SKS bug or how to drive your Prius without a FOB in the car

[avi]

Couple of weeks a go I found an interesting "feature" with the SKS. My wife and I where already sitting in the car when I realized I forgot something in the house so I borrowed her house key which is attached to her FOB. When I came back, inadvertently I dropped her FOB in my pocket.

We reach my destination, I put the Prius in park and get out of the car leaving the engine running. My wife moves to the driver seat and drives off to do her shopping. After she drives off, I realize to my horror that I have both FOBs in my pocket. She drove off without a key! You can probably guess what happened next. She reached her destination, turned off the engine and that's it. Of course she could not start the engine again. Luckily she was only 15 minutes walk away rom where I was so in this case it wasn't too bad. But what if her destination was 50 miles away?

I can understand that Toyota didn't want to disable the car if the FOB battery died while the vehicle is moving, but why allow the car to get out of park if the FOB is not in the car?

Avi

[parrot_lady]

My Bf wonders the same thing, and he usually has something to say about me leaving the car running (engine not on) while I walk away with my back to my car..... "what happens if someone steals it?!" Well hon, its a one way drive cause the key is in my pocket.

[Charles Suitt]

"SKS Bug" - NOT.. It's just the 'way it is.'

[qbee42]

It's not like you don't get a warning. The car beeps at you when you leave with the fob.

Tom

[cwerdna]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Oct 28 2006, 11:27 AM) [snapback]339987[/snapback]</div>

"SKS Bug" - NOT.. It's just the 'way it is.'
[/b]

Correct, it's not a bug. It's functioning as designed.

My dealer pointed out this "feature" at delivery and warned me of the exact scenario that the OP mentioned. I believe he also pointed out to me the yellow key warning light and beeping.

Sounds like the OP's dealer didn't go over the car too well w/him.

[Clar]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Oct 29 2006, 08:56 PM) [snapback]340429[/snapback]</div>

Correct, it's not a bug. It's functioning as designed.

My dealer pointed out this "feature" at delivery and warned me of the exact scenario that the OP mentioned. I believe he also pointed out to me the yellow key warning light and beeping.

Sounds like the OP's dealer didn't go over the car too well w/him.
[/b]

I wish Toyota would design it a little different. At least it shouldn't allow people shift into drive. If someone carjack your prius, you can get out the car and run, and he won't be able to drive to anywhere. By the time he come out of the car to chase you, you probably run pretty far away.

[keydiver]

I'm thinking they did it that way as a safety consideration. What would happen if the car lost communications with the fob while you were driving. Its VERY possible for the fob to die or for the communications to be jammed while you are driving, and what would YOU have the car do? Just die in the middle of the road?

[Beryl Octet]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(keydiver @ Oct 29 2006, 10:29 PM) [snapback]340468[/snapback]</div>

I'm thinking they did it that way as a safety consideration. What would happen if the car lost communications with the fob while you were driving. Its VERY possible for the fob to die or for the communications to be jammed while you are driving, and what would YOU have the car do? Just die in the middle of the road?
[/b]

That's probably just the scenario they had in mind. What if the battery dies in the fob while you are driving?

[inventor00]

Actually that happened to us 2 weeks ago. Both in car, I leave car to meet friends at restaurant. Hubby parks car in parking garage but suddenly realizes he cannot lock it- ooops- he forgot his car keys at home and I had left with the key that started the car- which he did not realize... glad we had cell phones. I ran back to car and got it locked.

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Beryl Octet @ Oct 29 2006, 09:07 PM) [snapback]340500[/snapback]</div>

That's probably just the scenario they had in mind. What if the battery dies in the fob while you are driving?[/b]

This is a feature, not a bug.

1) If you are driving down the road and the car loses contact with your SKS key . . . nothing! The car doesn't stop, the car doesn't prevent you from shifting, the car doesn't even prevent you from turning it off . . . nor does the car complain one iota.

2) If the only SKS leaves the car while the car is running, the car doesn't complain until an open door is closed. If you happened to pass the only SKS out the window, in say a purse, THEN YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK!!! You will not get an indication that the only SKS key is missing . . . until you turn the car off and try to lock the door by pressing the little black button.

3) For safety purposes, if the SKS key battery dies while driving, an unexpected, and totally non-critical indication distracting the driver from the task at hand would be pretty dumb. You will find out soon enough when you try to lock the car, and have to do it manually. You will be reminded the next time when you have to manually unlock the door and then find out that the car will not start without placing the SKS key in the dash slot.

Smart Toyota.