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Keeping Spare key in Vehicle

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by kenopa, Feb 28, 2010.

  1. kenopa

    kenopa Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    So I was faced with this seemingly insurmountable problem. I do almost all of the driving (wife has a disability) and carry the key on me. My wife only carries a very small purse that is crammed; keeping the spare key in there would set off the panic alarm. Keeping the spare at home doesn't serve much purpose if I lose mine. Hence the following experiment, which was successful:
    1. Remove the metal key from the spare transmitter and keep it in purse.
    2. Remove the battery from the spare transmitter and put it in a baggie. Then put the spare transmitter and the battery in a baggie and keep in car. Car is fooled and doesn't know it's there.
    3. We go shopping. Car locked. Husband drops primary key/transmitter in sewer grate. Swearing commences.
    4. Wife retrives metal key from crammed purse and opens car.
    5. Get spare transmitter from baggie. Hold Toyota emblem on transmitter up against POWER switch (even without battery). Car is happy and starts. Drive away (swearing continues).
    Worse case you would have to reassemble transmitter with battery. Metal key has screwdriver end to facilitate disassembly of transmitter.
    Procedure might be kind of dumb but works. Of course you will have circumvented some of the security features.
     
    #1 kenopa, Feb 28, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  2. Philosophe

    Philosophe 2010 Prius owner

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
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    Location:
    Montréal, Québec (Canada)
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You can also prevent RF transmission by putting the key FOB in a metal container (Faraday cage). The radio frequencies between the car internal antennas and the FOB will be prevented (ie the car will not "see" the keys inside the car). Something like a box of Sucrets can be used. No need then to remove the FOB battery.
     
    #2 Philosophe, Feb 28, 2010
  3. southjerseycraig

    southjerseycraig Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2009
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    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Some posters here have suggested putting the key in an altoids box.
     
    #3 southjerseycraig, Feb 28, 2010
  4. Tom183

    Tom183 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2009
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    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    This question has come up a couple of times in the context of watersports - and it seems to boil down to 2 solutions:

    1) separate the metal key and leave a fob inside the car (either in a faraday cage, or in the cargo area for models without the SKS sensor on the tailgate).
    2) take the fob in a watertight bag.

    The problem with the cargo-area solution is that the hatch has no remote release, so it could be a hassle to get at.
     
    #4 Tom183, Feb 28, 2010
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