Key warning light on dash

thundermustard · 03-10-2006, 11:13 PM

This is an intermittent problem. I get in the Prius with the Smart Key in my pocket. Start up the engine and drive away. The key warning light on the dash comes on and stays on for some time. The light with the key picture and an exclamation mark through it. Anybody else have this happen. There is no beeping warning like you get if you drive away with the key out of the car.

kdmorse · 03-10-2006, 11:27 PM

I saw this happen the first few days I owned the car, when I kept the key+fob in the left pocket of a big floppy coat. If I sat just right, it would flop to the left of the seat, down, and slightly behind the drivers seat, in which case the car didn't register they fob as being in the car. If I pulled the coat pocket back up, the saw the fob again and was happy. Since then, I've kept it in my right pants pocket, and haven't see the problem since.

Just a possibility to consider, exactly where in the car is the key when this tends to happen to you?

-Ken

Salsawonder · 03-10-2006, 11:55 PM

Same here. If the purse is in the back or sometimes the cells are in the way. It is just telling you it is having a hard time reading the fob. Repositioning will solve your light.

darwin100 · 03-11-2006, 10:57 AM

Yes same thing...if I put my purse in back it sometimes pops on..the first time it happened I paniced but...now...I just readjust the purse....

thundermustard · 03-11-2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salsawonder@Mar 11 2006, 12:55 AM
Same here. If the purse is in the back or sometimes the cells are in the way. It is just telling you it is having a hard time reading the fob. Repositioning will solve your light.

[snapback]223474[/snapback]

Neither is the case. It is in my front pants pocket as always. Guess I will have to run by Toyota sometime to see about it.

DocToss · 03-11-2006, 10:04 PM

Have had my 06 for 2 months now, and just noticed the key light come on tonight. It happened after I was sitting in the car for 20 min waiting for my wife with the engine running. After she got in the light came on. I stopped and restarted and it went away. Then after opening the rear door it came on again for a short while. Let me know what toyota says.

thundermustard · 03-12-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DocToss@Mar 11 2006, 11:04 PM
Have had my 06 for 2 months now, and just noticed the key light come on tonight. It happened after I was sitting in the car for 20 min waiting for my wife with the engine running. After she got in the light came on. I stopped and restarted and it went away. Then after opening the rear door it came on again for a short while. Let me know what toyota says.

[snapback]223701[/snapback]

Problems like this are murder to get fixed because they are intermittent. Plus, it isn't a big enough problem to warrant a visit just for this. So, you might have to let me know.

tmorrowus · 03-13-2006, 04:59 PM

You might try replacing the battery in the transponder just in case it's bad.

hycamguy07 · 03-14-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tmorrowus@Mar 13 2006, 05:59 PM
You might try replacing the battery in the transponder just in case it's bad.

[snapback]224395[/snapback]

Ok now my stupid question, when the cars off and locked up there is a red flashing light that looks like a key...? is that like a anti theft warning light?

Alpinest · 09-08-2008, 12:49 PM

I am having the same problem. When the car is off and the keys are nowhere near the car the key warning light flashes and continues to flash untill the car is started again at which time, when the car is on the key in car light stops illuminating. No problems with locking the car even when the light is flashing. When the key is actually in the car the car won't lock and the key in car light is steady instead of flashing. Any ideas?

03-10-2006, 11:27 PM	#2
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 197 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I saw this happen the first few days I owned the car, when I kept the key+fob in the left pocket of a big floppy coat. If I sat just right, it would flop to the left of the seat, down, and slightly behind the drivers seat, in which case the car didn't register they fob as being in the car. If I pulled the coat pocket back up, the saw the fob again and was happy. Since then, I've kept it in my right pants pocket, and haven't see the problem since. Just a possibility to consider, exactly where in the car is the key when this tends to happen to you? -Ken __________________ 2006 Black Package #7 Dark Grey Interior Headlight Flasher EV Mod

09-08-2008, 12:49 PM	#10
Alpinest Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 4 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Key warning light on dash I am having the same problem. When the car is off and the keys are nowhere near the car the key warning light flashes and continues to flash untill the car is started again at which time, when the car is on the key in car light stops illuminating. No problems with locking the car even when the light is flashing. When the key is actually in the car the car won't lock and the key in car light is steady instead of flashing. Any ideas?

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03-10-2006, 11:13 PM	#1
thundermustard Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Boston, NH Posts: 27 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	This is an intermittent problem. I get in the Prius with the Smart Key in my pocket. Start up the engine and drive away. The key warning light on the dash comes on and stays on for some time. The light with the key picture and an exclamation mark through it. Anybody else have this happen. There is no beeping warning like you get if you drive away with the key out of the car.

03-10-2006, 11:55 PM	#3
Salsawonder Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: La Mesa California Posts: 1,296 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Same here. If the purse is in the back or sometimes the cells are in the way. It is just telling you it is having a hard time reading the fob. Repositioning will solve your light.

03-11-2006, 10:57 AM	#4
darwin100 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 131 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes same thing...if I put my purse in back it sometimes pops on..the first time it happened I paniced but...now...I just readjust the purse....

03-11-2006, 10:04 PM	#6
DocToss Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 68 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Have had my 06 for 2 months now, and just noticed the key light come on tonight. It happened after I was sitting in the car for 20 min waiting for my wife with the engine running. After she got in the light came on. I stopped and restarted and it went away. Then after opening the rear door it came on again for a short while. Let me know what toyota says.

03-13-2006, 04:59 PM	#8
tmorrowus Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 425 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	You might try replacing the battery in the transponder just in case it's bad.