 for leaving with the key. Of course they couldn't move it until I gave them the key in my purse....and they wouldn't give the car back until I paid their extra fee. Ouch!

 

When the Prius loses track of the Smart Key while it's on, it'll beep and a yellow key icon will popup on the dash. I'm not sure if the American version has that icon, though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jun 6 2007, 04:49 PM) [snapback]456942[/snapback]</div>

Yes the American Version has the Key Icon. If you leave the car running then get back in the icon will be lit on the dash until the car decides you have the key.

 

It also chimes at you when you get out and leave it running. Three chimes to be exact, and it's the only time it uses that signal.

Tom

 

There's a loud beep and a fairly large warning light. I don't know how much more they can warn you.

You need to read your manual and familiarize yourself with the instrument display. If she missed the light she would have missed any warning light.

 

wow... that really stinx! i've always been in the habit of taking my keys anyways... so i HOPE that never happens to us!

YIKES!

 

WOW!!

I'm really not sure what to say.




I can't believe you let your wife drive your Prius!

 

This is one case where a really annoying beep (like the seatbelt beep) is called for.

 

This is a good reason to keep an extra fob hidden in the car (either a "dumb" fob or a "smart" fob without its battery). It would also come in handy if your fob were lost or stolen when you're away from your car.

 

The poor PRIUS does what it can, beeps 3 times when a door closes, has the yellow signal on the dashboard. What do you expect it to do? Start honking the horn and blink the lights? Or display on the MFD: Buthead the fob dummy, the fob!

And this is NOT a good reason to keep a key in the car – period – car thieves know every place that a key may be hidden.

The dashboard is not there for decoration, it serves a purpose, there are some very important indicators on it, and anything that is NOT GREEN OR IS BLINKING requires the driver’s attention.

And to qualify mi sign-on: The Key IS smart, Drivers (not all) are NOT.



P.S: darinf welcome to PC

 

If you get out of the car with it running, how are you supposed to see the yellow signal from outside the car? I for one would like to see the horn beep if you leave with the fob. The beeps can be hard to hear on a busy parking lot or noisy street.

If you leave the fob (wifes in purse) in the car it won't let you lock it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Jun 6 2007, 10:33 PM) [snapback]457079[/snapback]</div>

Its loud, it beeps so loudly that you can hear it outside the car.

 

the car will beep outside three times if you take the fob with you and leave the car running. and there is a long beep inside the car, with the yellow key signal.

you have to let the car stay on in this situation... what if the fob battery dies while you're on the highway? the car can't just screech to a halt on the road.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ Jun 7 2007, 08:19 AM) [snapback]457273[/snapback]</div>

By "annoying" I mean continuously beeping for at least 30 seconds,
like the freakish seatbelt beeps even though there's also a flashing
seatbelt sign already. Three beeps if you leave the car running with
the fob with you is pretty pathetic by comparison. And, of course, if
you're already outside the car you wouldn't be able to see the icon
on the dashboard, would you?

On a related note, there are times when I wish I could park the car,
put it in ACC mode, jump out to do a quick errand (like grab a newspaper)
and then get back in and hit Power and go. A truly "smart" system should
allow one to do that, i.e. if someone tries to drive off with the car while
you're outside with the fob they wouldn't be able to do it.

 

It would be nice if there was a user-programmable option that would automatically turn the Prius off once all smart keys were outside range, i.e., outside of the passenger compartment.

While I probably wouldn't use it, I can see it being useful for others.

 

It's happened to me, actually my boyfriend, but luckily he didn't get stranded. He dropped me off somewhere and I had the key in my handbag. He never noticed a beep or a light. Thankfully, he decided to go straight home -- he was thinking of going shopping first -- and didn't realize until he turned off the car that he didn't have the key.

I didn't notice the beep when I got out. He didn't notice it while he was driving it. I don't think there is a loud warning beep because neither of us noticed -- we ALWAYS notice when the seatbelt nags or we're in R!

 

I think it should scream endlessly in the local language with continuously rising tone and volume, "You're LEAVING MEEEEE!!!!!!"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Jun 7 2007, 11:43 AM) [snapback]457367[/snapback]</div>

Oh-- that's what it was. I thought it was my boyfriend! :lol: