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How to add SKS to the hatch and passenger door on a 1 door SKS Gen III Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by BrettS, Feb 23, 2011.

  1. BrettS

    BrettS Active Member

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    I sent you a PM with my email address or you can post a message here... What's wrong?

    Brett
     
  2. SILVEREAGLE

    SILVEREAGLE New Member

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    Brett I bought all the goodies from parts.com to do the sks to my pass door and rear hatch. I have a 2011 Prius III and I'm 66 years old and I didn't feel comfortable installing the stuff so a had a local repair shop do the work. It took them 2days and $650.00 to do the work. Brett the problem is that they never could get the rear hatch to lock or unlock by just touching the handle. The pass door works great. Its like it has no power. Did anybody else have a problem with the rear hatch??It does lock and unlock with the key fob.
     
  3. BrettS

    BrettS Active Member

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    That's a new problem for me, but I have a couple of thoughts about where the problem is. I need you to try a few things to see if we can narrow it down.

    First, lock the car and make sure you can't open the hatch. Then touch the driver's or passenger's handle so the doors unlock. Then, go to the back of the car and see if the hatch is unlocked.

    If the hatch is unlocked then lock the car again and verify that you can't open the hatch. This time, leave your key fob near the driver's or passenger's door handle... Just drape your keychain over the handle or set the fob on the handle, but be careful not to touch the handle and unlock the doors while you do this. Once the fob is near the handle, walk around to the back of the car and try to open the hatch and see if it unlocks and opens now.

    Let me know what happens when you try those and we'll see if we can figure this out.

    Brett
     
  4. BrettS

    BrettS Active Member

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    I saw the message you posted on my profile about taking it to the dealer as well... That's certainly up to you, but I'm not sure if they'll be of much help as this is really a work around to get this working and not a Toyota authorized install. If you have a friendly dealer they may be willing to work on it with you, but I imagine they would charge for it. If you try the tests I suggested above and let me know how it goes we should be able to work out whether it's a bad component, and if so, which one.
     
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  5. SILVEREAGLE

    SILVEREAGLE New Member

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    Hi Brett I went out in the parking lot where I work and tried the test you wanted me to try. I did it on both handles and the hatch opened that beep never sounded so good they everybody was watching a old man dancing around the parking lot it looked sick. Brett now what??????????????????
     
  6. BrettS

    BrettS Active Member

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    OK, so if the hatch did unlock and open when your fob was near one of the front door handles, then it sounds like the rear antenna isn't working.

    This is a bit simplified, but you can think of the SKS system working by having an antenna near each door that only has a range of a few feet. If the antenna detects the keyfob when you press one of the unlock buttons, then it will beep and unlock the doors. If it doesn't detect the keyfob, then pressing the button does nothing and the doors don't unlock.

    It sounds like the switches on your rear hatch are working because you can put your fob near the antenna in the front door and unlock your hatch, but the antenna in the rear isn't working, so that's what your shop needs to check out.

    Have them make sure that all of the wiring for the rear antenna is correct and good, and assuming that is the case, then it's possible that the rear antenna is just bad and needs to be replaced.

    Feel free to give the shop my email address and I'd be happy to help them if they have any further questions.

    Good luck,
    Brett
     
  7. Don3755

    Don3755 New Member

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    Hey Brett,

    I am not that interested in the hatch, especially since that seems to be the bulk of the work. You had said something in your summary about connecting three antennas where the factory only had one. I saw where you added an antenna to the rear bumper but I didn't see one for the passenger door, unless it is integrated into the door handle along with the two sensors that lock and unlock the doors. In other words, what do I need to do different if I skip all of the rear hatch hardware and wiring and just install the passenger side door handle?
     
  8. BrettS

    BrettS Active Member

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    The rear hatch does add a bit of work, but to be honest, I also think the rear hatch is the most useful... Personally I think I approach the hatch first to load or unload something much more often than I approach the passenger door first. If you're going to go the trouble of doing this, then I suggest doing the hatch too.

    That said, it is certainly possible to do only the passenger door. The antenna for the door is integrated in the handle, so that and the wiring harness are all you need.

    Good luck,
    Brett
     
  9. Don3755

    Don3755 New Member

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    Thanks Brett,

    But back to the wiring connections, I presume that the five white wires with colored dots from the passenger door handle will just get connected color for color with the wires going into the certification ECU? I guess I am wondering about paralleling the second antenna, and wondering how that might affect the impedance and therefore the range? Or would it be better to put it in series by cutting either the green or red and putting the two white wires with red and green dots in series? I don't have enough experience or knowledge of antenna systems to know which is better.
     
  10. BrettS

    BrettS Active Member

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    This is correct.

    To be honest, this is above my head as well. At one point pEEf, who was helping with some of this, suggested that it was safer to have the antennas connected in series, so I may lean toward a series connection. I will say that at one point during my testing I did connect two antennas in parallel and didn't have any problems, however they were only connected that way for 20 or 30 minutes, so I can't say for sure if there wouldn't have any long term effects.

    Brett
     
  11. BrettS

    BrettS Active Member

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    Don, you may also want to send a PM to priusito_de_mi_vida, unless he just happens to come by and see this. He did this mod without doing the rear hatch several months ago and you can read back a few pages to see some of his posts. I also suggested connecting the antennas in series to him, but I'm not sure how he actually would up doing it. He may have some insight for you.
     
  12. Bruzer

    Bruzer New Member

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    BrettS- Thank you so much for sharing this mod, and to others for your input to this forum. Traveling for a living and often leaving my fob in my suitcase instead of my jacket so it doesnt fall out, this is the one feature that I wanted from the four package, especially the trunk SKS. I however wasnt going to pay $2500 more for that package. About to order the parts but just wanted some guidance before I drop $350 or so. I have done quite a bit of wiring so I dont think I will have a problem there. My question is with popping trim peices. Do you feel that a trim removal kit will be needed or is this relitively easy without a kit. I figure a small screwdriver will be fine for the smaller peices but how about the larger ones. As far as pulling down the headliner to access the trunk latch harness, does it just pull out or would a tool be required to remove the clips that hold it up. Thanks for any help.
     
  13. BrettS

    BrettS Active Member

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    Well, I did it all without any trim tools and I'm sure you can too:). Most of the pieces were easy enough to pull off by hand. The headliner might be a bit easier with a tool, but even that I was able to remove without too much trouble.

    Good luck
     
  14. Bruzer

    Bruzer New Member

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    Thank you for the quick reply! Potentially damaging the trim was the really the only thing with this mod was the only thing I was apprehensive of (the door harness sounds "fun" too). Gonna place the order and give it a shot. Ill keep you all posted.
     
  15. krazypriuslady

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    Brett, when are you coming up to the DC area?
    :)
     
  16. Bruzer

    Bruzer New Member

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    Just Finished the mod and just have to say that, Brett, I hope you write tech manuals, or do something with modifications and make a lot doing it because this mod is great. I feel like I owe you money or a beer or something. A few notes:


    I Do notice the range decrease but really shouldnt be a factor. as long as the fob is on your person and not 3 or more feet away in a bag or such. Didnt notice the long lag from locking to door to being able to reopen it that some have mentioned, maybe the usual 2 seconds like it was before the mod.


    About doing the mod itself:


    1) was dreading the harness installation based on what Brett and others have said but I must have been lucky, it went from the package to installed and clipped in the door in about 5 min (yes, I got it around the window frame and lock mech and I triple checked the window to make sure it still goes up and down). Perhaps they are making them less rigid.


    2) You may want to invest in a deep number 10 socket for the 4 nuts to remove the trim peice that houses the trunk latch button. the 2 middle ones need it. I managed to remove and re tighten them with a number 10 open ended wrench, but it was a real pita.



    3)The weather seal around the trunk that you need to remove to access under the headliner and to pull out the bumper to intall the trunk antenna is lined with some very nasty dark grease that gets everywhere. be very careful not to let this touch the carpeted area of the trunk/headliner or you will be investing in some goo gone.

    4)when tighening the nuts that hold on the trunk antenna be very carful not to drop them. If you do drop them, youre either completely removing the bumper or taking another trip to Lowes. I did the latter.


    5) Take your time with the wiretapping when you get up front. Brett layed it out perfectly but definitely do not rush. After an hour and a half of trying to figure out why the hell my car kept locking all doors every 3 seconds i realized i tapped a wrong wire. Its was the green dotted wire, in my case it went into the loom right next to another green dotted wire and I tapped the wrong one. Cross reference the pin numbers in the guide and triple check your work here.

    Speaking of tapping and connecting these wires posi-taps and posi-locks work outstanding. they are pricey but make short work of the wire tapping and connecting wire. I was able to order mine at www dot chromeglow dot com (<--sorry, I dont have enough posts to posts URLs) out of Coral Springs FL. The actual posilock website makes you order no less than 45 at a time. You will only need 14.


    A great mod, thank you so much Brett and all else who added to this post. If youre even marginally decent with digging into your car and you follow the guide, you should have no problem with this mod. Good luck!
     
  17. eric1234

    eric1234 Active Member

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    This looks GREAT!! I have one question: Would there be any concern or issue if I were to decide to do only the hatch, and not the passenger door??

    Many Thanks,
    Eric
     
  18. abalosa

    abalosa Junior Member

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    Is your car color the Blizzard White (some call it pearl white)? I can't seem to find a distinction in handle colors between the basic white and the Blizzard white.
    Thanks.
     
  19. IMkenNY

    IMkenNY Im just being nosy

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    I installed the rear hatch SKS today and it works perfectly! (I passed on the passenger door) Thank you BrettS for the write up!
     
  20. Franknbeans

    Franknbeans Junior Member

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    I know this is a little older thread, but is it possible to change out the SKS ECU so that it is the one actually designated for 3 door SKS?