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what to do with a key while surfing?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by SDChristy, Jul 4, 2009.

  1. SDChristy

    SDChristy New Member

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    I just bought my Prius yesterday and just started surfing a few weeks ago. But now the question is what do I do with my fob while I am in the ocean? I wouldn't even know what do do with a regular key while I was out there, much less an electronic one.

    My current thoughts are...
    get a dry sack and take it with me
    take the mechanical key with me and put the fob in some metal box that will prevent it from working while in the car
    find a friend who wants to sit on the beach any hour of the day and watch my stuff

    I am sure there are sporty people out there with ideas. I would greatly appreciate them.
     
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  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Hmm. surfer chick. Please include pictures.

    My main thought works like this:
    1) remove the mechanical key from the fob.
    2) reach under the steering wheel and disable the smart key system.
    3) leave the fob in the center console.
    4) put the mechanical key somewhere.
    - Take it with you surfin;
    - strap it to the underside of your car.

    I suppose that you could strap it to the car before you leave the house so people don't see you place it.
     
  3. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Tony, the 2010 has no SKS disable switch under the wheel :(
     
  4. Bruno_S

    Bruno_S New Member

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    My vote is for:

    get a dry sack and take it with me

    All other options will be cumbersome and will take time away from your surfing. You can pre-pack the key very well at home and leave it there since you don't need to press any buttons. A diving shop may have good small containers like this one:

    Keymaster <BR>(Code 604)

    Or order on-line.
     
  5. Tech_Guy

    Tech_Guy Class Clown

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    I think you did a good job answering your own question -

    Put the fob in a sealed metal container (a 6" long, 2" diameter metal pipe with both ends both end threaded with screw-on cap should work) and lock it inside your car. Attach the mechanical key to your bathing suit. (A plastic dry sack can be a PIA while surfing, and if it leaks, your screwed.)

    Surf's Up!

    Keith
     
  6. Yeahoo Whoyah

    Yeahoo Whoyah Duct Tape Advocate

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    Keep the key with your wallet and bury it under your towel. No one steals in Sandy Eggo, right? ;)
     
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Why, that's just crazy talk!
     
  8. Tech_Guy

    Tech_Guy Class Clown

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    I agree 100%

    Keith

    P.S. I've got a spare bridge (concrete & steel), hardly used. You wanta buy it, cheap?
     
  9. RickFlashman

    RickFlashman New Member

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  10. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    You can lock the fob in the car using the mechanical key and clip the key to your suit or tie it to yourself somewhere. Just don't lose your suit! Not sure why anyone thinks they need to put the fob inside a metal case.
     
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  11. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    The solution I use when going trail running is to carry a mechanical key, and leave a dumb keyfob in the car. A dumb keyfob is one that only works in (near?) the dash, with no button/proximity functionality. If you leave a fully functional keyfob in the car, then the ignition is essentially unlocked unless you put it inside a metal box (or turn off SKS on a Gen2).

    The expensive way to get a dumb keyfob is to remove the battery from a fully functional keyfob. The cheaper way is to get one used, and only program the key-in-dash function for it. Nobody has reported yet, but I suspect that an older Gen2 keyfob may work with a 2010.

    The best solution would be some sort of keyless system, like a combination lock. It would be quite a project, but could be done. A number of Ford cars use a combination keypad, so that's a start. An immobilizer bypass with a transponder from a keyfob could be used to provide security access. This is a standard item used in aftermarket alarm and remote start systems. You'd still need some sort of computer to read the keypad data and manage the immobilizer bypass.

    Whatever you do, don't go surfing with that $300 keyfob. That's just asking for trouble. And make sure you have an alternate keyfob. Lose both keyfobs and you're looking at a towjob to the dealer and several days wait for a replacement mechanical key.
     
  12. Bruno_S

    Bruno_S New Member

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    The Fusion Hybrid has a combination lock on the door. It also has another amazing technology: the lights turn on or off according to the available sun light. Hopefully Toyota will catch up to this amazing technology called "Auto-lights".
     
  13. wave_slider

    wave_slider New Member

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    No reason for you to put it in a case or anything. Just remove the metal key, surf, rinse the key off with fresh water, open the door. You would leave the key fob in the car and use the mechanical key to lock the door. I haven't received my Gen III yet, but I am going to find out if they can make a copy of the laser cut mechanical key at my parts dept.

    Dry your key well before re-inserting it back into the key fob!!!
     
  14. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    A combination lock? That is sooo very 80s isn't it? I can't believe you even mentioned it. Aren't you embarrassed now? Compared to the Smart Key System, I mean ...
    Want auto headlights? Leave them switched on all the time, they turn off when you switch off and open the door.
    problem solved.
    Amazing technology!
     
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  15. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    OK. Not that I don't trust RobH, but can someone else confirm? My wife is always leaving her purse (with fob) in the car (hidden), so I do this a lot. I'm still not real worried about the car being stolen in this scenario.
     
  16. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    I think the point is that if someone does somehow break into the car, if the key fob is there, they can start it and drive off.
     
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  17. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Yep, it's just like leaving the key in the ignition but not switched on.
     
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  18. accordingly

    accordingly Member

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    DRL is a different technology than turning your headlights and tail lights on. They use less power for one thing. I don't care for it personally, but do recognize the difference.

    [​IMG]



    I wouldn't get too cocky, you could have gotten a solar roof on a Mazda in the mid 90s. And where have I seen this 80's "gem" before...
    [​IMG]
     
  19. SDChristy

    SDChristy New Member

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    Thanks for all of the advise, I will probably use a mixture of everything.

    I didn't realize that if you took the mechanical key out and locked the door with the fob inside, that the door would stay locked.

    They just kept telling me at the dealer that I couldn't look myself out, so i figure the car would never lock if the fob was detectable inside. That was after my moment of horror when the sales guy was driving the prius around the parking lot while was standing there with the key in my hand (I good way to learn to never leave the car running).
     
  20. SDChristy

    SDChristy New Member

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    FYI, my dad, the electrical engineer, came up with a simple solution. If you wrap the fob is aluminum foil and it doesn't work. I tested it out, the car doors wouldn't lock/unlock and the dash gave me the "put the key next to the power button" warning.