Only 2 keys "allowed"?

…most certainly two (2), for as it is written in the Destruction Manual: "…two shall be the number of the keys and the number of the keys shall be two. Three keys shalt thou not have, neither shalt thou have just one, excepting that thou then proceedeth to two. Four is right out."

…as you might guess, I don't really know what I'm talking about, although at least I admit to it, and also admit to a love of Messrs. Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Jones, and Palin. There was a nice chap at the 2GoB4 up here in the NE last year, who was offering to cut keys and programme FOBs while you wait (since I already have 2 for my Prius, I decided I didn't really need another) - perhaps some kind reader (Danny¹) will remember his name/contact details and post it here - I think he was from Colorado?? - hope this helps - Wil

PS: Welcome to PriusChat, I see you're in my general area (I'm in Nausea, Southern New Hamster)

¹ Danny = TheBossFellah

 

PPS: when I bought my 2009 Gen II (used) the salesman made a special point of telling me it came with two (2) FOBs, of course at that time I'd not done much research on-line, and had yet to discover PriusChat, he did however tell me that the FOBs were quite expensive, but that was before I spoke to the chap at 2GoB4, so perhaps I was just lucky!

 

i thought i read 3 max. i'll try to find the thread. in the meantime, check around for a locksmith who makes car keys, and/or contact other dealers for an opinion. you can even call toyota and ask.

 

Take great care what you wish for! I've mentioned this recently as we're just getting into the season of the white-stuff here in the North East. After last year's horrendous experience (see threads passim) I thought this year I'd be smart, and was advised to get a set of 15" rims (better choice/variety of snow-tyres available). My 2009 Gen II (touring package) has 16"alloy wheels shod with Michelin Energy Savers, and last winter, being about 80% worn, they were really not much use in snow, so I decided to get a set of winter wheels with a good set of snows (I very nearly got studs after last winter, but decided they would have been too noisy). I called a number of junkyards and even looked on eBay, but they all wanted ~$100 per rim (!) , so I went with a set of 15x6 brand new steelies from TireRack.com ($52 each plus shipping). I took advantage of the local dealer's offer "Buy 3 tyres, and get the 4th for $1), all fitted, alignment checked, and includes road-hazard warranty, and free valves - my originals have TPMS, but I didn't want to lash out on another set of sensors for the winter wheels and the expense of re-programming them each time they're swapped. So the winter wheels are now on, and I notice the TPMS light comes on but I garage the car each night, and as the summer wheels are stored in the garage, each day when I fetch the car, the light is off. I went with another set of wheels since it has been my experience that to keep swapping tyres on the rims can be quite damaging to the seals on the tyres. I did some research as to which snow-tyres to buy, and the Blizzak WS-80s came highly recommended, and also did pretty well in the TireRack reviews/tests. I hope this helps, but I'm wondering if you might have left it a bit late for the good-deals available at this time of the year (I think Toyota's deals went until the end of October) Good luck, and welcome to PriusChat! - Wil

 

I believe (don't have my laptop with me) that the 2010 New Car Features mentions that up to seven (7) fobs can be tied to the vehicle. I'll double-check and reply back later...

 

I'm pretty sure the number of FOBs the car can "remember" is two. You can, of course, have as many "keys" as you like. But they just get you into the car.

The GIII (2010 to 2015 models) has a very good traction control system. If it won't let you move, it's because the tyres won't. I have no problem with Pearl S here in Edmonton, and I'm -still- using the OEM "rim protectors" the car came with! The system will allow the wheels to spin enough to get you moving.
Deep snow, not so much. The car will get high-centered. Not much different than most cars these days. For deep snow you need a good SUV or truck. To get really stuck you need a 4WD.

 

Found it!
It's in the Repair Manual under:
THEFT DETERRENT / KEYLESS ENTRY: SMART KEY SYSTEM (for Entry Function): SYSTEM DESCRIPTION (2010 Prius)

Excerpt below:

 

wow, what a memory!

 

Seven is my lucky number!!!!
Shame that I got rid of the PiP...............for a two driver household

 

I have a 2010, a 2004, and the Prius v donor car for my project. Does this mean that I can make any of the keys also work for the other two cars too?!?

 

i think you would have to reprogram all the computers? not sure.

 

I'm not sure if one key can be programmed for multiple cars.

 

So GII was just two FOBs, but GIII is seven! The technology advances. So the G4 will be 16?

I see no reason why a FOB used in one Prius can't be registered in another. I'm pretty sure you don't "program" the FOB, just the car system. The question is, are the different systems in the different cars compatible? From what has been posted on this forum there are several different "flavours" of FOB (puchased on "ebay"). Some give complete control, some not so much.

 

I have 5 fobs for my Gen2. My wife's CT200h has a limit of 7, which I guess is the same as a Gen3 Prius.

Gen2 and Gen3 fobs use signaling that is different enough that you can't cross program them. But they're close enough that they interfere with each other. If I put both the Gen2 and CT200h fobs in the same pocket, neither one works.

Both the car and the fob are programmed. The first time a fob is paired with a car, it is programmed with the car id. And the car is programmed with the fob id. Both have to match, and the car id programming is the source of the problems with using used fobs. It turns out that the car id programmed into a fob can be changed by resetting the car to zero fobs. The first fob paired with a zero fob car is set to the proper car id, even if the fob was previously paired with another car. So if you want to use 5 used fobs, you have to reset the car to zero fobs 5 times and pair each fob as the first in the set. Once the fobs are all set with the proper car id, the group can now be programmed into the car ECU.

Since each car has a different car id, you can't have a fob that works on multiple cars. The exception is Gen2 vehicles with the "plug in the dash" function, which uses a transponder than is only read, not written. Another exception is the black logo Gen2 fob, which does not use a car id.

I think it is possible to cut the mechanical key with two patterns, the second accessed by inverting the key. On the Gen2, there are 2 edges of the key, with half the the positions active on each edge. So a two car key would use a blend of the two patterns. Or you could just change the mechanical locks to all match. The Gen3 key works exactly the same as the Gen2 key, except that the pattern is on the edge of the slot, instead of on the outside edge of the key. A so called "laser" key is just cut with a milling bit instead of a grinding wheel.

 

Thanks rob for clearing that up. At least I think it's clear.