1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

SKS sensitivity problem?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Sean & Ian, Aug 14, 2010.

  1. Sean & Ian

    Sean & Ian Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2005
    56
    0
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I have a 2005 Prius with about 80K miles on it. Lately, I noticed that the SKS sensitivity for locking/unlocking the car is not as good as it used to be. I always have my fob in the back pocket of my purse and I used to not have to take it out to lock/unlock the car. However, this past week or so I have had to take it out of the purse and put the fob really close to the car to lock/unlock.

    I have replaced the battery of one of the fobs a couple of months ago and the other one still has the original battery in it, but the behavior is the same with either one. One thing I know is that the newer battery was not fresh, as in it was purchased long time ago.

    Has this happened to anyone? Or, could this be just a matter of the fob battery needing replacement?

    Thank you for your help in advance!
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i would either test the battery with a voltmeter, or buy new batteries. they are only $3.-:)
     
    1 person likes this.
  3. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2005
    1,761
    208
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Replace the fob batteries with fresh batteries and see if the problem still exists.
     
    3 people like this.
  4. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    2,927
    782
    0
    Location:
    IL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It's strange you posted this because I noticed the same thing on my 2008 even with fresh batteries in the key fob. It's like the range is seriously deteriorated from the way it was new.
     
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    If not weak batteries, it could be interference. The world today contains more wireless devices than even two years ago.

    Tom
     
  6. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    2,927
    782
    0
    Location:
    IL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It doesn't matter if I'm in the middle of nowhere or in an underground parking garage - same thing.
     
  7. Sean & Ian

    Sean & Ian Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2005
    56
    0
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Yes, I often have two cell phones in my purse, but I've had those in the same spots in my purse over a year now, and there were no issues with SKS before. With the same two cell phones in my purse, I've started to have this issue only recently...

    I (or my husband) just replaced the FOB batteries with fresh ones, and right now the sensitivity seems to be fine. I will monitor it throughout the week and report back :)
     
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Well that's interesting. Maybe it's your magnetic personality. ;)

    Tom
     
  9. Sean & Ian

    Sean & Ian Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2005
    56
    0
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Perhaps it's indeed his magnetic personality :D

    For my issue, I'm happy to report that the fresh battery in the fob did the trick. The sensitivity is back to what it was, and now I can be lazy and not have to look for my fob to unlock/lock my car :)

    The strange thing is...my husband gauged the voltage in the batteries:
    • original battery in fob #1: about 2.6V
    • new (but not fresh) battery in fob #2: about 3.0V
    • fresh battery: about 3.1V
    So, I wonder why I was getting similar (or sometimes worse) sensitivity with fob #2...

    Thanks to all that reminded me to change the battery!
     
  10. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Perhaps the fob battery voltage was dropping under load. Some types of batteries will hold a fairly high voltage even when nearly dead, as long as they aren't loaded. You go to use them and the voltage drops. I suspect that might have been true in your case.

    Tom
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. LeadingEdgeBoomer

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    289
    29
    0
    Location:
    New Mexico
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Glad that fresh batteries supplied the solution, for when I need it later. I was afraid the thread was by a tinfoil hat who complained that SKS was impairing his sex life ... but would have been much more entertaining.