two priuses -- one key?

100MPG · 08-29-2006, 10:21 AM

i am the proud owner of two priuses, and would like to use one key for both. i want to lighten my keychain for one thing, and for another want to reduce my risk exposure for losing my keys, since they cost $230 appiece and i am rather absent minded with possessions.

anyone know how to do this? can i reprogram one of the cars to respond to the other's keys?

brandon · 08-29-2006, 10:23 AM

This has been asked before on PC (roughly a year ago). I believe the answer was no.

*EDIT* Well, maybe I spoke too soon. I just found this post suggesting that it is possible if both vehicles use the same fob model:
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=19819

And another thread:
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=11755

... And more debate:
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=11680

AlphaTeam · 08-29-2006, 03:41 PM

FWIW...I'm too lazy to search. But someone actaully posted that they had 2 Prii and were able to program their 4 fobs (2 from each) for both cars.

And heard it on the internet so it must be true.

Tadashi · 08-29-2006, 04:43 PM

Nope not possible. We already tried it.

I talked to the Toyota Prius techs and they tried. They even contacted their Toyota HQ to do it. If there is a way let me know.

I think the problem is the way the car interfaces with the car and changes the coe for the next query. The fob would have to be especially setup to know it deals with two seperate cars. So you would have to modify the fob.

seasidetraveler · 08-29-2006, 04:54 PM

I would hope that this is not possible, because that means it's even easier to steal the Prius

airpolgas · 08-29-2006, 05:10 PM

Another reason why it may not be possible is the fact that there's a chance you will sell your car in the future. You probably won't get a buyer if you tell them that your other car shares the same keys, unless they want to buy both cars.

galaxee · 08-29-2006, 05:41 PM

theoretically it can be done, but it's also a PITA in theory.

the gist of it is that while it may be remotely possible to get a fob to recognize 2 cars, by using a fob on 1 car you'd essentially be telling the fob to forget about the other car, and you'd have to go through some re-registration step that pretty much negates the smartkey use of the fob.

that is, if you get the fob to recognize both cars, which as i said is quite the remote possibility.

qbee42 · 08-29-2006, 11:08 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasidetraveler @ Aug 29 2006, 04:54 PM) [snapback]311278[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I would hope that this is not possible, because that means it's even easier to steal the Prius
[/b]

No, that's not right. You have to program the car to recognize the fob, not the other way around. A would be thief wanting to steal your Prius with a new fob would have to load the Prius on a flatbed, take it to the dealer, and have them program the Prius to use their fob.

Tom

100MPG · 09-01-2006, 01:38 PM

i don't know how hard it is to replace the SKS computer, but i think they only cost a few hundred dollars, thus on par with a pair of keys. so i could buy a new SKS computer and teach it to recognize the existing keys from my 2004.

then if i ever what to sell the car in the future, i could just snap in the original SKS computer and sell it with the original key.

but i have no idea how hard it is to swap SKS computers, or whether there is some complex process of associating the SKS computer with the other computers on the car, etc.

chazman · 09-02-2006, 05:53 PM

If I could get my Prius fob to unlock the front door on my house (or any other lock) I'd be a happy tinkerer.
And I don't really care if some other Prius key works, too, since it's just not going to actually happen that way.

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08-29-2006, 10:21 AM	#1
100MPG Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	i am the proud owner of two priuses, and would like to use one key for both. i want to lighten my keychain for one thing, and for another want to reduce my risk exposure for losing my keys, since they cost $230 appiece and i am rather absent minded with possessions. anyone know how to do this? can i reprogram one of the cars to respond to the other's keys?

08-29-2006, 10:23 AM	#2
brandon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 770 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	This has been asked before on PC (roughly a year ago). I believe the answer was no. EDIT Well, maybe I spoke too soon. I just found this post suggesting that it is possible if both vehicles use the same fob model: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=19819 And another thread: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=11755 ... And more debate: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=11680

08-29-2006, 03:41 PM	#3
AlphaTeam Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 640 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	FWIW...I'm too lazy to search. But someone actaully posted that they had 2 Prii and were able to program their 4 fobs (2 from each) for both cars. And heard it on the internet so it must be true.

08-29-2006, 04:43 PM	#4
Tadashi Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fort Hood, TX Posts: 795 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Nope not possible. We already tried it. I talked to the Toyota Prius techs and they tried. They even contacted their Toyota HQ to do it. If there is a way let me know. I think the problem is the way the car interfaces with the car and changes the coe for the next query. The fob would have to be especially setup to know it deals with two seperate cars. So you would have to modify the fob.

08-29-2006, 04:54 PM	#5
seasidetraveler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: CA Posts: 623 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I would hope that this is not possible, because that means it's even easier to steal the Prius

08-29-2006, 05:10 PM	#6
airpolgas Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 105 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Another reason why it may not be possible is the fact that there's a chance you will sell your car in the future. You probably won't get a buyer if you tell them that your other car shares the same keys, unless they want to buy both cars.

08-29-2006, 05:41 PM	#7
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 93 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	theoretically it can be done, but it's also a PITA in theory. the gist of it is that while it may be remotely possible to get a fob to recognize 2 cars, by using a fob on 1 car you'd essentially be telling the fob to forget about the other car, and you'd have to go through some re-registration step that pretty much negates the smartkey use of the fob. that is, if you get the fob to recognize both cars, which as i said is quite the remote possibility.

09-01-2006, 01:38 PM	#9
100MPG Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	i don't know how hard it is to replace the SKS computer, but i think they only cost a few hundred dollars, thus on par with a pair of keys. so i could buy a new SKS computer and teach it to recognize the existing keys from my 2004. then if i ever what to sell the car in the future, i could just snap in the original SKS computer and sell it with the original key. but i have no idea how hard it is to swap SKS computers, or whether there is some complex process of associating the SKS computer with the other computers on the car, etc.

09-02-2006, 05:53 PM	#10
chazman Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	If I could get my Prius fob to unlock the front door on my house (or any other lock) I'd be a happy tinkerer. And I don't really care if some other Prius key works, too, since it's just not going to actually happen that way.