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Keyless entry not working

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Starcheckered, Sep 9, 2013.

  1. Starcheckered

    Starcheckered Junior Member

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    Hi all,

    My keyless entry has stopped working. I did a lot of digging before posting, but nothing seems to apply to me. The keyless entry does not work, but I can open the doors with the key embedded inside (taken out) and then the car will start just fine with the fob inside.

    The red light is fine, so the fob battery isn't dying. I replaced it anyway, and no luck.

    I ran the check in maintenance mode on my 12v battery, and it's running just fine too.

    I've seen mentioned that it can be turned off by accidentally pressing a button on the side left of the dash, but I don't have that button. Just a blank square where that button is supposed to be, so it can't be that.

    I have an appointment at Toyota later this week but they're estimating $60 just to look at it, so if I can figure out what it is before then, that would be great.

    The car is a 2008. I only have one fob so I can't test it with another, and I've had the same fob the entire time I've had the car (3 years). It just stopped working yesterday out of the blue. The fob didn't get wet or anything, not like that matters (I don't think).

    Any ideas or trouble shooting?

    Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 Starcheckered, Sep 9, 2013
  2. BFAyer

    BFAyer Junior Member

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    The button is under the steering wheel.

    Most people don't know it even exists. If you have a 2008 with smart key you have the button.
     
    #2 BFAyer, Sep 9, 2013
  3. Starcheckered

    Starcheckered Junior Member

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    I really don't have it. That's where it should be, right?
     

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    #3 Starcheckered, Sep 9, 2013
  4. Starcheckered

    Starcheckered Junior Member

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    I really don't think I have it. See below.
     
    #4 Starcheckered, Sep 9, 2013
  5. BFAyer

    BFAyer Junior Member

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    No. Under the steering wheel. Above the brake pedal.


    I don't think that is your issue however. Can you start the car without putting the key in the slot?
     
    #5 BFAyer, Sep 9, 2013
  6. Starcheckered

    Starcheckered Junior Member

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    My car has never turned on if the fob isn't inside the ignition. Is there a way to make that work?

    This is what's under the steering wheel. I really don't think I have this button hahaha
     

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    #6 Starcheckered, Sep 9, 2013
  7. BFAyer

    BFAyer Junior Member

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    Well then I can't help, because all 2008s with smart key have the button.
     
    #7 BFAyer, Sep 9, 2013
  8. Starcheckered

    Starcheckered Junior Member

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    I guess
    I guess I don't have the smart key then, just a regular keyless entry type key?
     
    #8 Starcheckered, Sep 9, 2013
  9. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    If you have an 08 and it is a model 2 or higher you have sks and you have a button/ switch below the steering column. If you don't see it, pay the $60 for a Toyota tech to show it to you.....
     
    #9 Munpot42, Sep 9, 2013
  10. Starcheckered

    Starcheckered Junior Member

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    I must not have a smart key. I didn't know there was more then one type of keyless entry fob key for the Prius.
     
    #10 Starcheckered, Sep 9, 2013
  11. willsst

    willsst Junior Member

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    Did you get this issue resolved? I'm having the same problem but mine is a 2005 with the button. I've tried it with and without it pressed and nothing seems to work. I continue to make it work using the manual entry key and then the fob in the dash.
     
    #11 willsst, Jul 15, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2015
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have you checked the battery voltage? 12 volt health? do you have a second fob?
     
    #12 bisco, Jul 15, 2015
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    did it ever work while in your ownership?
     
    #13 JC91006, Jul 15, 2015
  14. willsst

    willsst Junior Member

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    Yes, I purchased the car used and it worked for 6+ months. Then it started to behave as if the battery was going dead, it wouldn't open/lock the doors with a single push, I'd try again and it worked. Eventually this stopped all together so I replaced the battery.

    I do have a second FOB, which doesn't work either. Admittedly, I didn't put a new battery in that FOB when I pulled it out of the drawer.
     
    #14 willsst, Jul 15, 2015
  15. willsst

    willsst Junior Member

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    I explored the issue by hooking up to another vehicle through the jump-starting method.
     
    #15 willsst, Jul 15, 2015
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It sounds to me you have 2 bad batteries. Go to a reputable shop and get fresh batteries
     
    #16 JC91006, Jul 15, 2015
  17. willsst

    willsst Junior Member

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    We're talking about the batteries in the key fobs, correct? Is there one brand that's better than another, I believe the one I replaced I did so with an Energizer.

    In reviewing other posts on this issue, I read someone found a battery to be too strong. Is this a real concern or unfounded theory?
     
    #17 willsst, Jul 15, 2015
  18. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Yes FOB battery. There have been multiple people having trouble even after new batteries. Apparently the batteries are not fresh. I suggest you go and buy them from a different store.

    You can also try and put the new "energizer" battery into the fob that's been sitting around.....swap batteries and try.
     
    #18 JC91006, Jul 15, 2015
    willsst likes this.
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    best to have a cheap multimeter you can test batteries with, ten bucks of 'worth it'. and no, the correct battery cannot be too strong.
     
    #19 bisco, Jul 15, 2015
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