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Buying Used Prius Agonizing over Details : }

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by daisy555, Aug 11, 2015.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ironic, i call mine 'p'.
     
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  2. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Ah! Here comes"M" in "M"! …or I suppose we could say "Here comes M & M!" o_O

    Edit: In the UK, M&Ms are called "Smarties", so what about "Here comes Smartie!" (well perhaps not!)
     
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  3. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    : ) or M2 (squared)
     
  4. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    (the trick is to insert a special character (in this case 0178 - for which you might need to used a simple text-editor (like note) to insert the character (by hitting Alt-0178(on the Numeric Keypad - hold down Alt and key 0178, when you release Alt, the character will appear as if by magic! …just like this ² )
     
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  5. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    Wow...I'll have to try that out when I'm thinking clearly. I have a mac...no clue on this.
     
  6. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    I think it's very simple on a Mac, just look for keyboard, special characters!

    If you do it straight into the browser, some browsers will act in a strange manner (open a new window, opwn a new file, or some weird thing) but I think the Mac is smart enough to allow users to insert special characters with ease!)
     
  7. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    Great. I'll give it a try...thanks!
     
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  8. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    So are you calling her "M" ? It's likable, but short don't you think?
     
  9. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    Since I put so much time into finding her, I must be sure her name suits her well. ; )
     
  10. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    You wanted pics. Here's another one. The cleanest this engine will ever be. : )

    A few more coming later from the friend with a real camera.
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    I'm searching through smart key posts. I had a problem today. When battery is dying on smart key does it work intermittently?

    Couldn't lock car this morning. Tried a few things and noticed a light on dashboard that looked like a key with maybe a line through it. Red light on sk was still working when I pressed tabs despite key not working. I manually locked car and when I came back to unlock, sk didn't work. Used manual key to get in and inserted sk to start car and nothing. Took sk out and put back in again and car started but I wasn't seeing any lights on dash board. Still breathing....something told me to use light adjustment tab to left of steering wheel and dashboard lights appeared. That's really weird because I didn't dim dash board lights last night. Maybe I moved it somehow without realizing. Very strange.

    When sk battery is dying is this an intermittent process? I'm asking because when I got home key worked just fine. Even tried it at a distance in my apartment and it worked. Remotes in my past would not go back to working so well if battery was dying. Obviously I will put a new battery in but I want to trouble shoot correctly.

    No car, computer or cell phone was near me during this trouble. How do all of you avoid your key being near a cell phone?

    Salesman is calling me back. He had been told that it's best to put sk in it's slot for starting car rather than relying on starting remotely. Is this what all of you do?

    Manual refers to a key number plate. The one thing that didn't come with car. If I lose these keys (obviously I won't lose both), they can program another without this key plate right?

    Edit: Local auto locksmith says he has tool for reading key code without needing number plate. A new programed smart key is $175 but he also has equipment to get everything back to working order if both keys are lost. For this he charges a total of $225 per key with no additional fees. I thought I read somewhere dealer charges huge amount for resetting internal car code. Am I making any sense? Hopefully won't ever need his services but good to keep his number in my glove box!
     
    #491 daisy555, Oct 16, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2015
  12. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Things do appear to work randomly with a weak battery in the fob. It also appears the battery may be recharged a bit. Today the door recognizes the fob but you need it to get started. Last time it wasn't recognized by the door but this time it is. Buy the batteries. It isn't worth the aggravation of putting up with a dying or dead fob. I bought the batteries in quantity on line as the retail price in store for one is high.

    The fob can be sensed when it is on the back seat but can't be detected on the deck. The Gen3 will detect it on the deck.

    The only time I put the key in the slot was when I had battery problems.

    The cell phone is either in my shirt pocket or on a sticky pad on the dash. The fob is either in my pants pocket or clipped to a bag.

    The Gen2 came with a small key number plate. I forgot to turn it in when I collected the rest of my stuff & dropped off the other fob. I suspect it is the first thing to find its way to the trash can. The Gen3 either doesn't have one (or I have already lost it).

    Bernard Lee is my M, sorry.
     
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  13. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Daisy,

    Take a look at the attached pdf file. Pay close attention to pages 36 and 37. It may help you with your reported problem with your key fob. I suspect you either are having a "interference" problem, a weak battery in the key fob, or a weak 12 volt auxiliary battery. Or more than one of those items. Start with the key fob first.

    Best of luck to you!
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Hi there Daisy! I thought I'd check in to see how M&M were both doing!
     
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  15. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    Thanks for the tips! More reading to catch up on. I'm hoping it's just key fob battery. 12 volt was replaced last year. I think I'll go back to location where I was having trouble and test other fob. If there is interference, it should happen again. Unless the interference fluctuates. There were no cars near by but maybe something in the area caused problem.

    The adventures we've had:

    -Leaving her running while doing quick grocery shopping...swore I shut her off and locked door.
    -While climbing a small hill I panicked when I saw speedometer reading of 67...somehow switched to km instead of mph.
    -Pumped gas for the first time in ages...paid $15 and had to go back to get $3 refund. Wow!
    -Before heading out for our first road trip, I lost my full set of keys in my garden!! Mini freakout mostly because I was locked out of my apartment. I knew keys weren't in car because I had second fob with me and could lock door. I do retain some of what I read.
    -Completed our first road trip today to a cute RI town I've been wanting to visit for a couple of years. Smooth sailing all the way.

    Our official introduction photo...still no name for her yet but I think she's calling me "Nellie" otherwise known as "Nervous Nellie".

    Obviously I have zero auto show modeling skills but I wanted a photo from our first day together so friend snapped a quick slightly awkward photo of the two of us. : }



    IMG_1410 (1).jpg
     
  16. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Hey Ron, many thanks for the pdf file - I just downloaded it, and have spent a while perusing it, learning many interesting things I'd heard of, but never seen put down in such a succinct manner! Very useful, and essential reading for any Prius owner (not just newbies!) Thanks again!
     
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  17. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Hey, M, we've all (well certainly I have) left it running, and wondering why all the beeping as I get out! Only once, but it's all part of the learning curve! Also, I've found that if I'm in an area with lots of EMI (such as parked near the TV towers on I-128) the Smart key system might act flakey, but that's just due to the de-sensing effect of being in a strong EMF area! (learned that from my Ham-Radio days!) - Wil
     
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  18. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    All good, nice hat. Indeed, you got a great car with a rather steep learning curve. Don't panic, you'll get the hang of it.

    I swear my Prius performs better for me than my wife and my daughter. Zoey got her first taste of autumn gasoline. This tank os not looking too good. Last tank was 44.7 this A.M. I was at 35. Cold+funky fuel= poor results. I need to drive her for a half hour to an hour at highway speed. My theory is the catalyst needs to be heated up, clearing the breathing ability of the engine. If I do this, my mileage will return to normal.
     
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  19. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Wil,

    I did not author the pdf file. Actually John1701a who is a member here on Prius Chat is the author of the file. He has built a large website that is Prius specific. A ton of info there to see.

    Here's the link: John's Stuff - Toyota Prius and more
     
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  20. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Thanks for the link, Ron!
     
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