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Key not detected

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Ralphshunt, Aug 31, 2011.

  1. Ralphshunt

    Ralphshunt New Member

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    2011 Prius. I had a friend riding in my car that also owns a 2011 Prius. When he was in my car with his key fob in his pocket my key fob could not be detected. The solution to the problem was to remove his key from the vehicle. We eventually found we could just move his key fob to the trunk area of my car and my key would be detected. Anybody else ever experience this problem? It seems pretty dangerous because sometimes my key would be detected, we would start to drive and then get a "key not detected" message which would eventually stop the car.
     
    #1 Ralphshunt, Aug 31, 2011
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I have seen one other post where someone else's key interfered with the driver's car.

    As for being dangerous and stopping the car, this should not happen. Once the Prius is started you can throw your key away and it will continue to run until you either stop it or run out of gas. Once stopped you will not be able to restart without the fob.
     
    #2 jdcollins5, Aug 31, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  3. ETC(SS)

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

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    Concur.
    It's not going to be an issue as long as he has his fob.
     
    #3 ETC(SS), Sep 1, 2011
  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Once started, your Prius will continue to run with or without a working key fob. It was designed this way for obvious safety reasons.

    Tom
     
    #4 qbee42, Sep 1, 2011
  5. babybird

    babybird Member

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    If nothing else, doesn't the 2011 still have the slot you can plug your fob into like on the 2nd gen models? That should override a key not detected problem since I think it bypasses the SKS system.
     
    #5 babybird, Sep 1, 2011
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    No, it doesn't. The Gen III Prius require you to hold the fob near the button to use the backup RFID chip.

    Tom
     
    #6 qbee42, Sep 1, 2011
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The other day I experienced a "key detected in vehicle" warning, soon after starting out from parking spot. Alzheimers must be setting in: I can't actually remember if I stopped, shut down, and restarted, but it did go away.

    I know mechanical keys can be buggers to when they fail, say running your starter till it fries, but the Prius "touchless" ignition has some loopy foibles...
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Sep 1, 2011
  8. Unlimited_MPG

    Unlimited_MPG Member

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    Hi Ralphshunt,

    I had something very similar happen to me. Here is the thread I started a while back about it:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...e-troubleshooting/95292-sks-odd-behavior.html

    Here is a video I made of the issue:
     
    #8 Unlimited_MPG, Sep 5, 2011
  9. job

    job Junior Member

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    there maybe a fix for this. i just bought my 4th prius in 6 years. the 2012 interferes with the 2011 and vice versa. just got it a week ago and told dealership i wanted to return the car. they said a brand new fix was available and this coming wednesday they will try it. let you know what happens.
     
    #9 job, Mar 9, 2013
  10. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    What do you mean eventually stop the car ????

    If YOU(or anyone else) stop the car ... you can not restart !!! but other than that the car will go without the keyfob !!!
     
    #10 szgabor, Mar 9, 2013
  11. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yep. OP's assertions are wrong and who knows if they'll be back? They haven't made another post and were last seen almost a year ago.
     
    #11 cwerdna, Mar 9, 2013
  12. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    It's all in the car manual. The key is a radio device and can be affected by other radio devices such as other electronic keys or mobile phones. There is no safety issue as once the car is started and in Ready mode it will continue to drive without the key being in range (or even in the car) until the car is turned off.
     
    #12 GrumpyCabbie, Mar 9, 2013
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