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Smart Key re-set or re-learn?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Jamez P, Dec 15, 2023.

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  1. Jamez P

    Jamez P Junior Member

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    Sorry if this has already been covered, but I can't seem to find the specific problem I'm having. Feel free to just respond with a link if I'm just missing it. This may be long, but more info is better right?

    I've got a 2004 and the smart key system has worked flawlessly until about a week ago. I was in a crowded concert and sat on my jacket for padding and must have pressed one or several keys on the remote and ran the battery on it dead over the course of a couple of hours. When I returned to my car, it didn't unlock when I grabbed the door handle, I tried the fob and I got it to unlock with the remote button once, after that no red led and the remote was dead. I had to insert the key into the dash to start the car and drove it home with no problem.

    Realizing what I'd likely done, I replaced the battery in the fob. The buttons on the fob all work now. but none of the "smart key" functions work, exterior lock buttons or keyless start. My question is how can get it to re-learn or re-set? This is what I've tried so far:

    Pushing in the button below the steering wheel, starting the car and returning the button to the "out" position and driving a bit. And several variations of the above.

    Disconnecting the 12v battery for over an hour (changed the oil, rotated tires) still nothing. (And now I have to neuter the backup beeper again...)

    Trying another fresh battery in the fob.

    Leaving the battery out of the fob overnight.

    So anyhow, what witchcraft do I need to perform to make this work again? Or have I maybe damaged just THAT particular function of the fob? Also, I've only got the one key for this car and I'm afraid to "brick" the thing by mistake. Any ideas? Again, sorry it's long, and sorry if this has been covered already.

    I was less detailed about asking at a another Toyota forum and they all just chimed in assuming I'd had just turned the button under the steering wheel turned off! No, I made that mistake a week after getting the car after cleaning it and bumping it to off ;)
     
    #1 Jamez P, Dec 15, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2023
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Just to be 100% clear, the button under the steering wheel operates the SKS Disable function. Press the button 'in' to disable SKS. Press again to toggle the button to the 'out' position to re-enable SKS.

    So you are saying the button is in the 'out' position and yet SKS does not function.
     
    #2 dolj, Dec 16, 2023
    Jamez P likes this.
  3. Jamez P

    Jamez P Junior Member

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    ----USA----
    Yes, the SKS disable switch is in the out, or "enabled/on" position. I pushed it "in" on accident once while cleaning the car once, so I'm familiar with it's function. A quick read through the manual solved that one for me! I've tried toggling it on/off, engine on, engine off, drove a few miles with it off/ then on. No luck.
     
    #3 Jamez P, Dec 16, 2023
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    And I guess of course at the concert you were way out of the range of the car wasn't right behind you or something? I would say obviously not but.
     
    #4 Tombukt2, Dec 16, 2023
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    And if you carefully slide the fob apart there is a sticker if this is the original key and fob that you should take a picture of inside of the fob you'll see it's a black sticker with like tan writing on it an older person may not be able to read like me so I usually take a picture of it I do this for all of the original fobs that I have for the four or five cars that are usually here I even have a copy of the picture in the glove box with paperwork in the car folded up so if something happens to the key or what have you I have all those numbers on the fob which locksmiths with these special electronic key programming instruments I can't remember the name of the major one now but it slips my mind they use it for my motorcycle when they make a transponder key for it the same tool does most of the vehicles that locksmiths do with those numbers they can get you fixed up generally speaking. Unless somehow sitting on the remote you were able to I don't know what some do something to the green board inside of the remote with it being pressed for hours at a time with you sitting on it I don't know do the buttons still make their firm clicks like if you open the remote and hold the green board each button makes a distinct click and the light lights up?
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Dec 16, 2023
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