IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE: KEY/FOB Programming Issues

Just wanted to say many thanks to kpsounis. I am not sure where you found this information, but after much searching these instructions with your last set of tweaks finally worked. This worked on an 08-prius touring edition with two brand new keys ordered from autotransponder.com. If you want to shop around on the Internet, the official Toyota part # for the key is 89994-47061. Thank you again!

 

Can anyone confirm that the "chicken dance" works with 2010-2012 Prius (and never programmed, brand new, silver logo key, I'm assuming)

 

If I screw up this procedure partway through, or if it doesn't work the first time, can I try again (and again if necessary), until I have it right, or do I just have one chance to do it right? Thanks!

 

I'll be really impressed if you can do the chicken dance perfectly the first time. Just keep trying until it works or you tire of the game. You can always take the keyfob to your local mechanic/locksmith for a bailout.

Two things have to happen. The keyfob has to learn the vehicle ID of your car. The car has to learn the keyfob ID.

Just don't go trying to program a new, never programmed, keyfob for any car except the one you want it to work on. Once a keyfob learns a vehicle ID, it's a USED keyfob. Teaching it a different vehicle ID is where all the problems come in, requiring a seed reset from someone with a scantool and access to the security code lookup.

 

I'm sorry but I'm confused.
There are ads on eBay for
"BRAND NEW AND UNCUT OEM TOYOTA KEYLESS SILVER LOGO SMART REMOTE KEY TRANSMITTER"
But the ad goes on to say:
"This remote is NOT user programmable. Once purchased, this remote must be programmed by your dealer or a locksmith specialist."

So can I program one of these?
And what is the "chicken dance"?
I see it referred to all over the place and still don't know what it is

 

You need to wipe/reset the settings of your car's security system to add a used FOB, which requires a mini-VCI cable and techstream software as well as a code from an authorized locksmith or a Toyota dealer that pays the monthly fee for security seed reset access. Many Toyota dealers don't pay this fee and some of them will (out of ignorance) charge you a $100 to try to add a new key and still won't be able to but keep your money anyway.

As for the chicken dance... If you buy a brand new FOB that's never been used you can do a series of commands with the doorlocks and door closed switches to program your new FOB to work on your car....

 

Mostly I realize that but the eBay seller I quote from gives the impression that the FOB is "brand new" in addition to the key being uncut.
He is certainly asking a pretty penny for the item- $189.95, and I would paste the link but I think that's not allowed.
That is why I am confused.
Apparently it's a new FOB and still the seller says:
"This remote is NOT user programmable. Once purchased, this remote must be programmed by your dealer or a locksmith specialist."

As far as the chicken dance- yeah, that is what I suspected but I guess I haven't spent enough time around chickens or FOBS to have a distinct picture of the dance...

 

It's not user programmable if you don't have an existing FOB that works... There are a couple different versions of the chicken dance on here and they do work. But sometimes people have to do it a bunch of times before they finally get it right. And as an EBAY seller you want to make sure you don't get someone who doesn't try harder enough to give your transaction a negative rating. So it's wise to tell the user to not even try... But why not buy it and try it and if it doesn't work you can go to a locksmith or a car dealer as a back up plan.

 

If it makes any difference I do have one FOB that works.
I'd like another...

 

Mosesk,
I would just buy a "NEW" fob from an online Toyota dealer (such as olathe toyota). You can get one for about $150. The Ebay seller is buying one from an online dealer, marking up the price and selling it to you.

Then, program it using the "chicken dance", then, have Wal Mart cut the key. Its that simple.

 

THANK YOU!!

 

I am a locksmith and own a '08 Prius. On a more serious note, those remotes for ANY Prius are expensive. If you get a remote for under $150, consider it used. On cars with prox (silver logo on back), if your adding a NEW remote, it's not too bad. It took me a couple of times to get my prox to work correctly. (used remote) Also, if it's not in the Toyota baggie, I would also consider it used, learned the hard way..

What was happening, my car was "pinging" all the remotes (3 of them), and I had a hell of a time. I learned after 16min IMMO, and REMOTE resets, you are only allowed to have 1 remote in the car at a time. Being a locksmith, I don't need seed codes, my tester doesn't do it that way, but the tool was well over $10k..... I never undersood why Toyota has such a goofy way to program remotes, but who am I to complain... I just work on the stuff..

For those of you whom require a locksmith to program the PROX remotes, and it's a used remote, something I learned from my car. Program the new (used) remote first, if you don't, the car will reject the new remote if you don't do it first. That's where I messed up on my car. These cars are touchy. So:

1. (if using a used remote) 16 min reset on both remote and prox
2. program all transponders, new remote 1st.
3. program prox side, having new remote in car, all other remotes 6' away from car.. VERY critical step.
(remember, these cars shipped with 2 remotes, I always clear both memories if somebody has 1 remote, I wouldn't like my car being stolen from ignorance)
Having said this, everybody have fun with these cars, Toyota has done a great job in the design of the vehicle!! Most of all, be safe out there!

 

AdamA, you should give your location in your profile, as there are some here who might need you in the future.

 

I thought it was enabled, but it wasn't.. Thanks for pointing that out..

On a side note, any "Chipped" Toyota will only accept 4 "transponders", so in the case of our Hybrids, only 4 remote keys for us..

 

Now I'm really confused and if I am, I'm sure others are also. I want to get this straight b/c there is so much bad and confusing info on this.

Facts that we know:
1) A brand new fob (silver logo) can be programmed using the chicken dance w/ full SKS functionality.
2) A used fob cannot be programmed using the chicken dance
3) Two remotes can be in the car when doing the chicken danc

Questions I have about your post:
1) A used fob can be programmed by a locksmith w/out seed codes?
2) What does program the new(used) fob first mean?? If one buys a used remote and has a $10K tool, wipe the ECU clean and program the new (used) fob first (ensuring only one remote is in the car at a time)?
3) In your step by step, you refer to a "new" remote, does that also mean the new (used) remote?
4) What is your definition of a transponder? Is that the same as a remote?
5) What is prox side?
6) There are two memories?

 

Another question for AdamA...

I've taken the transponder from a 2006 Prius keyfob and inserted it into an ordinary transponder mechanical key. It programs with the chicken dance, and works when the handle of the mechanical key is inserted into the keyslot (after grinding the handle down a bit...). My question is about any compatible transponder keys. I tried several (4C, 4D, 4D-67) and none of them work. But the transponder in the keyfob looks exactly like the transponders in ordinary Toyota transponder keys. Is the transponder in the keyfob unique, or is it used in other transponder keys?

 

I'll answers in regard to our post, number for number to keep it simple.
1) Yes, if you have the locksmith clear both Prox, and remote memories.
2) When I purchased the remote for my car, it was used, but to the car, it was new. You must program the new-used remote to the car.
3) Like I said in line 2, the remote I purchased was used, but new to the car. These remotes have info written on them from prior programming, but the computer will over-write the old info. But the software mandates you use the new-remote first, since all other remotes have the response the vehicle has written on the remote stored. The car has no problem taking a remote back that was programmed to it prior..
4) A transponder is either coated in ceramic, or glass. What happens, the frequency for most transponders is 125kHz. In a conventional system (not Prox, I'll come back to prox) a person would stick their key in a Ignition Switch. When said Ignition is switched "ON", the vehicle uses an antenna around the IGN lock cylinder, at 125kHz, emits this frequency. Induction between this antenna and transponder charges a very tiny capacitor within this transponder, and relays back to the antenna a serial number, or a "challenge response".... This is very deep, really quick. Back in 1996-2001 it was a fixed code. This fixed code was easy to clone. Now, these companies are so complex, Toyota has just moved to an 80-bit system. I have not seen any data of these transponders though. What it does in short, imangine 80-bit of info (however big, I don't know) in a Hex format, and it jumps coding (was) 6 times on the 40-bit keys. So on the 40 bit keys, the car asks the key it's serial number 6 times, and each time, the answer changes.......... Now prox is just like the keyed version, but it's done through an antenna system, deployed through the car. that's why Toyota has a slot on the older cars, and made an antenna surrounding the "Power button" on the newer cars.. That was a bit long, for such a short question..
5) Each Prox equipped car has 2 sides of the remote. We don't see 2 sides, but prox is the ability to use you key without touching the remote. The remote side is when you depress a button on your remote. Each side has to be programmed seperately.
6) Yes 2 memories, but not like a feature memory, like radio stations, or heat setting.. each hybrid has 2 memories, a prox (or transponder) and remote, held in 2 seperate computers. Say you lock your keys in a Toyota Tacoma, and I gain entry without using a key, or remote.. the alarm is going off, and the customer inserts a valid key in the ignition lick, and switches on.. The alarm is switched off, I'll explain why.
When entry was gained, the BCM (body control module) sensed the door was open without something to disarm the system.(key or remote) So when the valid Key was switched, the PCM (powertrain control module) relayed through CANBUS (all vehicle communication bus) to BCM that a valid key was detected.... Geez, most people would think, man this guy has a lot of worthless info in his head.. been around cars all my life, I consider it fun!!

 

I don't own a cloner. I'm thinking the transponders in the prox key is exclusive to prox keys only. I was thinking of doing the same thing. I took the liberty of finding an external link. Smart key - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I'm thinking now, it may be based off the chips you mentioned, but has odd form of induction to the chip... I'll have to ask a supplier to read it with a cloner, and see what value it comes up with.

 

Should be interesting...

For what it's worth, the number on one of the transponder chips that I extracted from a keyfob is B-04045. The number on another one is B-04505.

 

After all of that, regardless of what you guys do, keep in mind your remotes prox or not has 2 sides.

Side 1) Transponder/Prox
Side 2) Remote functions.

You can program side 2 with the Chicken Dance...... You'll never program side 1 without a programming tool... In short, the Immobilizer was re-designed, and to my knowledge, they can't be done without a tool.

Toyota back in the day really had their head where the sun didn't shine. From 1998-2002 or 03 built the computers to be somewhat field serviceable.. Why they did his I'll never know

The vehicles were shipped with 2 master keys, and 1 valet key. What would happen, is people would lose both masters, and have the valet key, or all of them. This is a real mess!!!

Back about 8 years ago, estimated price on a new PCM was roughly $3500.... Yea, what a crock. Now people have came up with a way to flash these PCM's. Now it's down to $500...... Why so much?

The chicken dance is for the remote.. We have (I'd rather not say, it may offend some folks) to program keys to the PCM. However, the older cars will store 2 masters, and 2 valets, no more. To get access for key programming, you MUST have 1 functioning master, or flash it...

I haven't done one of these cars yet, people are scared off with a $500 price tag. The flasher is a couple of thousand, and would very seldom use it. So I must pull the PCM, ship it to somebody who has a flasher, overnight both ways, cut keys, and re-install the PCM.... Such a headache. And this is just Toyota, I refust to speak of Volkswagen... GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Nissan, just about everybody except the Europeans aren't too bad to work on.. I must say, Toyota has came a long way!