What are the Requirements for Programming used fobs??

You may have to do a lot of reading, but I think it was in here somewhere.
Finally! How to program a non-SKS key/fob. Detailed! | PriusChat

 

Additional info - we have the same 2011 package vehicle, both new from dealer...

My fobs are labeled:

FCC ID: HYQ14ACX
IC: 1551A-14ACX
COFETEL RLVDE1408-0265
DENSO 14 ACX

rrg's are labeled:
FCC ID: HYQ14AAB
IC: 1551A-14AAB
___________
DENSO _____

It appears the only difference in the IDs are the suffix "ACX" versus "AAB".

Specifically, after a successful SKS RESET, we could not add the "ACX" fobs first - yet we could 're-add' his original fobs (the "AAB"). It appears the two will not play together, and his ECU only wants "AAB" fobs.

I have only seen the "ACX" fobs referenced for Gen3 (2010 onward). Anyone know where the "AAB" come from?

EDIT: I found some info - rrg is just uppity The AABs show up for Lexus. But I am still stumped why we cannot add the ACXs to the RESET ECU. It acts like the RESET did nothing. Hmmmm....

 

AABs are used in Lexus, and probably a lot of other Toyota vehicles. I think AABs are just dumb fobs, with no SKS function. ACXs are used in Prius Gen3 and Lexus CT200h, and probably other Toyota/Lexus SKS vehicles. The circuit boards have the exact same form factor, which means you can put an ACX circuit board in a case that is labeled AAB...

Here is a photo of the two circuit boards. The top one is ACX, and the bottom is AAB.



As far as I know, all Prius Gen3 use an ACX circuit board in their fobs. An AAB board is not going to be recognized. My CT200h fob with an ACX board looks exactly the same as a Lexus fob with an AAB board in it. All attempts at programming the AAB board to the CT failed. But programming a Prius Gen3 fob (ACX) worked fine on the CT. The mechanical keys for the CT and Prius are different, even though the circuit boards are the same.

 

rrg's are labeled:
FCC ID: HYQ14AAB
IC: 1551A-14AAB
___________
DENSO _____

Could rrg's Prius be a Gen3 without SKS? I've seen technical literature that said such a beast existed, but never actually encountered one. Maybe a package 1 that is only available for purchase for fleet use?

 

You can mate previously used FOBs with a Gen 3 Prius and I have had it done on three cars, although it was done using non-tech stream hardware. After the dealer told me it was impossible, I had this done by a locksmith (Pop-A-Lock in Riverside, CA). I am not an expert in the method, but understand that you program the car to the FOBs and that the process requires that you program all of the FOBs that you intend to use on your Prius, sequentially, after performing an ECU reset that takes 12 minutes. I'm sorry that I don't know enough to add more.

 

The HYQ14ACX posted by h00ktern is the correct FCC ID for the Gen 3 Prius FOB. The model number for the solar roof FOB that also controls the A/C may be different. The FCC ID: HYQ14AAB FOB will not work with the Gen3 Prius.

 

This is uncharted territory. Could you open up a fob to look at the circuit board? Does it have one black chip like the ACX, or 2 like the AAB? There are lots of used Lexus AABs on eBay, so you might try one of those. The Lexus fob is larger and the mechanical key is different. There are probably AABs the same size as Prius fobs - I've never checked into them. As I recall, the price on used Lexus fobs are generally lower than for Prius. Hey, if you drive a Lexus, you're not into saving money by using eBay...

 

RobH, I knew you were the One...

I checked with another resident 'expert' (AbuS300d), and he advised ACX & AAB fobs are not interchangeable, suggesting that rrg's ECU might have been swapped with another model's ECU (eg Camry Hybrid or Avalon.) Can anyone advise where it is located, and what it looks like? Maybe rrg can pull some numbers off of his ECU and we can determine if this was the case.

To RobH, we encountered the same issue as you, but reversed - changing nomenclature, we could not get the ACX's programmed on the AAB. So between your experience and ours, it appears that AbuS3ood is correct in stating that ACX and AAB fobs are not interchangeable. Furthermore, your experience suggests that regardless of make, an ACX to ACX, or AAB to AAB programming session is likely acceptable.

rrg, given what RobH and AbuS3ood have offered, it seems the easiest and cheapest solution would be to locate a used Ebay AAB fob, and then reprogram your car as usual. Secondarily, determining how your AAB ECU landed up in your Prius, which by most accounts should have an ACX ECU installed, is a whole other can of worms.

I would really pull those SKS ECU numbers for a comparison. If programming an AAB fob is sufficient for you, then a note stuffed into the car's owner's manual would be a great service to the next owner.

I wonder how long and how expensive it would be for the selling dealer to diagnose this case

 

Great that the Lexus keyfob works. I wonder if the tsunami caused a parts shortage for the Prius that they solved by using the Lexus part? Can you get a Lexus mechanical key cut according to the Prius design?

Does the Lexus trunk button do anything? Like pop the trunk, or maybe turn on the air conditioning while the car is turned off?

Is the range of the Lexus keyfob any different than the usual Prius keyfob?

If you really want a Prius style keyfob, the Lexus circuit board fits in a Prius case. Good luck getting a Prius keyfob for less that $50 or $60...

I wonder if anyone else has a Prius keyfob with anything but the ACX designation?

 

Hello All,(if somebody is still tracking this interesting thread)
At first thanks to h00ktern for his complement, he is one of the best people I ever met.

regarding to TOYOTA!!!!
Im working in the Toyota keys business since three years, and faced a lot of problems because of the Toyota ignorance and here are my brief notes:
1. Toyota Camry Hybrid and Toyota Avalon are using the HYQ14AAB:
Camry models 2007-2011 are using hyq14aab BUT in the models 2010 and 2011 changed the internal board with keeping the same external part numbers and shape(the 2011 was black).
So, the HYQ14AAB's are not the same. the 2007,2008,2009 are different than the 2010 and 2011 with having the same FCC-ID and they are not interchangeable.

--------------------------
2. I have a 2010 Prius with three buttons hyq14acx, a client came to me to program his 2011 w/solar panel and during programming I was shocked that his fob has HYQ14AAB WITH A/C BUTTON!!!! which I never seen.

This 2011 prius accepted the camry 2011 fob but the fourth button of A/C didnt work!!! because it have trunk icon in the camry key.

so toyota is producing the same keys, same FCC-ID's but with hidden changes inside the board which prevents them from working on each others,



THE END.

 

And I wish people who post this stuff would make it clear they are NOT programming the FOB. You program the -car-. The FOB is dumb and not programmable or changeable.

The differences people are reporting are not surprising. If you're not using a FOB designed for the model Prius you have in front of you your success will be intermittent!

 

Well, actually you are programming both the fob and the car. The fob is programmed with the VID (Vehicle ID?), and then the car is programmed to recognize the fob ID. The problem with used fobs is that they have already been programmed with a VID, which obviously is not going to match a different car. The first time a new, never programmed, fob is added to a car, the car VID is programmed into the fob. The standard "add fob" function will only program the VID into a new fob, OR INTO A USED FOB IF THERE ARE ZERO FOBS REGISTERED. The way to get zero fobs registered is to reset the ecu, which requires a passcode.

Plus of course the fob & ecu have to be set up for the same type - ACX, AAB, etc.

 

Another tidbit...

The Lexus credit card size keyfob for 14ACX cars is part number 8999448142. List price is about $421, available online for $350. Never seen one on eBay...

UPDATE: The part number may be for a 14AEB. Be sure to confirm that any card key that you buy says 14ACX (or whatever your regular keyfob says).