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Lost Prius key fob - can I ping it?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Sangye Menla, May 29, 2015.

  1. Sangye Menla

    Sangye Menla Junior Member

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    I lost my key fob. it can only be in a few well defined places in and around our home. I am not ready to shell out $$$ for a new one. Is there any way to make it beep remotely or any other techie ideas on how to find it other than the old fashioned way of turning over every blade of grass, etc? (My wife still has the spare fob.)
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    this is a joke right? you cannot ping a lost fob

    This is the part number for the Toyota key finder PT725-03150
     
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    maybe a metal detector

    key fi nder.jpg Did not know you could buy a bluetooth key finder (of course you have to add the device to your key ring before it's lost)
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For fobs lost further afield, in anticipation of someone finding it and trying to return it: an attached luggage tag with email and phone number is good.

    OP, if you're confident it's in your place, just misplaced, that's some consolation: at least it's not gone far. Good luck with your search.

    Maybe a good think will help, retrace your steps.
     
  5. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    No. This time? You're skrood.
    Get a used replacement fob and a decent locksmith.


    And....spend $25 on one of these for next time:
    [​IMG]

    Good Luck!
     
  6. Sangye Menla

    Sangye Menla Junior Member

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    I woke up early this morning and continued my search, determined to find it, and did....in the giant city recycle bin. My key fob has no keys attached to it (I often go hiking and don't want to carry the extra weight), so metal detector wouldn't likely work. I attached a large orange plastic whistle to it though for better visibility. Thanks everyone for the moral support.:)
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    get another one before you lose the one you have.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I recently "misplaced" my wedding ring. Yes!

    About a week later, we were outside in our front yard, in the rain, looked at leaves clogging the storm drain. I scooped some up with my hands, added them to some I'd already piled on a berm, about a week back...

    Started digging through the previous piled leaves, and...

    Capture.JPG

    (actually a recreation, a few minutes later, but hey)
     
  10. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    let me guess, someone in your household hates a prius?
     
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Like putting your address with your house keys :)
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, that's a no-no.
     
  13. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Doesn't it have the manual "key" inserted in it? That's metal. Plus, I think the electronics have enough metal to set off a detector.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    'one ring to rule them all.'
     
  15. DumbMike

    DumbMike Active Member

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    I use something called TrackR. It's about the size of a quarter. You just attach it to your keys (or anything else), and if it's nearby, you use your smart phone and app to have it beep. It will also allow you to track its location if it's within a certain distance, but I don't recall what that distance is. If it gets past that distance, if somebody else with a TrackR comes within a few feet of it, it will allow you to track its location. The obvious problem with this last bit is that currently there aren't that many people using TrackR. But I'm hoping that as time goes by, a significant number of people will be using it. My use is when I take it out of my pocket for the evening and can't remember where I put it when getting ready in the morning. The other problem is that the GPS isn't that accurate. It thought my keys were in the apartment complex next door. But, that's all that was available, so I got it. I recall it was about $40 each and I got 4 for $80 on some special offer.

    Mike
     
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The brilliant thing about the sks system is......you don't need to take your keys out of your pocket or purse. As long as you have 1 place at home to put it.......it shouldn't leave your pocket unless you're putting it back to that 1 place. But that's just in an ideal world
     
  17. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Well, you get married and she does kinda turn into that huge flaming eye that sees everything.
     
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  18. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    *double post*
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    exactly, my pocket, to my key hanger, then back to my pocket. 10 years, no lost fobs. my wife on the other hand keeps them in her purse. now that can be a problem, cause she switches purses all the time.
     
  20. David T

    David T Junior Member

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    Mine is missing in the house someplace.

    My spare key went missing at the car wash a month or so ago, and I bought a replacement fob and took it to the dealer two weeks ago....and I had bought the wrong kind (black instead of silver symbol) so I returned that and the silver fob has not arrived yet...and now this.

    In principle there ought to be a way to make something that makes a prius signal and listens for a response (whether it is the right code or not does not matter; at least I would know if I am within a few feet of it!) Perhaps there is not enough demand for such a product to exist, but has anyone heard of such a beast?

    Meanwhile time to check the garbage can. I can't imagine how I would have done that, but who knows. Seems to have happened to Sangye. I hate the smart key. I can't just "leave it in my pocket" because there are other keys attached that I need. Sometimes the car does not register its presence and I need to put it in the slot below the steering wheel. Battery needs replacing every few years.

    Piece of crap concept that frankly is not all that convenient in the balance of everything even without the heartache of major expense if both are lost.

    *mod note* watch your language on Priuschat, edited.
     
    #20 David T, Sep 28, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 4, 2015