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Gen 2 smart key fob - unlock button broken!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by toddwking, May 12, 2012.

  1. toddwking

    toddwking Average Joe

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    My smart key works, but the manual unlock button seems to be broken. That is, there is no "give" when I press it. I'm not sure if the lock button works either - I think it does not.

    I heard that I could carefully break it open and replace a spring, and then glue it back together. Has anyone done this?
     
    #1 toddwking, May 12, 2012
  2. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    It's probably the rubber membrane that's worn. If so, the only fix I know of is to replace it with another one. You could purchase another fob off eBay, and transfer your circuit board into the new one.

    The case can be opened by inserting a pair of needle nose pliers into the mechanical key slot and spreading them. Just break the glue, and then use several dull blades to work the break around the full rim. You'll probably want to dig the old glue out on the case you put back together.

    The circuit board is just press fit into one of the sides. A small screwdriver blade works to pry it out if it's stuck. Note also that there is a small black chip (the transponder) that is separate from the circuit board (Gen2 only - Gen3 doesn't use one).

    Use a moderate strength glue to reseal the case. I have one that I used Elmer's white glue on, and it broke open after a few months. Use too strong a glue and you'll never get it open again...

    You can test each switch by holding the battery in place and pressing the switch. The red LED will flash if the switch is OK. If it's a defective switch, there's not much you can do for it.
     
    #2 RobH, May 13, 2012
  3. toddwking

    toddwking Average Joe

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    Thx Robh.

    I also found this link (via google search, couldn't find it with the search function in this forum):

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...oubleshooting/97365-fixing-prius-key-fob.html

    It was super easy to fix - Just took out the razor, cut the top part of it a smidge, upon doing so it immediately freed up the buttons. So I pushed the rubber back back in, looks/works fine - never had to put any glue on it or do any surgery at all - took about 1 minute, maybe 2.

    At this point I'd say it looks & functions just like it did previously (save the small, unnecessary scratch I made because I wasn't careful with the razor).
     
    #3 toddwking, May 13, 2012
    1 person likes this.
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