Smart Key Issue...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RMPLE @ Sep 20 2006, 03:55 PM) [snapback]322512[/snapback]</div>

I think the only way to do it would be to buy another fob for your wife that's a "dumb" key instead of a smart key (it would have a black logo on the back of the fob instead of silver). You can probably get around 25% off of list price by ordering through metrotpn.com or conicelli's parts website, but you'd have to have it programmed at a local dealer. Do call around for the programming charge, because it can run anywhere from $35 to $200 just for the programming. The best thing would be to go to the cheapest dealer for programming, and see if he'll match the internet price you get so you can get the fob and the programming at the same time. Cutting a new little key should only be a couple of dollars extra, and you can actually take it to any key place to get that done.

BTW I don't see how your wife can forget to turn it off...the thing give a long, audible beep if you leave the car on with the fob in your purse (although if she weren't feeling well, she probably wasn't as attentive). Does she push the "park" button instead of pushing the power button? If you just power down, it puts it into park automatically. Maybe that's a habit she could get into.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mcbrunnhilde @ Sep 20 2006, 07:37 PM) [snapback]322531[/snapback]</div>

I would almost think the same thing...except there are so many beeps with the Prius....back-up beeps, seat belt beeps, unlock/lock beeps...maybe she's just tuned them out....

terri

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Sep 20 2006, 07:47 PM) [snapback]322539[/snapback]</div>

You can disable the seat belt beeps as well as the reverse beep. Might make things easier. The dumb key sounds like your best bet.

 

This might help -

You say your wife doesn't like the SKS. That must mean that she inserts the fob into the dash to operate the car? You could take the battery out of hers. Then the fob in the dash would be the ONLY way she could operate the car. And I would suppose that when she took the fob out of the dash, maybe the car would deactivate the power button?

If she tried this method, she might finally come around to appreciating the SKS system! I think SKS is fabulous. My highlight is walking up to the car - with the fob in my pocket - and opening the driver's locked door - without any other actions!

Another neat feature: About a week after taking delivery on our car, I walked out to the garage one night & discovered that the domelights were on! I thought to myself, "That's funny." I hadn't even discovered yet, how to turn them on. So how could they be on? Slowly, I began to surmise that maybe the SKS had something to do with this. I walked a ways from the car & waited. Then they dimmed down & shut off. Once more, I walk up to the car, & sure enough - the lights came on again!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fphinney @ Sep 20 2006, 08:56 PM) [snapback]322678[/snapback]</div>

If you take out the battery, you lose the ability to use the fob to lock and unlock the doors remotely--you'd have to take out the little key to do that all the time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mcbrunnhilde @ Sep 21 2006, 12:11 AM) [snapback]322704[/snapback]</div>

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You don't suppose she does have a soft spot in her heart for the little SKS?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(miwaku @ Sep 20 2006, 10:13 PM) [snapback]322628[/snapback]</div>

LOL ...I didn't mean to imply that the beeps bother me....I love all of my beeps on my Prius and know what they mean...or look them up. Actually, my husband is the one who commented on them and he doesn't drive because he is blind....

No disabling for me...but migh work if someone is not paying attention to them!

terri