2k4 Prius - keys robbed

[kenedamick]

Hello..
Friday night my wife was robbed at gunpoint, pistolwhipped in the eye and her purse was stolen out of her 2004 Prius (in our garage). Anyway, the moron who robbed her got nothing - all credit cards were cancelled etc. She didn't have any cash on her. The worst part about it is they got our ONLY master key to the Prius. So we had to go buy a couple of blanks yesterday. Here's the deal though - we live in a house with one of those linear garages, where one car parks behind the other. The prius is just stuck in the garage. We can't get it towed or anything. My question is, can the valet key SOMEHOW get this thing started? If I can get it started and out of our garage, I can get it to our Toyota dealership to get programmed?


Any suggestions? Thanks in advance..

-Mick

[BenR]

I don't have an answer for you, but I want to tell you how sorry I am to hear of this horrible situation. I hope your wife is okay!

[kenedamick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BenR @ Jul 19 2006, 09:53 AM) [snapback]288656[/snapback]</div>

I don't have an answer for you, but I want to tell you how sorry I am to hear of this horrible situation. I hope your wife is okay!
[/b]

She is hanging in there pretty well. Thanks.

[Betelgeuse]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kenedamick @ Jul 19 2006, 10:51 AM) [snapback]288653[/snapback]</div>

Hello..
Friday night my wife was robbed at gunpoint, pistolwhipped in the eye and her purse was stolen out of her 2004 Prius (in our garage). Anyway, the moron who robbed her got nothing - all credit cards were cancelled etc. She didn't have any cash on her. The worst part about it is they got our ONLY master key to the Prius. So we had to go buy a couple of blanks yesterday. Here's the deal though - we live in a house with one of those linear garages, where one car parks behind the other. The prius is just stuck in the garage. We can't get it towed or anything. My question is, can the valet key SOMEHOW get this thing started? If I can get it started and out of our garage, I can get it to our Toyota dealership to get programmed?
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance..

-Mick
[/b]

I'm not sure what you mean by "Master" key and "Valet" key. Do you have one of the FOBs for your car or not? And if you have a "Valet" key (whatever that is), shouldn't it be able to start the car? (Isn't that what a Valet does? i.e. moves cars)

[ScottY]

Didn't the dealer give you two key fobs? I'm not sure what you mean by the "valet key".

From what I read here, if you lost two key fobs and no spares, you'll have to bring the car to the dealer and change the ECU as well.

[withersea]

No answer here either. Do you not have the second key that came with the car? Also, your dealer should be able to program using the key code that came with the car (the small metal tag). I also am sorry to hear about this horrible incident and hope your wife is OK. Hopefully your insurance will cover the cost of the new FOB's.

[kenedamick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Jul 19 2006, 10:03 AM) [snapback]288664[/snapback]</div>

Didn't the dealer give you two key fobs? I'm not sure what you mean by the "valet key".

From what I read here, if you lost two key fobs and no spares, you'll have to bring the car to the dealer and change the ECU as well.
[/b]

We did get two - I lost the first one within 6 months of us buying the car (predictably) and the other one was stolen in the robbery. The valet key is the little "key" that comes out of the top of the master key. I was wondering if that would work somehow in starting the car.


If we can get the car out of the garage to the dealership then they will program the keys to the computer in the car. The guy that robbed my wife is too big of a dumbass to know how to operate that thing.


I guess we have a 2005 Prius - not a 2004 Prius. I need more coffee.

-M

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 19 2006, 09:59 AM) [snapback]288662[/snapback]</div>

I'm not sure what you mean by "Master" key and "Valet" key. Do you have one of the FOBs for your car or not? And if you have a "Valet" key (whatever that is), shouldn't it be able to start the car? (Isn't that what a Valet does? i.e. moves cars)
[/b]

"valet key" is the term that the people at Toyota have used to describe that tiny "key" that is removable from the main master key.

Sorry if I sound like an idiot - I'm just some regular ol prius owner. Be easy on me!!! java script:emoticon('', 'smid_9')

[Marlin]

Your Prius should have come with two fobs, both of which are masters. You should be able to operate the car with either an should also be able to program new fobs with either.

If you indeed only had one fob, then I would suggest that you call around to various towing services. Surely one of them has some sort of dolly that could be placed under the front wheels after jacking them up so you can roll the car out of the garage.

This can't be a unique problem in the world of automobile towing.

[Betelgeuse]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kenedamick @ Jul 19 2006, 11:08 AM) [snapback]288668[/snapback]</div>

We did get two - I lost the first one within 6 months of us buying the car (predictably) and the other one was stolen in the robbery. The valet key is the little "key" that comes out of the top of the master key. I was wondering if that would work somehow in starting the car.
If we can get the car out of the garage to the dealership then they will program the keys to the computer in the car. The guy that robbed my wife is too big of a dumbass to know how to operate that thing.
I guess we have a 2005 Prius - not a 2004 Prius. I need more coffee.

-M
[/b]

No way that I know of to start the car with one of the little metal keys. I'm nearly certain there is no way.

I think the only thing you can do is get it towed to the dealership (unless your dealer makes housecalls). They have to program the keys, and my understanding is that they need the car there to do that. There is some debate as to whether they will need to replace the ECU (one of the computers), but from the things I've read recently, I think this often is NOT the case (if the dealer knows what they're doing).

This is as good a time as any to remind everyone that if you lose a key, you should make an effort to replace it in fairly short order. My understanding is that it's MUCH easier (and cheaper) to program a new key if someone has an existing one. Not that this helps you now, kenedamick, but hopefully it will help someone else.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kenedamick @ Jul 19 2006, 11:10 AM) [snapback]288668[/snapback]</div>

"valet key" is the term that the people at Toyota have used to describe that tiny "key" that is removable from the main master key.

Sorry if I sound like an idiot - I'm just some regular ol prius owner. Be easy on me!!! java script:emoticon('', 'smid_9')
[/b]

Ah yes. Well, I can understand why people mix up the terminology. I think "Emergency Key" would be a better term for it, but even that's not 100% good, since it can't actually start your car in an emergency.

EDIT: Actually, now you've got me interested. How did you end up with an emergency key, but not with one of the FOBs (little remote thingies)? Or are those one of the "blanks" that you bought yesterday?

EDIT2: And I agree with Marlin. I'm sure that tow companies have the technology to tow cars that are in "Park." Otherwise, how would they tow cars that are parked illegally on the street?

[kenedamick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Jul 19 2006, 10:11 AM) [snapback]288672[/snapback]</div>

Your Prius should have come with two fobs, both of which are masters. You should be able to operate the car with either an should also be able to program new fobs with either.

If you indeed only had one fob, then I would suggest that you call around to various towing services. Surely one of them has some sort of dolly that could be placed under the front wheels after jacking them up so you can roll the car out of the garage.

This can't be a unique problem in the world of automobile towing.
[/b]

Right - but the thing is, right now the Prius is a big immovable object. It's stuck in "lock" position and there's no way to get it in neutral..



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 19 2006, 10:18 AM) [snapback]288678[/snapback]</div>

No way that I know of to start the car with one of the little metal keys. I'm nearly certain there is no way.

I think the only thing you can do is get it towed to the dealership (unless your dealer makes housecalls). They have to program the keys, and my understanding is that they need the car there to do that. There is some debate as to whether they will need to replace the ECU (one of the computers), but from the things I've read recently, I think this often is NOT the case (if the dealer knows what they're doing).

This is as good a time as any to remind everyone that if you lose a key, you should make an effort to replace it in fairly short order. My understanding is that it's MUCH easier (and cheaper) to program a new key if someone has an existing one. Not that this helps you now, kenedamick, but hopefully it will help someone else.
Ah yes. Well, I can understand why people mix up the terminology. I think "Emergency Key" would be a better term for it, but even that's not 100% good, since it can't actually start your car in an emergency.
[/b]

Exactly - what is the purpose of that thing if it can't start the car? I seriously don't know what it is for.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 19 2006, 10:18 AM) [snapback]288678[/snapback]</div>

No way that I know of to start the car with one of the little metal keys. I'm nearly certain there is no way.

I think the only thing you can do is get it towed to the dealership (unless your dealer makes housecalls). They have to program the keys, and my understanding is that they need the car there to do that. There is some debate as to whether they will need to replace the ECU (one of the computers), but from the things I've read recently, I think this often is NOT the case (if the dealer knows what they're doing).

This is as good a time as any to remind everyone that if you lose a key, you should make an effort to replace it in fairly short order. My understanding is that it's MUCH easier (and cheaper) to program a new key if someone has an existing one. Not that this helps you now, kenedamick, but hopefully it will help someone else.
Ah yes. Well, I can understand why people mix up the terminology. I think "Emergency Key" would be a better term for it, but even that's not 100% good, since it can't actually start your car in an emergency.

EDIT: Actually, now you've got me interested. How did you end up with an emergency key, but not with one of the FOBs (little remote thingies)? Or are those one of the "blanks" that you bought yesterday?
[/b]

Yes - please take it from me. If you lose a key, REPLACE IT! We're looking at 450.00 + for these blanks plus programming. I should have had mine replaced the second I lost it. I'm just stubborn.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 19 2006, 10:18 AM) [snapback]288678[/snapback]</div>

No way that I know of to start the car with one of the little metal keys. I'm nearly certain there is no way.

I think the only thing you can do is get it towed to the dealership (unless your dealer makes housecalls). They have to program the keys, and my understanding is that they need the car there to do that. There is some debate as to whether they will need to replace the ECU (one of the computers), but from the things I've read recently, I think this often is NOT the case (if the dealer knows what they're doing).

This is as good a time as any to remind everyone that if you lose a key, you should make an effort to replace it in fairly short order. My understanding is that it's MUCH easier (and cheaper) to program a new key if someone has an existing one. Not that this helps you now, kenedamick, but hopefully it will help someone else.
Ah yes. Well, I can understand why people mix up the terminology. I think "Emergency Key" would be a better term for it, but even that's not 100% good, since it can't actually start your car in an emergency.

EDIT: Actually, now you've got me interested. How did you end up with an emergency key, but not with one of the FOBs (little remote thingies)? Or are those one of the "blanks" that you bought yesterday?

EDIT2: And I agree with Marlin. I'm sure that tow companies have the technology to tow cars that are in "Park." Otherwise, how would they tow cars that are parked illegally on the street?
[/b]

RE: EDITS -

We bought two blank FOBS that need to be programmed. They both have the little emergency keys - but now that I think about it, there is no way that the emergency keys are already customized to our specific Prius - so it's a moot point.

Sucks about the tow. We crapped away 55.00 yesterday for some tow-guy to come over and tell us he "can't do it".

Bummer.