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What causes this ?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Chris Wolfgram, Oct 8, 2022.

  1. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    A couple times now, in the first thousand miles of owning my brand new XLE, I've had a message pop up that tells me to hold my key fob next to my ingnition button ? So I do, and then it allow me to start the car normally, foot on brake, and pressing the power button.
    What's weird about this, is that literally in the last month I owned my 2019, before it got stolen, I got the same pop up message ? In that case, I assumed it was because my key fob battery was getting low ? And the batteries I had gotten to replace them, were cheap garbage, that would only last like 2 months.
    But now, same message with my brand new XLE ?
    Anybody seen this, or know what is causing it ?
    Thanks.
     
    #1 Chris Wolfgram, Oct 8, 2022
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe bad battery. both fobs? check the voltage, should be 3.3
     
    #2 bisco, Oct 8, 2022
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    cheap garbage batteries
     
    #3 rjparker, Oct 8, 2022
  4. Pulse07

    Pulse07 Active Member

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    Is your keyfob wrapped in anything? or any electronics added (such as dash camera that sues wifi or bluetooth), could be interferring with the signal.
     
    #4 Pulse07, Oct 8, 2022
  5. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    do you leave your fob in or near the car when parked? that can cause premature battery rundown. That dash warning simply means it cannot detect the signal from your fob
     
    #5 FuelMiser, Oct 9, 2022
  6. Doug McC

    Doug McC Senior Member

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    Check your owner’s manual as it addresses the reasons this happens. Basically, you are causing the system to stop searching for the fob with FuelMiser’s reason the most likely but there are others.
     
    #6 Doug McC, Oct 9, 2022
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    On our 3rd gen at least, there's a pop-up warning when the fob battery is getting weak, saying that specifically. Could be a Canadian edition thing too, not sure. Anyone else notice that? Maybe with fourth gen (and/or US edition) the pop-up is the (more cryptic) hold-next-to-start-button?
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Oct 9, 2022
  8. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    I haven't checked the other (second) key fob, but that's a good idea. I just assumed since its a brand new car that was built late in 22, the battery should be good. Heck, the battery in my 2019 key fob lasted like 2 full years !
     
    #8 Chris Wolfgram, Oct 9, 2022
  9. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    These are the batteries that came with it. So unless they have switched brands, as I just told Bisco, the factory key fob batts with my 2019 LE lasted 2 years !
     
    #9 Chris Wolfgram, Oct 9, 2022
  10. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    Nope. Haven't even put in my 3 way video camera yet... or stereo. I did have a nice a Viper 2 way alarm put it, but I'm almost sure it did this at least once before that ?
     
    #10 Chris Wolfgram, Oct 9, 2022
  11. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    Never. I mean, all the time, with the car parked "but powered up". Heck, I sleep in the car (well only once so far, but many nights in the future I'm sure) but always powered up for climate control, stereo, etc.
    Long story short, I use my 2022 just the way I did my 2019.... and although the 2019 did this same thing, that took almost 3 years to start happening ?
     
    #11 Chris Wolfgram, Oct 9, 2022
  12. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    Anyway guys, I'm going to try the other key fob, but also, I'm going to buy some quality batteries and try those too.

    But wait ! I have "not" gotten any messages popping up saying my key fob battery was low ? I DID get that message in my 2019 as well ???
     
    #12 Chris Wolfgram, Oct 9, 2022
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    aso worth checking the 12 volt. i know a new car should be fine in these respects, but you never know.
    hopefully something simple
     
    #13 bisco, Oct 9, 2022
    FuelMiser likes this.
  14. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    No, the USA 4th Gen does show the "Low Key Fob Battery" message when appropriate. I have not reviewed the manual for the "Place Key Fob Next to Power Button Message" reasons since I have never gotten that one. There's also a "Key Not Detected" message.
     
    #14 FuelMiser, Oct 10, 2022
    Mendel Leisk and Doug McC like this.
  15. Bender953

    Bender953 Junior Member

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    Batteries like light bulbs have no guaranteed life span. I worked for Toyota parts for 16 years and bad batteries on new fobs was sorta rare. In most cases the people were leaving the fob close to the car when at home and parked. If the fob is close it will keep transmitting back and forth which runs the battery down quick. For example the people who park in the garage and hang the keys on a hook right by the door.
     
    #15 Bender953, Oct 24, 2022
  16. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Cheap ebay or amazon coin batteries often degrade in two or three months. The fob next to a car thing is really a myth since the car will detect that and soon slow and finally stop rf use. Its in the manual.
     
    #16 rjparker, Oct 24, 2022
    jerrymildred likes this.
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