Finally! How to program a non-SKS key/fob. Detailed!

[patsparks]

I don't, I just know someone found the method that works, where it came from I couldn't give a rats left butt cheek.

[mreeder]

I was able to program my Prius to start the engine with a silver logo fob that I purchased on ebay. My car has the SKS feature and the spare fob purchased on ebay is a SKS fob, so it wasn't clear if the non-SKS instructions amethystjw gives above would work. But they worked, at least for "start the car" feature. I didn't want to pay the Toyota dealer $110 to program all the features of the fob. I only wanted to be able to plug the spare fob into the dash and start the engine. The five step programming instructions worked perfectly the first time and took less then two minutes. I also purchase a spare metal key and had the dealer cut it to fit my car. With the spare metal key in a magnetic hide box outside the car and the spare fob well hidden in the reassesses of my trunk, I am now protected should I ever loose my regular fob while away from home.

[schifferj]

The Fob (for SKS functions)
Nice try. I warned you at the beginning of this document that I don't know anything about SKS since my car is not SKS-equipped. From the many, many threads and comments I've read on programming SKS fobs, it's clear that it is impossible to do yourself and must be done by your Toyota dealer. That said, one reliable source claims that following the directions above for programming the fob to remotely unlock your doors will also make the fob's SKS functions work, assuming it's a silver-logo fob. I'm curious to know if that really works so please post your results if you try it.

Here's my sad but true story. I purchased my new SKS equipped Prius from a big city dealer. Much to my chagrin when I got home to the small city on the other side of the state one of my SKS fobs wouldn't work. I finally determined that I had the FOB from a car that wasn't mine (the metal key wouldn't unlock the door). I took my FOB to the local small city dealer and they were unable to reprogram it to work in my car. I followed the above steps and like one of the other posters was able to program it to start the car as a "dumb key" (i.e inserted in the fob slot. I could not, however, program it to operate as a smart key or to lock, unlock the doors with the buttons on the fob. I've pinged the big city dealer to email me the instructions for programming a smart fob and they are very anxious to get the "excellent" rating on my followup with Toyota so they just might do that. If they do I'll post em up here.

[patsparks]

That would be cool!!
Good luck.

[eclipse3g]

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[jjksutton]

it worked for me too. $40 total (including a blank metal key) for a black logo fob. Thanks very much for the info amethystjw and 05 Solar Prius!

[Scrittibear]

does this work for a 2008 base prius non sks?

[philmcneal]

going to need to bump this in case i need to offer the service to someone for cheaper than toyo!!

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by Scrittibear

does this work for a 2008 base prius non sks?

Yes, you need a second hand black logo, non SKS fob and a new blank key.

Chrome logo on the fob means it's and SKS fob.

[roadgoat]

Any tips on the getting the lock function to go? I tried multiple times, I got a black logo'd FOB via an eBAY auction. It now can start the car in the slot, but I can't get it to program for the car's locks. I have a 2005 Prius.