Stealing RFID chip-equippped cars

Scott_R · 07-31-2006, 01:16 PM

Not Prius-specific, but Wired has an interesting article about RFID-equipped cars being stolen, and the trouble owners are given by insurance companies who doubt that the "unstealable" cars were actually stolen.

Interesting point: that some transponder-equipped cars came with a secret "cheat" code designed to allow people who lose their keys to drive back to the shop. Is the Prius so equipped?

FBear · 07-31-2006, 01:44 PM

I wonder where the backdoor is on a Prius. There must be one, not everyone remembers to leave their FOB when they drop it off for service.

tmorrowus · 07-31-2006, 04:29 PM

I would never have guessed the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid would have such a backdoor... it does make me wonder whether the Prius has one. According to the article, with the Civic there is a way you can bypass the transponder and start the car by doing a certain sequence of emergency brake actions. To get the sequence that works for your car you would have to give the VIN to a dealer (or someone who has access to dealer computer systems).

I would guess (hope) that Toyota wouldn't have left such a backdoor in, since with the Prius you don't even need a mechanical key to get in. So having such a backdoor would leave the Prius more exposed than the Civic.

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07-31-2006, 01:16 PM	#1
Scott_R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 318 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Not Prius-specific, but Wired has an interesting article about RFID-equipped cars being stolen, and the trouble owners are given by insurance companies who doubt that the "unstealable" cars were actually stolen. Interesting point: that some transponder-equipped cars came with a secret "cheat" code designed to allow people who lose their keys to drive back to the shop. Is the Prius so equipped?

07-31-2006, 01:44 PM	#2
FBear Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maplewood, NJ Posts: 272 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I wonder where the backdoor is on a Prius. There must be one, not everyone remembers to leave their FOB when they drop it off for service.

07-31-2006, 04:29 PM	#3
tmorrowus Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 425 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I would never have guessed the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid would have such a backdoor... it does make me wonder whether the Prius has one. According to the article, with the Civic there is a way you can bypass the transponder and start the car by doing a certain sequence of emergency brake actions. To get the sequence that works for your car you would have to give the VIN to a dealer (or someone who has access to dealer computer systems). I would guess (hope) that Toyota wouldn't have left such a backdoor in, since with the Prius you don't even need a mechanical key to get in. So having such a backdoor would leave the Prius more exposed than the Civic.