smart key battery drain

Hi thanks for the reply, but I'm not talking about the spare. I am talking about the key that is in my coat pocket that I use to start the car every day. NOTHING has changed with the way I use the key or where it is stored, yet this is the 2nd dead smart key battery.

I don't understand this at all and I am going to contact my dealer about this. This is unacceptable. Like I said before, this is my 2nd Prius and I never had this problem with my Gen II.

PS: Does anyone know how to start this car with a dead FOB smart key?? In my Gen II, I had a slot to insert the FOB. In the Gen III there is no slot. Thanks!

 

Ah I see what you mean. See if the dealer will warranty the FOB or provide you with a loaner to try for the duration that your current FOB eats the battery.

As far as how to start the car with a low FOB battery, I believe it is said to hold the FOB up close by the start button and push the button as usual. That is just what I heard, it might be bullshit but worth a try.

Mike

 

Thanks again, what if the key is completely dead? How do you start the car with FOB?

Edit: Answered my own question, so thought I'd share:

 

Funny, Luther Toyota is where I bought my car yesterday So what I read was true. Cool. Some people say there is an RFID thing in the FOB so the car detects it when it scans it up by the start button. Either that or something like that fellow in the video said

Mike

 

Well, I did call my dealer today, and I left a voice mail message for my salesman that I deal with. He had the service manager call me back. They want me to bring the car in so they can test the FOB spots I guess throughout the car and the FOB itself.

To test his knowledge, I asked him how I was supposed to start the car, with a dead FOB, since it doesn't have the plug in slot like my Gen II did. Well, he did know the answer. He told me to hold the FOB up to the power button for 3 secs and then push button and car will start. Good to know.

Also, he told me NOT to trust information from forums such as these, I found that comment rather funny and thought I'd share it, lol.

 

Some people at the dealerships are so old school. You'd swear they don't own a computer nor know what a forum is

Glad your dealer is working with you to figure out the issue. Hope it all goes well and you are on your way again

Mike :tea:

 

Most dealers do not understand the technology. Some do and that video was excellent.

The FOB uses inductive charging to charge a capacitor inside the FOB long enough for it to exchange keys with the car so the car will start.

At work I have been giving demos on NFC (Near Field Communication) using my cell phone. The robot in this picture has a NFC chip that when close to the phone I can make the LED’s for eyes blink or write to registers in the robot. The robot only has a coil and capacitor. It is charged by the coil in my cell phone.

 

Nice....Galaxy Note?

 

It is an amazing phone.

5.3" 1280x800 display
Dual Core Cortex A9 1.5GHz processor
64GB SDXC card
NFC, LTE (75Mb/s), WiFi a/b/g/n , BT

It is higher res and more powerfull then many laptops from a few years ago.l

 

Last week at the airport I went to start my car and it was dead. This was after 5 days. Airport security had to jump the car. I wish could buy a 8 battery D-Cell or C-Cell pack with alligator clips to jump start my car.

I could build one but I would have to order pieces from different places. Digikey does not stock the packs.

 

I just ordered the following.

PH-BH281 C Cell (8) Battery Holder $4.49
PH-48-450 Auto Battery Power Cord $5.79

From Cheapham.com

This should do the trick. I went with C cell instead of D cell.

 

Pop the battery out of the spare. It only takes a few seconds to open it up, and several more to snap it closed again.

Battery type is CR6032, 3V.

 

Why was your 12 volt already dead on a 2010? Shouldn't be that early should it?

 

I have read that is related to the Smark Key system on the car. Here is a thread on it.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-start-2010-prius-after-3-weeks-vacation.html

 

Is that just a 2010 issue? Have the bugs been worked out for 2012?

Mike

 

I would bet it is with all Gen III models. The passive locking system drains power. I would expect it to affect old batteries more than new ones.

 

actually, the 2010's sat on the dealers lots for quite awhile due to low demand at that time. many were subjected to frequent deep discharge and recharge which dramtically reduces battery life. my 04battery with 3 door sks just started to fail after 8 years. and my 08 is still going strong.

 

Whew, my car left the factory March 28th so the battery should be fresh

Might be a good idea for 2010 owners to run a smart charger with a desulfating mode on the battery. I know some batterys that are not gone yet can be revived and last many years as long as they are taken care of afterwards. The car will take care of a fresh battery or one that has been revived It'd just be a one time task.

Mike

 

Thanks for posting that video. Yet another little-known fact that shows more of the cool technology that has gone into the Prius. Cool.



iPad ?

 

I have the same problem with the key fob for our Highlander. I've replaced it twice in the last two years and it drains withing a month. I with I had a solution.