key fob

Yes try changing the battery. Do you have a spare to try?

 

The simplest, easiest, and cheapest first step would be to change the fob battery.
There are threads in Prius Chat, along with links on how to do this. Relatively painless and easy.
I would recommend just going to youtube and looking up a video on how to DIY.

If this solves your issues?
Great.
If you continue to have problems?
At least you can cross dying Fob Battery off your list of potential causes.

I'd bet on it being the battery dying.
Good Luck.

 

then try the 12 volt battery if it's not the fob.

 

Maybe the key sensor in the car is weak, or broken? Mine used to be quicker at recognizing my hand in the door handle.

 

pleasure.

 

The rough engine cut off is probably normal. Mine has done it for years.

 

I could use a little advice. I just purchased an '08 Prius a few days ago. It has the SKS tech, button under the steering wheel depressed. The fobs allow me to proximity unlock/lock driver, passenger, tailgate doors. The fobs also allow me to proximity start the vehicle. Neither fob will allow me to use the lock, unlock, and panic buttons. Both batteries test in the good range, plus they both work for proximity options.

Does anyone have any idea why this might be happening with both fobs?

I've used the search feature here, but found nothing specific to the issue. I have an appointment with the dealership on Thursday. Service records show they've worked on the fobs about 3 times with similar issue over the past 9 years, the last time being just under 3 years ago.

I'm also going to have them look at the mechanical keys, as neither are easy to use in the door. This was also worked on a little under 3 years ago.

Thanks in advance!

 

congrats and welcome!
no idea, will be interesting to see what they find. can you find what they have fixed on them in the past?

 

The service records come from the Toyota website, so they aren't extremely descriptive.

In 2010, this is what they've said for the fix:

TRIM ELECTRICAL ~|~KEY FOB UNLOCK BUTTON IS INOP ~|~FOUND KEY FOB BUTTON HAS BEEN PUSHED IN CAUSING REMOTE TO BE INOP.REPLACED REMOTE. ~|~REPLACED REMOTE 830621 .3

In 2014, this is what they've said:

BODY ELECTRICAL ~|~CUSTOMER REQUESTS NEW KEY CUT/PROGRAMMED PARTS IN STOCK AS PER BRADY-KNOWS NEED TO SHOW PROOF OF OWNERSHIP FOR KEY ~|~. ~|~REPLACE BATTERY


We shall see, indeed.

Thanks for the welcome, this forum is overwhelming with the amount of information. I'm excited to delve through things.

Thanks for the congrats, as well! This baby just broke 100k miles. I'm hopeful I have a couple hundred more to go.

 

It turns out the 'unlock' buttons on both fobs were stuck in the depressed setting, disabling any other functions. It sounds like it was easily fixed in the shop, which means if it happens again, I'll most likely be able to figure it out.

The mechanical key issue, they stated, was most likely due to the keys and the locks never having been used. They said they generally advise customers to perform a lock/unlock cycle 20 times or so with a new set to 'break it in'. He worked on it while I was in there and now it locks/unlocks with ease.

$80 to get all that figured out, plus the recommended servicing for the age/miles on the vehicle. Not too shabby. I took the opportunity to read the pamphlets on the new priuses. Soooo coool!

 

Welcome! If it happens again, you might consider buying a new fob casing - just get the right model. The inside electronics are self contained and easily can be moved to the new housing (literally the plastic case with buttons) along with the removable mechanical key. Easy DIY job - not much harder than changing the fob battery.

 

Don't forget also, you need to swap over the RFID chip from the old case to the new one.

 

Thanks both of you! I'll keep that in mind!