Minor Smart Key problem = ECU Replacement

[hill]

Regardng my 2004 package 9 (which I think is now called package 6 ... meaning you got everything the car could possibly come with):

When my SKS smart function seemed to die a year ago I thought, "no biggie" I'll just use the remote to open the door(s) and plug the fob in to start up. This happened around 19,000 miles. The only reason I was at the dealer at that time was so they could program a 2nd SKS. It took numerous tries, and THREE HOURS. Only intermitent smark function after that day.

At 42,000 miles I got a recall for a brake light switch. Needing an oil change anyway, I asked them to reprogram BOTH SKS's so the smart function would work again. So they had the car for the whole day. They called me back around 5PM.

At 5PM the dealer says, "We can't replicate your problem.” That was because the dealer plugged the fob into the dash and the car started fine. They never even thought to try the smart function. Those fellows can sure be knuckleheads on occasion. Next, they acknowledged a problem, but they were out of time for that day. They asked me to bring it back EARLY so they could play with it for a longer time. Oil change & brake switch complete, I would come back another day.

5 minutes later, I got home. Hit the remote to lock it and will it lock? No. Neither of my fobs will remotely lock any more. "HEY!! What’s up with that", I said to the service tech upon immediately calling him back. I bring in two FOBS for smart programming and I loose the ability to lock the doors remotely. BTW, it's VERY annoying to have to pull that tiny key off the fob to unlock the doors. "Don't worry Mr. Hill, we'll get it right when you bring it back". (for another day)

Later in the week, and back in the shop, the Prius got worked on all day. They called at 5PM saying, "err, Mr. Hill we still have a problem". They said the SKS's ECU was the problem, and it'd have to be replaced ... and that will be over ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. "So, let me get this right ... I bring in a fob for programming at 19,000 miles, where I loose the smart function, and now at 42,000 you loose my remote door lock function ... so i have to buy a $1,000 + ECU?

Lovely. At least I bought the ZERO deductible bumper-to-bumper extended warranty. But this isn't the end of the SKS snafu. Wind the calander 2 weeks forward, the ECU is ordered and installed. Time for me to pick up my properly working smart system, right?

"Mr. Hill, your car is ready ... only there's just one more thing. We could only program ONE of your TWO fobs completely. The other fob will only work if you stick it in the dash ... and it will no longer remotely lock/unlock the doors ... and the smart function won't work on it either. Thanks Mr. Hill ... and have a nice day." Yea, thanks a lot. So I left with only one properly working SKS.

I just got off "anythingtoyota.com" where I had to buy a 2nd fob. Just doesn't seem right, does it? Gary

[dkenglish7]

I think I would be talking to the service manager and the regional Toyota representative. To me, that extended warranty should be replacing your nonfunctional fob as well. Arguably, they broke it. Not you.

[galaxee]

1. where are you located
2. have you tried using another dealer
3. did you ever complain about losing sks function or just say screw it and use the fobs as dumb keys until it was convenient to go back

to their credit, the reprogram job is like a rain dance. irritatingly complex and deliberate. easy to muck up by anyone.

i wonder if somehow they knocked out your master key and that's why the sks is no longer working. i don't know if that's possible. eh. i'll ask my husband when he gets home from the shop tonight.

funny they wouldn't work on your car because it was "too late"... it's now 8pm and someone i know is still tinkering with a car.

for finding quality service in the future, please see this thread: http://priuschat.com/Getting-Your-Pr...ed-t16494.html

good luck

[hill]

Originally posted by galaxee@Mar 6 2006, 09:08 PM
1. where are you located
2. have you tried using another dealer
3. did you ever complain about losing sks function or just say screw it and use the fobs as dumb keys until it was convenient to go back

to their credit, the reprogram job is like a rain dance. irritatingly complex and deliberate. easy to muck up by anyone.

i wonder if somehow they knocked out your master key and that's why the sks is no longer working. i don't know if that's possible. eh. i'll ask my husband when he gets home from the shop tonight.

funny they wouldn't work on your car because it was "too late"... it's now 8pm and someone i know is still tinkering with a car.

for finding quality service in the future, please see this thread: http://priuschat.com/Getting-Your-Pr...ed-t16494.html
good luck

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I'm going to the Laguna Hill/Irvine (South Orange County CA) dealer. But you're right ... I'm motivated now to go north to the Tustin Dealer. They're still gladly working on RAV4-EV's up there, and those owners have high regards for their tech's ways. When my new fob comes (from anythingtoyota.com) in a couple days, I'll be taking it to Tustin.

I'm going to used the damaged key as my spare ... leave it hidden in the car. Since it no longer has remote unlock or smart capability, I'm thinking it will work fine just to start the car if I use it's door key hidden under the car. Lemons turned to lemonaid :^)

Yes, I complained at 19,000 miles that the smart function died, which they recalled. But the service manager's take on it is that since I waited 'till 42,000 miles,that all bets are off. To their credit, I realize the fob programing details are like vodoo. Thank God for extended warranties or it would have really been ugly.

[efusco]

You need to insist on a new SKS ECU...again.

Here's what can happen (it happened to me). A replacement ECU comes with 2 new fobs. Those are the fobs that MUST but use with the new ECU...the old ones absolutely will not work.

I don't know how/why you initially lost SKS function (and frankly can't belive you didn't insist on having the single best option available fixed immediately), but it needs to be fixed. This will affect your ultimate resale value and is a feature you shouldn't/needn't be without. It's 100% fixable in a system that is not actually all that complex (not withstanding the 'dance' to program an extra fob).

I'll bet that they replaced the ECU, tried to program it to your old fobs (easier b/c your keys were already on there), then screwed everything up doing that. You've got to have the fobs that come with the new ECU, then you can program extra fobs to that if necessary.

[hill]

Originally posted by efusco@Mar 7 2006, 01:54 PM
You need to insist on a new SKS ECU...again.

Here's what can happen (it happened to me).  A replacement ECU comes with 2 new fobs.  Those are the fobs that MUST but use with the new ECU...the old ones absolutely will not work.

I don't know how/why you initially lost SKS function (and frankly can't belive you didn't insist on having the single best option available fixed immediately), but it needs to be fixed.  This will affect your ultimate resale value and is a feature you shouldn't/needn't be without.  It's 100% fixable in a system that is not actually all that complex (not withstanding the 'dance' to program an extra fob).

I'll bet that they replaced the ECU, tried to program it to your old fobs (easier b/c your keys were already on there), then screwed everything up doing that.  You've got to have the fobs that come with the new ECU, then you can program extra fobs to that if necessary.

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Hi Evan,

Yes, I've read on numerous posts that the ECU must necessarily come w/ the new~coresponding FOBs. When I saw only 2 fobs sitting in the car upon completion of my work order, I said to the service manager, "Hey, where's the new fobs that come w/ the new ECU??" They said there is none.

What does one do at that point? Should I tell them, "hey, that's impossible ... I've read tons of posts on priusonline & prius chat that say otherwise"? No ... at that junction ... and with days and days of ongoing frustration ... I grabbed my one crummy fob & one working fob and got the heck out of there, just glad that I had ONE WORKING SKS fob. Thanks a lot Toyota of Irvine. But if I can go back & bitch with authority (writing) please, someone let me know.

BTW ... the folks at anythingtoyta.com aka Mike Calvert Toyota (home of the $131.00 + $7.00 shipping replacement fob) now say that this web site is officially "unmanned" ... but I'm still trying to get my replacement fob from them, as this is the cheapest advertised price … if in fact I can get them to honor it. Gary

[galaxee]

rather than complain to the service manager, who clearly is aware of the problem and indifferent... i'd call up the regional folks or the customer service number and report that the problem has not been fixed, they have tried multiple times and the system is still not working correctly and the malfunction is blatant.

i would bet that once you get it into capable hands it will be taken care of without a problem.

there are techs that get it and those that don't. when it comes to the sks, most of DH's coworkers end up going to him and asking. i think you'd be well off leaving that particular dealer simply because of the manager's indifference... but in many cases turning it over to another tech will suffice and they should know that. they really should know which jobs to give which guy... but many aren't great at matching ability to assigned tasks.

and he did say... it is possible to royally screw something up so bad that you can deprogram both keys, have no master and a nonfunctional although brand new ECU.

let us know how it turns out.

[jayman]

Well, speaking strictly as a systems analyst, shouldn't the dealer service manager and tech responsible both RTFM?

[efusco]

Originally posted by hill@Mar 7 2006, 07:02 PM
Hi Evan,

Yes, I've read on numerous posts that the ECU must necessarily come w/ the new~coresponding FOBs.  When I saw only 2 fobs sitting in the car upon completion of my work order, I said to the service manager, "Hey, where's the new fobs that come w/ the new ECU??"  They said there is none.

What does one do at that point?  Should I tell them, "hey, that's impossible ... I've read tons of posts on priusonline & prius chat that say otherwise"?  No ... at that junction  ...  and with days and days of ongoing frustration ... I grabbed my one crummy fob & one working fob and got the heck out of there, just glad that I had ONE WORKING SKS fob.  Thanks a lot Toyota of Irvine.  But if I can go back & bitch with authority (writing) please, someone let me know.

Well, I would've stayed and bitched...or at least asked them for a specific plan and time table as to how they were going to fix it. I know you're upset, but, I repeat, this is a very fixable problem...a relatively easy one at that.

Call the Toyota Customer support, get a case number, follow up where you wish. Very few SKS ECUs have had to be replaced, but it's critical that it be done correctly. And yes, I WOULD tell them that you've been to online Prius sites and have been informed by others who've experienced the same problem (partially working fob with ECU replacement but old fobs) that it is imperative that new fobs specifically programmed to the new ECU be given at the time of repair.

[hill]

Originally posted by jayman@Mar 7 2006, 09:21 PM
Well, speaking strictly as a systems analyst, shouldn't the dealer service manager and tech responsible both RTFM?

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Read the fine manual (I believe that's what that means)? Not sure how that applies, if in fact they DID RTFM. ... And what is the "fine manual"? Anyway, I'll see about contacting customer support (if in fact that's not an oxymoron) to see if they will pursue this.

I'll advise what they say.