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Lost all keys...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Sarah-Mae Adam, Jul 29, 2019.

  1. Sarah-Mae Adam

    Sarah-Mae Adam New Member

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    My family and I are on a road trip and my husband lost our only key while we were our stretching our legs, roughly 1200km from home. The car had to be towed 200km back to a dealership.

    They’ve had the car for four days now and claim the only option is to remove the dashboard and change all the ecu for $3000 and it will take two weeks (note: we are still 1000km and a ferry ride from home).
    Note, they have been trying a key fob they had misordered for a previous job and haven’t ordered ours...

    I’m finding a LOT of information showing that replacing the ecu is not required for a 2007 Prius. I have also called a car locksmith and he will is researching how to do it.

    thoughts? Prayers? I love my car and $3000 and two weeks of rental car fees before finding out way 1000km back to the car is absolutely ridiculous to fathom to replace a key :(
     
    bisco likes this.
  2. Sarah-Mae Adam

    Sarah-Mae Adam New Member

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  3. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    Sorry to hear about your (potential) loss.

    Thinking we should ping @RobH (y)

    Here's to your prayers being heard :whistle:
     
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  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Call another dealer and see if they have a tech that can help the dealer that your car is at. What you need to do is a simple "reseed". They will delete all the keys stored in memory and program in a new one (or used one). You have to have a key to program in. You don't have to remove the dash and replace ECUs.

    You can have the dealer call Paul at Boulder hybrids in Colorado @3prongpaul, he'll walk them through the process. (303) 325-7411

    I find it quite strange a Toyota dealer doesn't know how to do this.......
     
    #4 JC91006, Jul 29, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2019
  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    BUT......that dealer DOES know how to make a crap load of money from an owner in distress.
    That part isn't too strange.
     
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  6. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    The problem with an "all keys lost" seed reset is that the car cannot be brought to READY. Opening the driver's door wakes up the key ECU, but it goes back to sleep shortly if nothing else happens. The solution is to press the door open switch every 10-15 seconds during the reset. Techstream will not automatically recognize the car (power is off), so the tech will have to manually enter the car type. Other than that, it's just an ordinary seed reset. You can even use a used keyfob.
     
    tli004, Raytheeagle, SFO and 2 others like this.
  7. Sarah-Mae Adam

    Sarah-Mae Adam New Member

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    Thank you so much for this! I called Paul and he gave me excellent advice; the car has been CAA towed to a locksmith who doesn't think it will take more than a couple hours to rekey - provided Toyota didn't break anything...
     
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  8. Sarah-Mae Adam

    Sarah-Mae Adam New Member

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    Update, the locksmith made me a key in under 3 hours... My car was with the dealership for FIVE DAYS...
    I returned to Toyota and sat down with the GM in regards to my dissatisfaction with the service and advice that was given to me and my car.

    Lesson for anyone else in this situation with a 2007 Prius: take your car right to a locksmith, or call Paul (in comments above) if you can get to him - he was so incredibly helpful in just a five minute phone conversation!
     
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I'm glad Paul was able to help you get back on the road. This Prius community is really good at helping people in need. Hopefully you still got a little enjoyment out of your road trip and your husband is hopefully out of the dog house for losing the key
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, all the best!(y)
     
  11. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    One price of advice. Get a second key programmed. It costs a lot but it’s cheaper in the long run if this were to happen again. How did the locksmith cut the mechanical key?
     
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  12. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Why would you ask that ?
    That is the business that he is IN.
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The 2nd gen key is just a regular car key. Nothing special. Unlike a 3rd gen key, which requires special equipment.
     
  14. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    "Laser cut" keys are pretty common now.
    If that is what it uses......my C does......that's been around long enough that it is not "special" anymore.
     
  15. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Because when you lose every key you have that includes the mechanical key. Lose only fob, lose every key.
     
  16. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Oh, I get it now.
    Wouldn't the mechanical key have a "key code" tied to the VIN like other models ??
     
  17. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    I'm glad that Paul was able to help. He's a good resource and is willing to help over the phone. Kudos to 3prongpaul!

    Get a spare key made!!!
     
  18. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    I believe so yes. In California the dealers have to charge you to look up your key code.
     
  19. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    And if that really IS a law, I wonder who paid the lobbying dollars to get it passed ??
    I think it is more likely that Toyota charges THEM and they are just passing it along, with a markup no doubt.
     
  20. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I put the mechanical key in a hide a key box 12 years ago it was a knee jerk reaction as I have been doing it to my cars for years. Or for that one time I lose the fob and can’t get in the car.

    We’re all getting older some more than others lol. Few years back I lost my car keys at Lowe’s. Put it down to pick something up and it was embarrassing as hell to find it. I knew then I was losing focus.

    After that I came up with a system that works for me. I put a carabiner on my keys and the second I get out of the car I hook it to the belt loop on the side of my pants. Have not lost or misplaced my keys since. For any of my cars. It works. It’s not in my pocket that I have to take the keys out and put in on something to get something else out my pocket. You put your keys down when your out you will lose them.

    On my G2 with SKS I never have to take it off my belt.