How far can you drive without a key fob?

[David Beale]

The actual answer to the OP's question is about 900 km. That's about as far as you can go on a tank of fuel. Of course you -could- leave the car running while you fuel up, but in most places that is illegal. And naturally, some hyper-milers will go 1300 or more km. That's a long ways to walk back to get the FOB!

[skilbovia]

I thought that without the fob you couldn't get it out of park. Wrongo!

Which means that I had a false sense of security when I left the car in park while running into a convenience store. That could have been disastrous!

[Tipo815]

2011 Prius. Forgot fob on kitchen counter. Car started and I drove to a restaurant 15 miles away. Stopped at a gas station on the way (turned off car). Restarted with no problem and continued on to restaurant. Once there I realized I did not have the fob. Figured I couldn't do anything about it so I enjoyed dinner. Came out and pressed power button. Everything came on including the message "key not detected." Interestingly enough this message did not come on at the gas station when I had initially stopped. Anyway, I figured I would have a friend follow me home in case the car stopped. Made it all the way home with no problem and found the fob sitting on the kitchen counter. Bottom line? For some reason the absence of the fob makes no difference which was a big surprise to me.

[DaveinOlyWA]

Ah, no . Is not possible

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by Tipo815

2011 Prius. Forgot fob on kitchen counter. Car started and I drove to a restaurant 15 miles away. Stopped at a gas station on the way (turned off car). Restarted with no problem and continued on to restaurant. Once there I realized I did not have the fob. Figured I couldn't do anything about it so I enjoyed dinner. Came out and pressed power button. Everything came on including the message "key not detected." Interestingly enough this message did not come on at the gas station when I had initially stopped. Anyway, I figured I would have a friend follow me home in case the car stopped. Made it all the way home with no problem and found the fob sitting on the kitchen counter. Bottom line? For some reason the absence of the fob makes no difference which was a big surprise to me.

If this is true, you have a serious problem with your Prius. It would also be the first time any of us has heard of this problem.

Tom

[Michgal007]

Originally Posted by mgb4tim

as long as you can stand that beeping

I was going to say the same. Is there a way to disable the beep?

[Michgal007]

Originally Posted by Tipo815

2011 Prius. Forgot fob on kitchen counter. Car started and I drove to a restaurant 15 miles away. Stopped at a gas station on the way (turned off car). Restarted with no problem and continued on to restaurant. Once there I realized I did not have the fob. Figured I couldn't do anything about it so I enjoyed dinner. Came out and pressed power button. Everything came on including the message "key not detected." Interestingly enough this message did not come on at the gas station when I had initially stopped. Anyway, I figured I would have a friend follow me home in case the car stopped. Made it all the way home with no problem and found the fob sitting on the kitchen counter. Bottom line? For some reason the absence of the fob makes no difference which was a big surprise to me.

I would like to know where you work just in case I happen to be in the area.

[RobH]

Originally Posted by Tipo815

For some reason the absence of the fob makes no difference which was a big surprise to me.

Probably another fob somewhere inside the car. Under the seat, in the glove box, somewhere in the front.

[GaryP.]

Originally Posted by RobH

Probably another fob somewhere inside the car. Under the seat, in the glove box, somewhere in the front.

My thoughts exactly, except for the messages about key not detected.
Guess I will go try mine now

[pjay]

Interesting thread. I'm new to the Prius (had it only a month), so I haven't tried to drive without the fob in the car and can't imagine a situation in which I would not have the fob on my key ring and thus on my person.

For my previous car, a CR-V, I carried a valet key in my wallet in case I ever needed it. Usually gave it to dealer mechanics to drive in and out of the garage for servicing. The CR-V had a feature I greatly appreciated, though; it made it very difficult for you to lock yourself out. If the driver's door was open, you couldn't lock it with the master lock switch on the driver's door. You COULD close the driver's door, then open the passenger door and activate the master lock switch on the passenger door, and then if the key was somewhere in the car at that point, you were out of luck. But fortunately, I was never that dumb.

I appreciate the Prius's antilockout feature, too, whereby it won't permit the doors to be locked if there's a fob inside. (I tried this by pressing the master lock switch with the second fob in hand, and surprisingly, it does lock all the doors, and you can close the doors. But then it opens them, and the "KEY DETECTED IN VEHICLE" message pops up on the display.)

Maybe I will figure out a way to carry the Prius's second fob around in case it's ever needed.