Key Fob Shock

I used this company for a spare key for my 2010. Very helpful, fast service and only cost $40 shipped. If you just want a spare door key, this is the place to go.

 

For what it's worth, I've had my Prius with SKS for just over six months. The only time the fob comes out of my purse is at the car wash, where they specifically request you leave it in the car (though the very first time I was there they didn't have that "rule" and it went through just fine).

I find it funny now to fish for keys when I need to drive my husband's car on occasion.

If you could find a clip for the fob, and clip it to your person when out and about, perhaps that would help (every place except the beach, I guess, where you wouldn't want to get it wet). Haven't been to the beach in the last 6 months

 

With my keys, it wasn't a card really, it was just a tiny metal tag attached to one of the fobs with a key code on it.

 

customize your keyfob and turn it in to a gold pendant for your necklace, you'll never need to take it off... wait is that possible?

 

Uhhh...No...I did not mean to step on anyones toes and $400 dollars IS a lot of money. A lot of Posters have already offered potential alternatives that may be cheaper. My "logic" is looking at "Key Fob Shock" as simply another option. Toyota evidently provides two fobs plus a code that allows for creation of more if needed with price of purchase, of ALL Prius. If you compare obtaining a electronic key fob that utilizes all the benefits and technology of SKS to the price of simply having a key made, then you are indeed going to be "Shocked". My logic, or suggestion is that you look at getting an extra or additional fob the same way you would look at purchasing any option or addition.

I'm not saying it's cheap, but a lot of optional additions that people have the freedom to choose or not choose aren't cheap. The Nav package, already purchased by the OP wasn't cheap, or certainly wasn't cheaper than many after market alternatives. Toyotas SKS system is very nice addition that is part of owning a Prius. Since comparitively you don't have a lot of vehicles that utilize the same system, it's hard to compare the cost and say it's way out of line. SKS is a little more than just a conventional "Keyless Entry".

I wouldn't panic, and I'd shop around with other dealers and investigate some of the options already provided by others. Like any purchase, I'd look for the best price. But I'd also look at my purchase as what it really is, which is an optional purchase. I understand someone wanting an extra for a rainy day or incase of an emergency but I'd look at it as an what it is A luxury. That's my logic in bringing up that the OP has already paid "premiums" for extra's. Purchasing an additional fob, in a non-emergency situation is an optional purchase.

I'm not applying any opinion as to whether someone should make that purchase, I personally wouldn't. Two works for me, and if for some reason I lost one, I'd deal with the situation as it happened. But just like buying a lighted door sill, pin striping, special mats, or any "extra" it's simply balancing perceived value, desire and cost. As I put in my original post, it's simply deciding if you want it enough and if you think it's worth it.

 

That's just a key code, which tells a locksmith how deep to make each cut. You can recreate that number by measuring your existing key and looking up the codes from a table. It's not hard to do, which is why newer key technology is evolving.

Tom

 

There's an idea!:cheer2:

 

But, see, SKS is not an option I want if a replacement fob costs $400. I would much prefer having an old fashioned key that I can get copies of for a reasonable price.

I want to drive a Prius because I think it is the most efficient use of money and gas (We plan to drive one for well over 150,000 miles, so cars that are cheaper to start with wouldn't be in the end due to milage.) This and the $70 oil changes every 5,000 miles are really the bees in my bonnet that are shoving me into used Gen 2s. Key fob technology is simply not that expensive (I'm married to a PhD in electrical engineering), and synthetic oil should not need to be changed every 5,000 miles in a new car that runs at lower temperatures than a typical car.

It FEELS to me like Toyota said, "hey - lets cut the price as much as we can up front for the 2010, and then let the dealers make their money in frequent, complicated oil changes and lost keys." Having these arguably hidden expenses makes me nervous about what else is coming down the line.

signed,
bummed out :rain:

 

Just remember-----------as "wave slider" said, where ever you are or what key loss problem you may encounter, you can always use the "vin" number ----------call any dealer and get processing for a key order started. Whatever the case, it's never going to be a convenient place or time.

Oh, and Hi-----Guys, as you can see, I'm in the Nashville area, too.
A "shout out" to my home people.

 

Later this year, the Prius I model will come out at $1000 less than the Prius II. No one know yet what they will do to cut costs, but they may leave out SKS entirely. If you want the advanced hybrid but basic transportation otherwise, that would be the way to go.

As far as oil changes are concerned, I plan on being a guinea pig. I will change my oil at 5000 miles the first time, then every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. I believe it will be fine and I dare Toyota to deny warranty service if needed.

Let's face it, Toyota is the new GM for better or worse, mostly worse. I could rant on and give many examples to back that up. They do make the world's best hybrid, so I will put up with them.

 

Just before I left the dealer with my 2010, the sales person said, "Just so you know, if you ever lose your key fob, they are REALLY expensive to replace."

Now I know what to expect!!

My suggestion for you, would be to leave your husbands fob hidden in your suitcase in the hotel room. (or wherever you are staying on vacation) That way, if heaven forbid, you do lose your fob...it's a short taxi ride back to the hotel to get his fob. Just a thought.

 

see reply in blue below

 

Hello Wookie:

Here's some additional info that I recently learned here at PC: the Prius can be programmed for up to 4 fobs (some say 5 fobs). But as long as you have at least one available, you can fairly easily have any lost fobs removed from the system, and new ones programmed in.

This is because you are not really having the "fob" programmed, but the "car itself". The car is programmed to recognize the unique ID of each fob. If a fob is lost or stolen, the car can be reprogrammed to ignore the missing fob(s), and to accept new ones.

If you lose all of your fobs, reprogramming gets a little more complicated, but can still be done without replacing any of the internal computers (although some dealers' shops are suprisingly "ignorant" of this fact, and want to charge you thousands of dollars to replace the ECUs/computers!).

The only complication is the mechanical key. The mechanical lock (driver's door) can't be "reprogrammed". But you could always have the tumbler changed or re-keyed. Even if you lost the mechanical key and decided not to re-key the lock, the mechanical key will not allow anyone to steal your car, although they could get inside of it.

Best wishes,

 

The new "hold the keyfob next to the Power button" function on the 2010 makes it possible to use a traditional key instead of a keyfob. With the Gen2, it had to be a keyfob in order to fit in the keyslot in the dash.

It is possible to make a key that works in the door and allows you to start the car. Nobody I know of offers it yet, but all that's required is a laser cut key with a transponder. The biggest problem is that the proper transponder is only available by taking apart a keyfob. If the 2010 uses the same transponder as the Gen2, then there are lots of old keyfobs that could be used as a source.

So the idea is to take a transponder out of an old keyfob, and insert it into the head of a newly cut laser key. The mechanical part gets you in the door, and holding the key next to the Power button allows you to start the car.

If you really want to go cheap with the keys, swap out the laser key cylinder for an older version traditional key cylinder. Then you could have all the $2 keys you want. The security would be less, but that's your call. You'll still have to use a transponder to start the car.

 

Glad I could be of help. Ranting on the internet can feel really good some times. I'm thinking of making "Toyota is the new GM" my signature.

 

What are you talking about??????? you don't even own a Toyota (at least you don't admit to owning one in your profile) much less a Prius!!!
So your opinion is merely your own unbased bias opinion.
If your want to bash Toyota--go do it somewhere else, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

 

Wow. I'm going to suggest that you take a deep breath and re-read the post you are responding too. I suppose royrose may just be full of it, but he certainly strongly implies that that he owns a 2010 Prius or will be buying one soon since he plans on pushing the oil change envelope.

Also, both royrose and I agree that Toyota makes the best hybrid on the road (as he states in the post you replied to). Toyota, however, is not perfect. No company is perfect - and as far as I know, no company claims to be. They are in business to make money. But even if they were the only completely altruistic company on the face of the earth, I think people would be allowed to say critical things about them on a chat board.

But you may certainly stick to your opinion as well.

 

The metal key tab with the numbers needed to make a new mechanical key:

The digits are on the other side of the metal tab.

Just e-mail yourself the five digits using a web based, e-mail system. Then if you should be in another part of the country, you'll have the digits needed to order a new key. Try not to be too overt in the e-mail title and digit description.

A replacement FOB will still have to be "learned" by the car but the OBD connector is inside the car. Toyota has a procedure for doing this with the NHW20 so I suspect a similar process exists for the ZVW30.

Bob Wilson