lost keys..need help

You just need to ask them to do a re seed and buy a new key. That's maybe 2 hours labor max plus the new key. You can even give them a used key from eBay and have them re seed.

 

call toyota customer service, and politely ask for a 2 month extension. all the best!

 

Dealer sounds incompetent. How do you go from losing keys to needing an ecu? Unless they damaged it

 

+1...they're trying to hose you. Run away.

 

Well, in the dealer's defense, that is the only Toyota-documented way to recover from losing all registered keys: install a new immobilizer ECU that has no keys registered, leave IG-ON without trying to start for half an hour while the new immobilizer handshakes with the old HV ECU, and then it will be like Titania and fall in love with the first key you show it.

The practice of reflashing the old immobilizer to get it back to the nothing-registered state is not anything Toyota documented for this generation of Prius, though there may be third-party services that will do it for you if you send them the ECU and enough proof that you own the car it's going into.

You can see the problem if they made the process a lot easier than that, right?

-Chap

 

You have no choice on GOOD, pick one:

• FAST - write a check to Toyota
• CHEAP - find a salvage immobilizer and key

This is one of the few places where a salvage part might be found.

Bob Wilson

 

You don't have ANY keys? Not even a key that opens the door lock? You may be looking at some higher costs because you'll need to replace the mechanical locks or pay someone to cut a key for that lock. Note that the trunk lock is likely NOT the same as the rest of the locks. Looks like you have to get a junked immobilizer ECU with all of the lock cylinders (left door, right door, trunk, ignition) AND the transponder key that works with the ECU electronically and the locks mechanically. Make sure you get an ECU and locks that come with the MASTER key! Master key should open all locks (including trunk), should start the car, and should be recognized by ECU as master to allow you to program additional keys. The last point is VERY important! Do not just get some valet key, unless the price difference is huge since it will make for more costs later on. Once you have a master key like that, additional keys cost only about $15. Just buy a compatible chip key on eBay for $10-15 and get it cut at Lowes or Home Depot for a dollar or two using the master key as the original. Then just follow programming instructions. Can't do that with a valet key.

Unfortunately, this really is a case where an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.

Toyota said the same thing to me when I wanted a key and I even had a valet key. First they said they'd do it for under $100, but then they said key wasn't programming. Only master keys can add new keys. So then they wanted $1,000. If you did have a valet key, you could always get a copy from Lowes or Home Depot for under $100 just in case you get robbed or lose a key.

 

Contact a few local locksmiths. Tell them that you need your immobilizer reflashed and new keys. If a particular locksmith doesn't know how to do it, he probably knows another locksmith who does. Check out how expensive it is to replace the mechanical key lock cylinders, as opposed to having a locksmith pick the existing locks.

Another procedure is to purchase a used matched key/immobilizer from a wrecking yard. If they still have the donor vehicle, you may even be able to get the matching lock cylinders.

The seed reset procedure is used with 2004+ Prius - it does not apply to Gen1.

 

Gen1 you're hosed when you lose all keys....way more hosed than Gen2 or Gen3 which can be reset with software tools.

Making key turn in door and ignition is easy, have dealer cut "plain silver door key" by code/vin. Buy chip key "Toyota 4C" on Ebay and have hardware store copy pattern from silver key to chip key, or talk to refresh service.

You either need matched key/ignition cylinder/immobilzer ECU from salvage car or remove the immobilizer (PITA to get to) and have it reflashed to virgin state by someone capable of doing it.

I've never used these guys but someone like them is who you need:
E-Z Key Locksmith, inc. Immobilizer Reset Services
or Toyota Lexas Honda Reflashing Chip Keys Reflash Service ECU ICU Immobilizer Key | eBay

Here's an article from Arts automotive about replacing with new parts;
1st Gen Prius Immobilizer Lost All RFID Keys

 

This is surprisingly common in the Prius, something to do with the abrupt power surge when the first bulb burns out, intermodulating with the strong fields of the electric drive and Earth's own magnetic field. If you had been in the southern hemisphere, it would have burned out all the buttons on the left side. It's technical, but because giant batteries, basically.

You should ask the dealer why they didn't lay electromagnetic vortex shielding over the instrument panel before taking it out. (And also whether they managed to get the center finish panel off without breaking it.)

-Chap

 

did i miss something? what happened to the edu and keys?

 

That's what I was thinking. If you brought me a Gen I and asked me to fix the lights behind the A/C, radio, etc. buttons, I'd quote you for the whole trim piece. There is a 1% I'll be able to remove it without it shattering into pieces.

Avi

 

SUCKS! my wife got only one key when she got hers second hand.. it is a gen 1 and so if we lose that one this is going to BLOW!

 

So before you lose it, make a copy.

As long as the one she got is a master, you can use it to program up to two more keys to start the car. Buy the blanks for about $17 on eBay, have them physically cut at the neighborhood hardware store, follow the steps in the service manual to register them with the car. Done. Stick one in a safe place.

Bit more trouble if the only one she got was a sub ... then it can't be used to register other keys. You can tell if it's master or sub by sticking it into the ignition and watching the red security LED next to the audio system. If it's a sub, you can't register new keys in the usual way, but you can still spend a bit more on a clonable key blank, and have a key made that's an exact clone of the one you've got.

There are about 462 threads in this forum that cover all the details, if you have a few minutes to search.

In the manual you can also find the programming steps for "UN-register all keys except this one" - which is never a bad idea after buying a car second-hand.

-Chap

 

The valet (sub) is gray in color while masters are black. Also, the valet keys will not open the trunk.

Avi

 

you guys RULE! I will look into this!

Thank you!