Can someone please explain the purpose of the mechnical key hidden in the SmartKey FOB? The salesman told me that it was used to lock the glovebox in case I was using a valet. I've tried to find one but I'm not seeing any type of locks inside the car.
Glove box lock?? Nice salesman. Has he ever looked at the driver side door handle? If your smartkey system or key FOB dies, you can use the key to get into the car. As far as I know, you still can't start the car with the key though. ZC1
The mechanical key can be used when the smart key dies but also is the only way that you can start the car and lock it while leaving it running.
The little key unlocks the door, as you said. If the fob battery is dead, you insert the entire fob into the slot (next to the steering wheel where you would normally insert a key into the ignition) to start the car. p.s. Take the time to read the manual. It has lots of useful information in it.
Believe it or not, I did read the manual and saw the section related to keys. Other than showing what the manual key looked like, it didn't explain the purpose. I do understand how to start the car using the FOB, but I didn't see any details about how to utilize the mechanical key, hence the reason for my post.
I didn't read the part in the manual where you can insert a dead fob into the slot to start the car. Sorry. Only had the car a week (as of my first post) and I haven't read the manual entirely although I started on it the first day.
The apology is not necessary (at least from you!). By the way -- welcome to PriusChat and thanks for posting. I think a salesman will say just about anthing to appear as though he has an answer. I won't trust a salesman who is afraid to say "I don't know the answer to that question. If you give me a moment, I'll find the answer and get back to you." Don't be afraid to post any question. Some of us still post some real Duseys!
My experience with salesmen wasn't any better. One salesman told me If the battery on the smart key runs down I should use the other key. Another saleswoman from a different dealership told me I can only lock the car using the remote. Guess she never found the little black button. How difficult it is for them to read may be one manual every year?
Interesting discussion. I have a new 2010 Prius V, and read in the manual about the mechanical key. As stated, the key is used to open the driver's side door. However, in the 2010 Prius, there is no "fob slot". I had to hunt for the solution. In the "When Trouble Arises", Chapter 5, it states that you need to "Apply the brakes and touch the Toyota emblem side of the electonic key to the POWER switch". A buzzer should sound (if the fob battery is dead), and you have 10 seconds to start the car.
