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Lost Key (keyfob) for a 2006 Prius. What's the best way to replace?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mr.scott.com, Jul 26, 2009.

  1. mr.scott.com

    mr.scott.com New Member

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    Somehow we lost one key (keyfob) for a 2006 Prius. What is the best way to get a new one? I have seen them sold inexpensively on E-Bay and other 3rd party sites. Can the dealer take these keys and reprogram them for my car? Can I do this myself? Are there any recommended sources for the key, or is E-Bay the best route?

    I have the extended warranty (no deductible) for the car. Does this help?

    Any other suggestions?

    Thank you very much!
     
  2. reverai

    reverai New Member

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    Actually, one doesn't program a key with a prius but rather one programs the prius for the key. The dealer only had one key when I bought my prius and I was lucky enough to find one for sale here and was able to get it to work with my car. Now it was easier for me as I don't have a smart key. And while one can purchase a key on ebay,(average price seems to be around $40) there is some risk involved. It seems a key with a prius can only be used 128 times before it hides some of it's programming so the prius can't read the key properly. One can program any of the keys to start a prius but getting the key to open doors is where the risk comes in. And from what I've read, it's more complex with a smart key.

    Good Luck,
    Steve
     
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  3. johnjamis

    johnjamis Junior Member

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    If you have the smart key, you need a new key fob to get all fuctions to work. With a used one or a "new" one from ebay you will only get the ignition to work when the key is inserted. Many dealers will give 10% off ($175) and I found a dealer to program it for $40. Others wanted $80 to $170. Good luck.
     
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  4. mr.scott.com

    mr.scott.com New Member

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    Any more suggestions? I need the key to ope the doors and start the car. Does that mean it is a "smart key"?

    Do I need a key fob, or a key, or a smart key or something else?
     
  5. reverai

    reverai New Member

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    If your key has a silver Toyota icon on the back , it's a Smart key. If the key is black, it a not a Smart ket and your problem should be easy to resolve.

    Steve
     
  6. mr.scott.com

    mr.scott.com New Member

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    It is silver.
     
  7. Seagull6

    Seagull6 New Member

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    I lost one of my smart key FOBs a couple of years ago.

    After searching more than a week for it, I gave up and attempted to buy a new when when I discovered what you are learning now - replacing a smart key FOB is an expensive pain in the nice person. When the dealer told me it would cost over $500 and even then, they weren't sure it would work 100%, I re-doubled my effort to find the lost nugget. During the second search I used my high-tech metal detector and finally located the FOB in a snowbank in front of my house. By that time it had been buried in the snow a couple of weeks, but it still worked fine. What a relief.:)

    My advice is to keep looking and borrow a metal detector to scan your entire yard. Good luck.
     
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  8. mr.scott.com

    mr.scott.com New Member

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    It has been a couple of years, when lent to my wife or oldest daughter.
     
  9. mr.scott.com

    mr.scott.com New Member

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    Anyone else? I have a silver key fob and need a replacement. Are any of the 3rd party options, like e-bay, folks who sell what they claim are OEM key fobs including one advertiser on PC (Original Keyless : Home) viable options?

    Thanks!
     
  10. reverai

    reverai New Member

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  11. mr.scott.com

    mr.scott.com New Member

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    So, their replacement key, and programming by a local dealer, is the way to go?

    Thanks!
     
  12. reverai

    reverai New Member

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    Yes. as far as I understand, while one can get a new smart to start a Prius the smart functions need to use to use a computer to teach the Prius to match up with the new key.

    But it has to be either a new smart key or a cleared smart key or the Prius won't be match up with the smart key.

    Steve
     
  13. johnjamis

    johnjamis Junior Member

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    If you try this and get a fob that works report back so others can take advantage of a discount smart key fob that can be programed by a dealer. The "new" one I bought off of ebay could not be programed and it cost me $86 to discover that it would only start upon inserting the key and the fob functions were inop.
     
  14. reverai

    reverai New Member

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    Originalkeys.com at the top of the page does say each key has 100% functionality. If it can't used with the smart functions then a refund would be in order.

    Steve
     
  15. johnjamis

    johnjamis Junior Member

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    The key price will be refunded and your cost will be shipping. The dealer programing cost will likely not be refunded.
     
  16. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    If a smart key is truly new the Prius can be programmed to use it. If it has been cycled more than a limited number of times, the smart function can no longer be used.

    Tom
     
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  17. Barcelona Red

    Barcelona Red OM dream mobile sea glass

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    I lost my key for my 2008 Prius. I went to the dealer and got a new one. I put on my coat today and found the lost key.
    Can I use it anymore?
     
  18. direstraits71

    direstraits71 Member

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    The prius may be programmed to use either 4 or 5 fobs at a time if I remember correctly. You now have 3 working keys.
     
  19. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    It depends on what the dealer did. Did you ask them to disable the missing keyfob, or just to add the new one?

    You can certainly try the old keyfob. Keep all of the other ones at least 10 feet away from the car, and just see if the old one works.

    If the old one doesn't work anymore, there is a good chance that the dealer can restore it to function. There seems to be some memory of keyfobs that have ever been used, even for ones that have been deleted. Used keyfobs cannot generally be added to a car that has never seen them before.
     
  20. Sandy

    Sandy Hippi Chick

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    I have one listed for 30 bucks on the sale thread