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Finally! How to program a non-SKS key/fob. Detailed!

Discussion in 'Knowledge Base Articles Discussion' started by amethystjw, Mar 1, 2008.

  1. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I don't, I just know someone found the method that works, where it came from I couldn't give a rats left butt cheek.
     
  2. mreeder

    mreeder New Member

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    I was able to program my Prius to start the engine with a silver logo fob that I purchased on ebay. My car has the SKS feature and the spare fob purchased on ebay is a SKS fob, so it wasn't clear if the non-SKS instructions amethystjw gives above would work. But they worked, at least for "start the car" feature. I didn't want to pay the Toyota dealer $110 to program all the features of the fob. I only wanted to be able to plug the spare fob into the dash and start the engine. The five step programming instructions worked perfectly the first time and took less then two minutes. I also purchase a spare metal key and had the dealer cut it to fit my car. With the spare metal key in a magnetic hide box outside the car and the spare fob well hidden in the reassesses of my trunk, I am now protected should I ever loose my regular fob while away from home.
     
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  3. schifferj

    schifferj New Member

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    The Fob (for SKS functions)
    Nice try. I warned you at the beginning of this document that I don't know anything about SKS since my car is not SKS-equipped. From the many, many threads and comments I've read on programming SKS fobs, it's clear that it is impossible to do yourself and must be done by your Toyota dealer. That said, one reliable source claims that following the directions above for programming the fob to remotely unlock your doors will also make the fob's SKS functions work, assuming it's a silver-logo fob. I'm curious to know if that really works so please post your results if you try it.

    Here's my sad but true story. I purchased my new SKS equipped Prius from a big city dealer. Much to my chagrin when I got home to the small city on the other side of the state one of my SKS fobs wouldn't work. I finally determined that I had the FOB from a car that wasn't mine (the metal key wouldn't unlock the door). I took my FOB to the local small city dealer and they were unable to reprogram it to work in my car. I followed the above steps and like one of the other posters was able to program it to start the car as a "dumb key" (i.e inserted in the fob slot. I could not, however, program it to operate as a smart key or to lock, unlock the doors with the buttons on the fob. I've pinged the big city dealer to email me the instructions for programming a smart fob and they are very anxious to get the "excellent" rating on my followup with Toyota so they just might do that. If they do I'll post em up here.
     
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    That would be cool!!
    Good luck.
     
  5. eclipse3g

    eclipse3g Junior Member

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  6. jjksutton

    jjksutton New Member

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    it worked for me too. $40 total (including a blank metal key) for a black logo fob. Thanks very much for the info amethystjw and 05 Solar Prius!
     
  7. Scrittibear

    Scrittibear Junior Member

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    does this work for a 2008 base prius non sks?
     
  8. philmcneal

    philmcneal Taxi!

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    going to need to bump this in case i need to offer the service to someone for cheaper than toyo!!
     
  9. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Yes, you need a second hand black logo, non SKS fob and a new blank key.

    Chrome logo on the fob means it's and SKS fob.
     
  10. roadgoat

    roadgoat New Member

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    Any tips on the getting the lock function to go? I tried multiple times, I got a black logo'd FOB via an eBAY auction. It now can start the car in the slot, but I can't get it to program for the car's locks. I have a 2005 Prius.
     
  11. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Do this: -
    The Fob (for remotely unlocking/locking the doors)
    This is similar to the previous directions.

    1. Open the driver door with no fob in slot and the driver door unlocked and opened. Other doors can be locked or unlocked, it doesn't matter.
    2. Insert old fob into slot and remove it twice within 5 seconds.
    3. Close and open driver door twice.
    4. Insert and remove old fob once.
    5. Close and open driver door twice again.
    6. Insert old fob in slot and close door.
    7. Without pressing the brake, press power button, wait a second, press it again, wait a second, press it a third time to turn car back off.
    8. Remove old fob from slot. You'll be in "add mode" at this point.
    9. Car should lock and unlock doors TWICE to verify it is in add mode.
    10. Press both buttons on new fob simultaneously for a second and a half!.
    11 Within 3 seconds, press only the lock symbol button. yes it does matter which!
    12. Car should respond with one quick lock/unlock to verify that the new fob is all set. If the car responds with two lock/unlocks, that means it didn't work. I don't know how to troubleshoot that problem. Maybe just try again.
    13. To end this programming, open a door or put fob in the slot.

    Do this while sitting in the car, both feet on the floor, not on the brake. Do only the things listed and if it doesn't work the first time then put the car in ready mode, switch it off, remove the fob then open the door and try again.
    Don't give up, it really does work. I had several tries. Make sure you have no distractions while doing it.
    Let us know how you go.
     
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  12. roadgoat

    roadgoat New Member

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    Still no luck with this FOB. Maybe they scratched the silver off? :) Tried more times than I care to. I get the locks to click twice, then I hold the two keys (lock/unlock) for a second and a half and then press the lock button and nothing happens.
     
  13. carlconsults

    carlconsults New Member

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    I have the same problem as Roadgoat. I've gotten the silver logo fob to be able to start the car when inserted in the dash, but I can't get the programming sequence to make the lock-0unlock buttons work on the new fob. Finishing step #12, it always responds with two loc/unlock sequences to indicate that it didn't work.

    Anybody else have success and can share their secret?
     
  14. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I don't think you can use the silver fob, for non SKS you need a black fob.

    Try a longer second and a half, make it 2 or 3 seconds.
     
  15. echase

    echase New Member

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    Thanks for the info!

    I've had partial success. Here's my experience:

    I have an '06 non-SKS (Black) fob and an '08 prius with SKS (and silver FOBs). The FOB "Start The Car" function was successful (on the first try). The lock/unlock buttons were a failure.

    I get the double-click from the car to confirm it's in add-a-clicker mode, but it is unresponsive to my button pushing on the FOB. I tried four times, including some longer-than-a-second-and-a-half attempts.

    Has anyone had similar (or better) luck with my configuration? Did something change on the remote buttons between years/FOB models?
     
  16. kcopen

    kcopen Junior Member

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    Just did this tonight. I got a $50 black logo non-SKS fob off eBay for my 2005 base Prius. Start the Car was flawless, but the Unlock/Lock took me a few times to get to work. The first time i did it, I got to the final step and nothing happened, the second time, it locked and unlocked twice, then a few more times with nothing. Then it worked.

    I think the key was holding the buttons simulataneously for more then a second and a half for me. I did it for about three second, then hit the lock button and eventually it worked with a single lock/unlock. Pretty sweet though, thanks!
     
  17. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Excellent, echase, don't give up, try the hold both buttons part for twice as long.
     
  18. kcopen

    kcopen Junior Member

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    Oh and by the way, I meant to add... This is an incredibly bizarre procedure! If I hadn't had confirmation that this worked for people (and now me), I would have thought I was being played a fool. My wife was laughing at me as i was inserting the fob five times, opening the door 5 times, etc. Clearly someone at Toyota created this programming procedure which was then discovered and helpfully posted here, but you would think whoever made this procedure would have not made it so crazy!
     
  19. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    My son was the same, I ended up sending him inside because he was putting me off.
     
  20. echase

    echase New Member

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    Reminiscent of the classic:

    Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Select, Start
     
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