SKS Trouble

AlphaTeam · 12-14-2005, 03:17 PM

I just got my car 5 days ago. 250 miles on it. 3 days ago I had a problem with the SKS. I made several short trips so I remember the exact sequence of events, but they are all similar. I went to hit the button on the door handle and got the key with the line through it, the error with the SKS one. I came out of the store and it would not unlock by lifting the handle. I kept pulling on it and it finally opened. Same with powering it on. I'd hit the power and get the line/key thing. I punched it several times and it powered on. Once I had to use the unlock button the remote to open the door. When I actually put the key in the car it started just fine and the rest of the day I had no problme with the SKS. The next day it worked fine for a little while and then it started getting weird. Right away I put the key in and started and shut down. Removed the key and tried to start with it out. Still got the line/key light. So I just drove with the key in the key hole. I got to my destination and the SKS worked. I made an appointment with the dealer for tomorrow to look at it. ANyone have any ideas what the problem is?

Marlin · 12-14-2005, 03:43 PM

Do you by chance keep a cell phone in the same pocket as the SKS fob?

If you search through the manual, you will find a section that states that cell phones in close proximity with the fob may cause interference. Also, ambient RF interference is certain areas may cause problems.

keydiver · 12-14-2005, 03:52 PM

Battery? I know its "only 5 days old", but who knows how old the battery is?

**efusco** · 12-14-2005, 04:26 PM

Definately sounds like either a weak battery or interference from cell phone or something else.

Have you compared it with the other fob?

DanMan32 · 12-14-2005, 04:43 PM

I thought battery too. Same problem with the other fob? You did get 2 of them, right?

AlphaTeam · 12-14-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DanMan32@Dec 14 2005, 04:43 PM
I thought battery too. Same problem with the other fob? You did get 2 of them, right?

[snapback]173624[/snapback]

No I only tried the one. It never happened when I was near home. I always had to put the key in and when I got home it worked.

Near the cell phone is a possiblity. I put both in my pocket and don't really remember where each was.

EDIT: After re-reading my original post the cell phone could be the problem. When I actualy took the key from my pocket I might have placed it in a different pocket hence getting rid of the interferance. I'll experement and get back to you. Thanks for your help.

AlphaTeam · 12-14-2005, 05:37 PM

Ok I tried to make it fail and I couldn't. I took the cell phone and the fob and held them together and it started. I fliped it over on all sides incase the fob being on the battery side of the phone mattered and it worked fine.

If it happens again I'll switch out the fobs and see if I can reproduce it.

jeromep · 12-14-2005, 06:56 PM

It just might be the battery, even on a new vehicle. Batteries aren't always consistent and sometimes you do get one that is partially or fully drained by the time it is put into use.

I avoid carrying the fob with other keys. It usually is in the opposite pocket of my regular keys. They tend to scratch up the fob, and my cell phone, when I carry it, is either in a hip clip, or I carry it in hand, and it is a long way from my fob.

You might want to try this. Make sure the Prius is locked. Move away from the car and hold the fob in your hand. There is a red light in the upper corner of the fob. When that light flashes the fob and the car are in contact with each other. The interior light should also come on when the car senses the fob nearby. Then grab the door handle. It is possible to grab the door handle before the vehicle has recognized the fob. Also, don't just pull the door handle when you go to unlock it, but rather place your hand around the handle and wait for the door to unlock and then pull the door open. The door isn't unlocked by pulling on the handle, but is unlocked by touching the sensor that is on the underside of the handle.

**efusco** · 12-14-2005, 10:04 PM

One other thing to look for is if this is location specific. I recall someone having a certain mall parking lot that they had a terrible time with getting their SKS to work in...some locations it worked, others it didn't. But I'm betting it's interference from the cell.

engunneer · 12-14-2005, 10:11 PM

Someone needs to make a hip clip for the fob!

12-14-2005, 03:17 PM	#1
AlphaTeam Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 631 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I just got my car 5 days ago. 250 miles on it. 3 days ago I had a problem with the SKS. I made several short trips so I remember the exact sequence of events, but they are all similar. I went to hit the button on the door handle and got the key with the line through it, the error with the SKS one. I came out of the store and it would not unlock by lifting the handle. I kept pulling on it and it finally opened. Same with powering it on. I'd hit the power and get the line/key thing. I punched it several times and it powered on. Once I had to use the unlock button the remote to open the door. When I actually put the key in the car it started just fine and the rest of the day I had no problme with the SKS. The next day it worked fine for a little while and then it started getting weird. Right away I put the key in and started and shut down. Removed the key and tried to start with it out. Still got the line/key light. So I just drove with the key in the key hole. I got to my destination and the SKS worked. I made an appointment with the dealer for tomorrow to look at it. ANyone have any ideas what the problem is? __________________ 2006 Classic Silver Metallic with Package 7 12-9-05

12-14-2005, 06:56 PM	#8
jeromep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 821 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It just might be the battery, even on a new vehicle. Batteries aren't always consistent and sometimes you do get one that is partially or fully drained by the time it is put into use. I avoid carrying the fob with other keys. It usually is in the opposite pocket of my regular keys. They tend to scratch up the fob, and my cell phone, when I carry it, is either in a hip clip, or I carry it in hand, and it is a long way from my fob. You might want to try this. Make sure the Prius is locked. Move away from the car and hold the fob in your hand. There is a red light in the upper corner of the fob. When that light flashes the fob and the car are in contact with each other. The interior light should also come on when the car senses the fob nearby. Then grab the door handle. It is possible to grab the door handle before the vehicle has recognized the fob. Also, don't just pull the door handle when you go to unlock it, but rather place your hand around the handle and wait for the door to unlock and then pull the door open. The door isn't unlocked by pulling on the handle, but is unlocked by touching the sensor that is on the underside of the handle. __________________ It has been said: Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2. 2005 Prius, Millenium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
We are in trouble	swfoster2	Fred's House of Pancakes	27	11-15-2007 10:04 AM
CD trouble	lagej	Audio and Electronics	12	05-28-2007 04:17 AM
Trouble Codes you never want to see	Tempus	Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	21	03-02-2006 06:50 PM
Trouble with CD player	prberg	Audio and Electronics	6	02-10-2006 10:27 PM
trouble getting on here	seasidetraveler	Fred's House of Pancakes	10	01-07-2006 01:09 AM

12-14-2005, 03:43 PM	#2
Marlin Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 1,405 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Do you by chance keep a cell phone in the same pocket as the SKS fob? If you search through the manual, you will find a section that states that cell phones in close proximity with the fob may cause interference. Also, ambient RF interference is certain areas may cause problems.

12-14-2005, 03:52 PM	#3
keydiver Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hobe Sound, Florida Posts: 508 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Battery? I know its "only 5 days old", but who knows how old the battery is?

12-14-2005, 04:26 PM	#4
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,042 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	Definately sounds like either a weak battery or interference from cell phone or something else. Have you compared it with the other fob?

12-14-2005, 04:43 PM	#5
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I thought battery too. Same problem with the other fob? You did get 2 of them, right?

12-14-2005, 05:37 PM	#7
AlphaTeam Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 631 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Ok I tried to make it fail and I couldn't. I took the cell phone and the fob and held them together and it started. I fliped it over on all sides incase the fob being on the battery side of the phone mattered and it worked fine. If it happens again I'll switch out the fobs and see if I can reproduce it.

12-14-2005, 10:04 PM	#9
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,042 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	One other thing to look for is if this is location specific. I recall someone having a certain mall parking lot that they had a terrible time with getting their SKS to work in...some locations it worked, others it didn't. But I'm betting it's interference from the cell.

12-14-2005, 10:11 PM	#10
engunneer Prius Hacker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 302 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Someone needs to make a hip clip for the fob!