key detected in vehicle - while driving

[cantgoback]

Originally Posted by qbee42

The door open indication happens during the bump. The problem occurs when a door or hatch is closed well enough to depress the door switch, but not completely latched tight. It might not be QA at all, but simply the design of the latch and switch. Regardless, as an end user, I would want the latch and door switch to be synchronized.

Tom

I agree, the latch and door switch should be synchronized. Isn't that the purpose of the door switch afterall? -- to report when the latch is not closed well. (If anybody understands, please explain why they would want to have them intentionally not synchronized.) In my opinion this is a design flaw, and their QA should have caught this bug. Maybe they are fully aware of it, but don't have a solution yet or simply under pressure to release product and view this issue as minor or corner case, or it could be defective parts. Anyways, it just means that from now on I have double check the hatch each time I close it. Things could be worse.

[cantgoback]

Originally Posted by rrolff

I have found if the key is in my left pocket (deep - almost under my leg), sometimes the car does not recognize a key very well - so in theory, you could be driving, then have the car "think" there is no key, then have it "think" there is a key - and report it (key detected)...

Where did you guys have the key???

That's an interesting find... So is it your leg that is attenuating the signals to the key, or do you think the sensor signals are just weak in that area? I don't know where or how the key is sensed, or what the optimal position is, but I can try driving with the key under my left leg and see if that triggers the warning.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by cantgoback

That's an interesting find... So is it your leg that is attenuating the signals to the key, or do you think the sensor signals are just weak in that area? I don't know where or how the key is sensed, or what the optimal position is, but I can try driving with the key under my left leg and see if that triggers the warning.

In the situation described here, the person's leg blocks the radio signal from the fob. The transponder is in the center console, so a left pocket puts the fob farther away and on the wrong side of the person's body.

The signal can also be blocked by interference from a cell phone if you keep both in the same pocket.

Tom

[doddato]

JDCOLLINS 5 was spot on! Today, I had the same problem with my 2010 Prius V. I was returning home from from a Washtub car wash when I got the "key detected in vehicle" error with the yellow triangle !. The only way I could clear the error was to pull my car to the side of the road, turn off the power and restart the car. When I read JDcollins comments about the trunk lid not being fully closed, I went to check my car in the garage, and sure enough, the trunk lid was ajar. The carwash had not closed it properly. Hopefully, I won't have the problem again.

I really appreciate these Prius chat forums. Thanks! AugieD

[phunkopathic]

This just happened to me yesterday while driving through STL. I hit the unlock/lock switch on the door and it cleared it, then it happened again... About 5 times in total. We stopped and ate but I didn't do anything with the doors because I hadn't read this. When I got back in, I drove for two hours without incidence. <shrug>

[coop2911]

Originally Posted by jdcollins5

I had this same error message a couple of weeks ago. My issue turned out to be that the hatchback door was not fully closed. I got the alarm whenever I went over a bump.

Exactly what happened to me - hatchback was not closed.