Could you be possibly locked out of the car?

From what I understand, it is a possibility. Theoretically, the car is supposed to sense the fob and not lock from the outside, but the manual warns to not leave the fob in the car due to possible lock-out.
How's that for a foggy answer?

 

My wife left her purse in the car and the fob was in it and the Smart key wouldn't let me lock it. Cannot remember the number of "beeps" it gave as it was a while ago. But it wouldn't lock. I even opened the door and hit the lock button and it was still a no lock, then she realized she had left her purse in it and removed it and it locked no problem.

 

This question put me in a curious mood... so, armed with both fobs and too much time on my hands, I set out to put the SE system to the test.

In summary, I found that there appears to be absolutely no way to accidentally lock the fob in the car. The SE system appears to err on the side of refusing to lock the car rather than run the risk of allowing the user to lock his or her fob inside the car.

To prove it to yourself, remove the key from your fob (so you may enter using the driver's-side door lock) and place the fob anywhere in the car. Under the seat, up in the dash, in the center console, in the back seat, in the door pockets or handles - anywhere - and attempt to lock the car using either the external SE lock button (the black one on the handle) or by operating the power lock switch and closing the door. In either case, the vehicle will unlock and sound a long beep.

If you INTEND to lock the fob in the car (as I would when going scuba diving - I don't think the fob would take well to a marine environment), you must first close all of the doors, then operate the power locks using the key in the driver's-side door lock. Toyota recommends disabling the Smart system in this case to avoid draining the fob and vehicle batteries.

Other fun discoveries: the fob's LED blinks every time it comes within range of a new SE transponder. Try approaching the vehicle with the fob at waist-level. When you are within range of the external door transponder, the LED will flash once or twice. Now raise the fob towards the window, allowing it to "see" the internal transponders. The LED will blink again, and the Prius will assume that the fob is within the vehicle. I've discovered a few more fun fob tricks - try it yourself!

In my opinion, Toyota did a superb job designing this system. I'll never spend another minute worrying about it! (Until a hacker manages to "sniff" and clone keys, ushering in a new world of car theivery!) :roll:

 

if you want to lock the fob in the car while your diving remove the manual key from the fob and leave the fob with your gear and lock the door with the manual key.

 

If you don't have SE/SS you can lock your key fob in the car if it is not in the ignition. I also wanted to test if I could lock my keys in the car since I haven't made a duplicate key to put in my purse yet. To test I had both the key fobs that come with the car. If the key fob is in the ignition, the car can not be locked. However, once the key fob is out of the ignition, it IS possible to lock the key fob in the car say if you leave it on the seat. I tried this and had to unlock the car using the other key fob. Sounds like this is only true if you don't have the smart entry/start key fob.

 

I haven't tried it, but you should be able to lock the fob in your car by dis-abling the Smart Entry system (button is under the steering column), nad then locking the doors. I think it was mentioned above that yooth u should disable SE anyway, to save both the 12V and fob batteries.

 

No need to disable the smart key unless your going to leave the car for a week or more. If the fob is in the car, after about 10 minutes the system realizes that it's not doing anything and dissables the system. To start the car you will have to insert the fob into the slot on the dash. After one start the system returns to normal.

 

I have to disagree. I was washing my car yesterday and left my fob inside the car so it wouldn't get wet. I've done this before with no issues/the car stayed unlocked. When I finished, I found the car locked and I could not get back in. I didn't lock the car before hand and have no idea how it locked itself. At any rate, I had to call a locksmith and $40 later I was in. I'll never do that again. Weird...

 

I assume the system in the Gen III works like in my 2010 Lexus.

The system in our 04 Prius has a switch under the dash. The only way to lock your keys in that car is to deactivate SKS by pushing that button.

Now, my Lexus has no button. We were trying to figure out how to leave my wife's purse and key in the car one time (I had my key in my pocket) and we found that if you lock the door with the remote and not the SKS system, it will lock with the other key in the car and disable the system. So when you walk back up to it, SKS will not work and you will have to unlock the car with the fob. The next time you lock the doors with the SKS and the second key out of the car...it will again function normally.

Does the Gen III work the same way?

EDIT: I see we're in the Gen II forum but the OP has a Gen III

 

You definitely can. (edit: even with smart key enabled)

There are some dead spots in the car, or interference that would block the fob from being recognized. I've been seated in my car before and it would refuse to start, saying there was no key present. I'd move the key to another location and then it would start.

If you interfere with the transmission of signals, say by wrapping it aluminum foil, then a similar thing will happen. Test it out (with the other fob outside the car, of course!).

My wrapped up fob sitting right in plain sight, locked in.

 

I suspect the OP did not have a GEN III seven years ago when this thread started.

At least 7 years old.

 

I locked myself out of a 2005 Prius yesterday:

12volt battery was dead - the car had been parked since Dec 2010 with smart key disabled - no snow tires for the Prius so I drove my winter beater 1994 Honda instead.

I opened the door with the manual key and inserted the fob - no go car is totally dead.

I opened the hood and jump started the prius from my Honda.

As soon as I hooked up the cables the horn started honking and all the doors locked.

Unfortunately, I had left the fob including the manual key sitting on the drivers seat.

Also, ever since then, the radio works the first time but is totally dead the next time I run the car.

 

AH HA! Well that certainly explains it...

Holy ancient thread Batman!