Car is smarter than me (thank God!)

jamesbalch · 06-03-2007, 07:59 AM

After 9 months and 17,000 miles of ownership, I finally tried to do it. The wifey and I went out for a bite last nite after working in the yard most of the day. Tired, I got into the car and carelessly threw the keys into the cup holder. We arrived and both got out. As I hit the black button to lock the doors, I heard a very long beep, and didn't hear the familiar "click" of the locks in the doors. Instantly, I knew what the car had prevented me from doing!

Thank goodness the Toyota engineers are aware of the fact that people can be stupid at times!

I wonder how the system differentiates between a key FOB held outside by the door handle, and one that is inside the car (a difference of only a few inches)? They must have two sensors in the system, with one set with a much lower sensitivity. If the low sensitivity sensor can "hear " the FOB, then it knows it has to be inside the car. That's my guess anyway.

I'm just glad the system is in place. Would have cost me extra time, effort and money to cab it all the way back to my house, get my extra FOB and then cab it back to my car.

By the way, I have kept track of every drop of gas I have put into the car since day one. So far, I have averaged 49.3 miles per gallon. That's not too shabby, seeing as how I live up here in the Northeast and the roads are mostly winding and hilly.

Very happy with the car to this point. Not one spec of problem with it.

Neicy · 06-03-2007, 08:19 AM

I think it's great that it took you 9 months to do it. Only took me 3 months to try it. I usually keep them in my pocket on weekends or in my purse when I'm working, but when you're tired you don't always do the same routine actions. Great feature though no matter how it works. Also found you can't press the button with the same hand you have the fob in - I guess it's too close to the sensor?

gamiller · 06-03-2007, 08:28 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jim B. @ Jun 3 2007, 07:59 AM) [snapback]454312[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

After 9 months and 17,000 miles of ownership, I finally tried to do it. The wifey and I went out for a bite last nite after working in the yard most of the day. Tired, I got into the car and carelessly threw the keys into the cup holder. We arrived and both got out. As I hit the black button to lock the doors, I heard a very long beep, and didn't hear the familiar "click" of the locks in the doors. Instantly, I knew what the car had prevented me from doing!

Thank goodness the Toyota engineers are aware of the fact that people can be stupid at times![/b]

Jim I have reached a new level of stupidity . How about dropping off the person with the smart key only to realize I didn't have mine.
The engineers can only do so much.

parrot_lady · 06-03-2007, 10:10 AM

that was the VERY first feature I had to play with when I got my car, with the keys in hand and squeal of glee I JOYFULLY threw my car keys on the seat and hit the lock button... only hear the long "you can't do you stupid idiot beep"

that feature has saved me countless times.

As for dropping off the person with the smart key, thats easy, you don't shut the car off. It can and will continue to run with out the key in the engine until you get to where you need to go. I have thankfully never needed to use this feature.

narf · 06-03-2007, 10:25 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jim B. @ Jun 3 2007, 04:59 AM) [snapback]454312[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I wonder how the system differentiates between a key FOB held outside by the door handle, and one that is inside the car (a difference of only a few inches)? They must have two sensors in the system, with one set with a much lower sensitivity. If the low sensitivity sensor can "hear " the FOB, then it knows it has to be inside the car. That's my guess anyway.
Very happy with the car to this point. Not one spec of problem with it.

[/b]

Pretty close. There is a sensor at each front door handle, at the rear hatch handle, and one in the center console.

Neicy · 06-03-2007, 10:29 AM

But if you drop off the person with the smart key don't you get the fast beep same as when I leave my car with the key in my pocket?

**TonyPSchaefer** · 06-03-2007, 10:44 AM

The Smart Key sensors are located inside and outside the car. This way, the outside ones detect you as you approach and they establish communication with the fob. Then then you're inside the car, the internal sensors establish communication to allow you to start the car. You know the rest when it comes to " fob detected inside the car and doors attempted to lock." One scenario you might not know yet is that if you use the door handle push-button with the fob inside, the doors will unlock when you close the door.

These are really neat tricks to show people who ask about the car. These simple little things really do point out that the engineers really put some thought in it.

PLEASE NOTE
The Smart key sensors have a difficult time with fobs in the cargo area. If you throw your fob in a bag (at the gym, for example) and then throw the bag in the cargo area, your car might not start. Likewise, if in the same situation you lock the doors, the auto-unlock (known in my house as "Tony Proofing) might not work.

gamiller · 06-03-2007, 11:04 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Neicy @ Jun 3 2007, 10:29 AM) [snapback]454346[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

But if you drop off the person with the smart key don't you get the fast beep same as when I leave my car with the key in my pocket?
[/b]

Yes there is some kind of warning and if I remember a yellow caution light somewhere, but early in the morning is not my best time of the day and it did take a few seconds to understand what the car was telling me.

OlsonBW · 06-03-2007, 11:11 AM

My scenario happened within a week of buying our Prius last December.

My wife wanted to stop at the grocery store on the way home. No problem. It wasn't too cold (it's Seattle) so I decided to stay in the car because I was really tired and was going to take a nap while I waited for my wife. After awhile though I decided to go in because there was something I wanted to get.

So ... I get out of the car (with the fob in my pocket) and try to lock the doors. No luck. I spent 10 very frustrated minutes trying to lock the doors. I was tired enough that it never dawned on me that my wife might have changed coats (she had two in the car that day for some reason) and leave the one with HER fob in the coat pocket in the car.

Frustrated and really tired I gave up and got back into the car and pushed the button on the door and locked the doors. Sometime later my wife came out and I told her what happened. She looked embarrassed and told me she had left her coat with her key fob in the car.

Talk about being stupid. Me that is, not my wife. No matter how tired I am in the future I will definitely know to check for another fob in the car.

It was a good thing I didn't have to go to the bathroom or something. I wouldn't have wanted to leave my laptop in the hatch of the car (covered) with the doors unlocked just in case someone tried opening the doors.

My other stupid thing was not closing the hatch tightly all the way a couple months later after arriving home after work on a Friday. My wife insists that we drive our Jeep once in awhile because it "needs" to get used once in awhile too.

Monday morning I couldn't start the car and I learned how to jump start a Prius (using the directions in the owner's manual.

JimN · 06-03-2007, 04:55 PM

I can confirm that the car won't start with the fob in the cargo area. It does work behind the front passenger seat.

06-03-2007, 10:10 AM	#4
parrot_lady Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 344 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	that was the VERY first feature I had to play with when I got my car, with the keys in hand and squeal of glee I JOYFULLY threw my car keys on the seat and hit the lock button... only hear the long "you can't do you stupid idiot beep" that feature has saved me countless times. As for dropping off the person with the smart key, thats easy, you don't shut the car off. It can and will continue to run with out the key in the engine until you get to where you need to go. I have thankfully never needed to use this feature. __________________ I gave up trying to figure out the plural of prius long ago. Someone asked me what kind of cars our family drove and I simply told them "We're a two prion family, no more no less." --- mods: Block heater(ins 1-28-06)mudflaps(ins 12-16-05), BT Tech chassis stiffening plate ( ins 12-16), EV switch (Rec'd)

06-03-2007, 10:44 AM	#7
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,347 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	The Smart Key sensors are located inside and outside the car. This way, the outside ones detect you as you approach and they establish communication with the fob. Then then you're inside the car, the internal sensors establish communication to allow you to start the car. You know the rest when it comes to " fob detected inside the car and doors attempted to lock." One scenario you might not know yet is that if you use the door handle push-button with the fob inside, the doors will unlock when you close the door. These are really neat tricks to show people who ask about the car. These simple little things really do point out that the engineers really put some thought in it. PLEASE NOTE The Smart key sensors have a difficult time with fobs in the cargo area. If you throw your fob in a bag (at the gym, for example) and then throw the bag in the cargo area, your car might not start. Likewise, if in the same situation you lock the doors, the auto-unlock (known in my house as "Tony Proofing) might not work. __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness >>Current Mileage<< Spreading information and passing gas in the Greater Chicagoland area

06-03-2007, 11:11 AM	#9
OlsonBW Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 215 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My scenario happened within a week of buying our Prius last December. My wife wanted to stop at the grocery store on the way home. No problem. It wasn't too cold (it's Seattle) so I decided to stay in the car because I was really tired and was going to take a nap while I waited for my wife. After awhile though I decided to go in because there was something I wanted to get. So ... I get out of the car (with the fob in my pocket) and try to lock the doors. No luck. I spent 10 very frustrated minutes trying to lock the doors. I was tired enough that it never dawned on me that my wife might have changed coats (she had two in the car that day for some reason) and leave the one with HER fob in the coat pocket in the car. Frustrated and really tired I gave up and got back into the car and pushed the button on the door and locked the doors. Sometime later my wife came out and I told her what happened. She looked embarrassed and told me she had left her coat with her key fob in the car. Talk about being stupid. Me that is, not my wife. No matter how tired I am in the future I will definitely know to check for another fob in the car. It was a good thing I didn't have to go to the bathroom or something. I wouldn't have wanted to leave my laptop in the hatch of the car (covered) with the doors unlocked just in case someone tried opening the doors. My other stupid thing was not closing the hatch tightly all the way a couple months later after arriving home after work on a Friday. My wife insists that we drive our Jeep once in awhile because it "needs" to get used once in awhile too. Monday morning I couldn't start the car and I learned how to jump start a Prius (using the directions in the owner's manual. __________________ My 2007 Prius Touring Package #3 web pages.

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06-03-2007, 07:59 AM	#1
jamesbalch Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast Posts: 68 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	After 9 months and 17,000 miles of ownership, I finally tried to do it. The wifey and I went out for a bite last nite after working in the yard most of the day. Tired, I got into the car and carelessly threw the keys into the cup holder. We arrived and both got out. As I hit the black button to lock the doors, I heard a very long beep, and didn't hear the familiar "click" of the locks in the doors. Instantly, I knew what the car had prevented me from doing! Thank goodness the Toyota engineers are aware of the fact that people can be stupid at times! I wonder how the system differentiates between a key FOB held outside by the door handle, and one that is inside the car (a difference of only a few inches)? They must have two sensors in the system, with one set with a much lower sensitivity. If the low sensitivity sensor can "hear " the FOB, then it knows it has to be inside the car. That's my guess anyway. I'm just glad the system is in place. Would have cost me extra time, effort and money to cab it all the way back to my house, get my extra FOB and then cab it back to my car. By the way, I have kept track of every drop of gas I have put into the car since day one. So far, I have averaged 49.3 miles per gallon. That's not too shabby, seeing as how I live up here in the Northeast and the roads are mostly winding and hilly. Very happy with the car to this point. Not one spec of problem with it.

06-03-2007, 08:19 AM	#2
Neicy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wakefield, MA. Posts: 781 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: G Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	I think it's great that it took you 9 months to do it. Only took me 3 months to try it. I usually keep them in my pocket on weekends or in my purse when I'm working, but when you're tired you don't always do the same routine actions. Great feature though no matter how it works. Also found you can't press the button with the same hand you have the fob in - I guess it's too close to the sensor?

06-03-2007, 10:29 AM	#6
Neicy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wakefield, MA. Posts: 781 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: G Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	But if you drop off the person with the smart key don't you get the fast beep same as when I leave my car with the key in my pocket?

06-03-2007, 04:55 PM	#10
JimN Certified Prius Advisor Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,191 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I can confirm that the car won't start with the fob in the cargo area. It does work behind the front passenger seat.