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Pruis 2014 C Level One - Back-up Keys, Seat Covers, Etc.

Discussion in 'Prius c Accessories and Modifications' started by Shop-Shark, Feb 23, 2015.

  1. Shop-Shark

    Shop-Shark Junior Member

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    Just got a brand new (clearance price) 2014 Prius C Level One for $18,000 drive-off price (all taxes, fees, etc.). Two immediate needs arose: (1) back-up keys (hey, I lose my keys. . . .); and (2) seat covers.

    BACK-UP KEYS: I asked the dealer how much for a back-up key. The guys said $260. I went to Home Depot and got one for $2.34.

    How? Well, the Prius C Level One does NOT have the smart key system. And Home Depot has the key blank for it. And so for $2.34 apiece at the Pooler, GA Home Depot, I got a couple of back-up keys. One is now in my hide-a-key hiding place on the car.

    Yes, of course, there's no remote door lock/unlock function. It's just a flat key. But see, I don't care. I just wanted something to get my sorry nice person home if I'm off somewhere and lose my original, "key fob" key.

    Plus, I've never owned a car with a remote lock/unlock function (yep, base line models all the way, my other car is a 2003 Corolla-CE, 5-speed manual). So sure, I like that feature, but I'll certainly live without it if I ever lose my original, "full function" key while off somewhere (yes, the other full-function key that came with the car is safely stored at home; the "valet" key that also came with the car is only good for opening the door; the dealer guy told me it can't be used to drive the car more than a mile -- it's a "valet" key, after all).

    So I thought I'd share my story because the dealership tried to con me into believing that I needed to spend a boat load of moolah just to have a back-up key. Also you do not want to put an electronic key fobbed key on the outside of your car, like under a fender or wherever you hide your hide-a-key. You want the simple, "mechanical key" if you can get one, as I just did, because the elements will screw up the full-function key.

    Warning to higher-level Prius C owners: You're stuck. You have a smart key system. Check other forums for that and be prepared to drop some serious money on back-up keys.

    SEAT COVERS: What amazes me when I go to Amazon and online auto stores is that these big players haven't made their vendors furnish a make/model list so that, if you want to buy a $50 or less set of seat covers, you can be assured that they'll fit.

    I've found a couple places on the `net where they get north of $250 for "custom" seat covers. I'm not sure I want to invest that much. Maybe $100 for just the two front bucket seats. I'm not sure I want leather, either, as I live in Savannah, GA and it gets nasty-hot-sweaty for too many months out of the year.

    But I'm willing to pay (within reason) for quality -- and to keep as cool and dry as I can during The Yuck Season -- so y'all's advice is welcome here. Whatever I get, I want easy installation, good fit, and for the seat covers to last at least 5 years (about what I got for the $29 Wal-Mart set that I used on my old Honda). Oh, and when some sweaty bubba gets in my car, I want to be able to say to myself hey no problem, easy wipe-clean later (so, leather? Synthetic leather?).

    Can anyone point me to decent seat covers for my specific (2014 Prius C Level One) model? Bear in mind that my particular year went with uni-b0dy front bucket seats (no separate, detachable or telescopable head rests on them). And everyplace I look online, the photos depict only front bucket seats with detachable head-rests, not the uni-body seats like mine. So, I don't have a high level of confidence looking at ready-made stuff online.
     
    #1 Shop-Shark, Feb 23, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2015
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  2. kingnba6

    kingnba6 Active Member

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    Congrats on the buy. I also have a C 1 that i made spare keys at HomeDepot. As for seat covers, I dont think a normal one will work because of the attached head rest.
     
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  3. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

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    Holy crap how did I never realize I can make spare keys for the C at Home Depot. Looks like I'm making a trip after work today. As for seat covers, you should look up Clazzio. They aren't cheap but they seem to be pretty good quality.
     
  4. Shop-Shark

    Shop-Shark Junior Member

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    Thanks! Clazzio -- I like it but geez, $450, and that's WITH the 10% off coupon.

    The "chat" guy said $299 for just the two front seats. 3-year warranty.

    Here's the Chat script:

    Clazzio: 1 row price for leather, $299 / 1 row price for Suede or Quilted, $249

    Clazzio: one row PVC is $199

    I asked about "blem" deals and they have them, but nothing for a Prius C at the moment, only a regular Prius.

    I also looked on their blog -- they say PVC is not worth it, only a 1-year warranty and not expected to last very long. Cheap can be costly, I reckon.
     
    #4 Shop-Shark, Feb 24, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2015
  5. robertmaria

    robertmaria Member

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    YAY on buying the base level c One !!! i also have the 2014 Prius c One. we NEVER have to worry about the engine immobilizer locking us out. the valet key only going one mile was BS by the sales,,, no such thing. itz just a key without the fob. i suggest you keep a naked metal key in your wallet though.
    and after almost one year with my c1, i still haven't figured out yet when the automatic locking suddenly does that crunch on me, locking me out. yet it does automatically lock,,, and sometimes not. also we have no engine blanket. toss the rear headrests somewhere to be lost in the garage and so never to block your rear vision again. i used a large t-shirt as a seat cover.
    enjoy
    oh,,, never put the ignition on ACC, the 12 volt battery cant handle it. if you want to sit & listen to the radio then put it on Ready just as if you're driving. then no worries. just let the engine start when it wants to. it handles charging the battery better than we can.
     
    #5 robertmaria, Feb 25, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2015
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  6. Shop-Shark

    Shop-Shark Junior Member

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    Thanks for the advice. The owner's manual talks about that irritating, "gotchya!" auto-lock process. That happened to me once with a rental car. I put the keys on the dashboard and got out to get my mom's wheelchair out of the trunk. My driver's door swung shut (parked on a hill) and "chi-chi-chi-chit!" -- all four doors locked. Cost me $75 to have the pop-a-lock guy unlock the car for me. Anyway, my Prius-C’s owner's manual explains how to undo that feature, and my Prius, which came with a free detail stripe and a nice window-tint job (a mix-up that unfolded in my favor) was preset not to auto-lock. Happily, it’s never auto-locked on me since.

    That's interesting about the battery drain using ACC to power the radio. A design flaw to say the least.

    And yes, I suspected the "valet key" limitation claim was BS, though that guy seemed like a straight shooter. I should've just tried to key out myself.

    The smart key, immobilizer thing: Yes, I consciously "went cheap" buying the Level One in no small part to avoid that crap layer. And btw, let's pause to acknowledge yet another cost that criminals inflict upon us (it's all anti-theft gizmodia, right?).

    Forgive me, but what's an "engine blanket" and why would I want one?

    Right. Good idea about the rear seat head rests. I'll use my larger Corolla for transporting guests anyway.

    Question: When I open my driver's door the car makes this electronic "yawning" sound. Some process is activated, like the car's awakening itself in anticipation of being driven. No other door precipitates that. I presume it's normal. Is it? What is it? Maybe I missed that explanation while reading the nearly 500 page owner's manual.

    GAS MILEAGE: I've now got 1617 miles on my car and I've been driving it nice and easy, about 1200 highway miles. I'm only getting about 43 mpg on average, maybe once or twice breaking 50 mpg, and as low as 34 mpg (doing 80 mph with maybe 200 pounds of stuff loaded in the back, though I did hit a moderate headwind). My morning commute, btw, is 7.8 miles and it's 85% highway mileage.

    Now, I know it's cold season and I'm burning "winter fuel," and I've had to go through the break-in period. But geez, I'm seeing others here claiming higher mileage. And, I've meticulously kept my Bridgestone Turanza EL400 tires that came with the car inflated to 42 PSI front, 40 rear (max. 44 PSI). Is this mpg normal, or should I demand “full-scope analysis” when I go in for my first oil change?

    OIL CHANGES: I've got that 2 year, 25,000 free maintenance (oil changes) deal from the dealer -- an incentive, as was the lifetime, power-train warranty. So for the moment I'm on easy street with oil changes. But otherwise, I've done all my own oil changes since I started driving in 1972. Have you researched what is the poop with the right oil for this car?

    Like, is it worth using full synthetic? And is it an easy oil change, or does one need to buy a special filter-cap wrench, etc.?

    EV vs. ECO mode: I’ve read the owners manual and conclude that I should just ignore this, leave it in ECO mode and regret that Toyota stupidly used up what would have been an excellent cup-holder spot to place two switches that I’ll never use and otherwise belong on the dash.

    MISCELLANEOUS TIP TO OTHER TOYOTA CAR BUYERS: I read the fine print in the back of the Prius brochure. Told me I'd get 5 points for every dollar I spent on Toyota products if I opened up a Toyota VISA card. So, I got the dealer to let put $3000 on my Capital One, 1.5% cash rewards card ($45 back) plus the remaining $15,000 on my Toyota VISA card (paid it off right away, so no interest cost doing that, and there's no annual fee). Yep. 75,000 points -- can only be spent on Toyota products. So there's a free set of tires downwind (points expire after 5 years, though).
     
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  7. robertmaria

    robertmaria Member

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    we have late 1980s Jet Fighter technology in our ABS. the pump you hear whrring when you first open the driver's door is pressurizing (re-pressurizing) your brakes. without it you'd have no rear brake pressure. i was POed when i first realized my horrible old Oldsmobile's Teves braking systems came back to haunt me in Prissy. but they so far have been wonderful. i guess the german technology invented by america got implemented correctly by the japanese in our 100% made in nippon car. anyways itz an instant test of your battery to run the pump. and after you park, it repressurizes the ABS brakes when you open the drivers door.
    i guess i missed the credit card. oh well,,,,
    ps ECO mode sucks,,, turns down the fan speeds when you need it most.
    oh, and after someone yanks the speaker wire out of the VPNS you may enjoy the EV mode more than once in a while to actually go stealth.
     
    #7 robertmaria, Feb 25, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2015
  8. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

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    I think you are referring to the brakes getting ready (or something like that). I read about it a while back ago, but forgot about it. If I recall correctly, it has to do with the brakes "waking" up.
    The engine runs continuously through the engine warm-up phase. Therefore, short drives will not see as much of a benefit from the hybrid system as longer drives. As your speed increases above 65, you will see your mileage decrease. It's more noticeable with the Prius, but that's pretty similar for most cars. And once it gets warmer, mileage goes up as well. So you're experiencing normal numbers.
    The 2 year/25k miles free services is a corporate incentive, not a dealer deal (so you can take it to any Toyota dealership to get the free services). You MUST use full synthetic, I'm pretty sure you need to use 0w20.
    I just leave it on ECO and forget the switch is there. I haven't turned off ECO in 55k miles.
     
  9. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Once bitten, twice shy ?? ;)

    That is overstated just a tiny bit.
    It will handle being in the ACC position for a minute or two just fine........maybe even 10.
     
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  10. kingnba6

    kingnba6 Active Member

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  11. Shop-Shark

    Shop-Shark Junior Member

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    Yeah, I believe I actually found ($6.64 delivered) the precise key on E-bay for my Prius C, but really it's just a blank key with an empty fob shell. It thus contemplates that you "transfer" the original key's fob guts to its fob shell.

    But in my scenario, you've already lost the original key, so there's nothing to transfer over. And in any event the Home Depot guy erred and rendered it a $6.64 pile of trash. The fob-less, $2.34 Home Depot key makes the most sense to me. Please post an update how it works out for you.
     
  12. Shop-Shark

    Shop-Shark Junior Member

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    That's good to know. Thanks!
     
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  13. Shop-Shark

    Shop-Shark Junior Member

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    Thanks for your helpful responses.

    RE: You MUST use full synthetic, I'm pretty sure you need to use 0w20.

    Yeah, I think I read that in the owner's manual and just couldn't bring myself to believe it. That's one special engine, eh?

    Note to Toyota Management: Move the ECO/EV switches to the dashboard (since I'll basically never use them) and free that spot up for my morning coffee (it's precisely where my coffee cup goes in my 2003 Corolla, btw, and I miss it).
     
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  14. Shop-Shark

    Shop-Shark Junior Member

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    New question for all of my knowledgeable friends above:

    My 2003 Corolla-CE has the standard vinyl dashboard that necessitates Armor All treatments 1-2 times a year so that the punishing Georgia sun doesn't dry it out and enable cracking.

    My 2014 Prius-C Level One, in contrast, has a hard, textured plastic dashboard. Some call it cheap; I think it's cool. Anyway, I intuitively sense that it's not something that would need any sort of preservational application like Armor All. I hope that’s the case because hey, that’s one less maintenance chore and thus another base-model upside.

    Your thoughts?
     
  15. thenyteowlpriusc

    thenyteowlpriusc Junior Member

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    Thanks OP for this post. Just got a prius c and needed to make copies of the key. The dealership wanted $300 per key. $160 for the key and $150 to program it. I just went to home depot and got two coppies for .......[drumroll please]....... $5. Granted, they dont have the electronic door lock/unlock feature. But I just saved $595!!!!!!!. Prius chat is my new go to site.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  16. Ellen Berman

    Ellen Berman Junior Member

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    Dealership screwed me for key fobs too. I found a locksmith who could do it for 60.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  17. davids45

    davids45 Active Member

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    G'day Shop-Shark,

    Does your 'c' have air-bags in the front seats? I've a 2016 'c' and had to get seat covers with panels/cuts that would allow the seat-back bags to do their 'thing' if needs be. Warnings on the seat-cover packs here - if the wrong seat-covers were used - those with 'solid' back-rest sides were claimed to be dangerous should the seat-side bags expand. Of course, these were more expensive than un-cut ones.

    I also bought real sheepskin covers (with the correct side panels) for the front seats which was not such a clever idea as they lose or shed wool fibres (particularly with grandkids kicking the seat-backs when in their booster seats in the back). These covers require more regular cleaning of the HV battery vent as well as the floor carpets. Still, can't beat sheepskin for comfort in all weathers.
    Win some, lose some, I guess.

    David S.
     
  18. SwhitePC

    SwhitePC Active Member

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    so...what's the point of those $5 spare keys (heck I could get cheaper nonimmobolizer keys made than $5) if they don't have a immobolizer chip programmed in them???

    I'm thinking that the C1-2 has a sort of fail-safe to it where I've tested that:

    1) You exit vehicle and forgot (dropped) your key in the vehicle...the car won't auto-lock unless someone presses the lock (on the key or inside the vehicle)

    2) You are outside the car and use the key to press unlock, then open one of the door(s) to get something and your key may've dropped inside vehicle or gets lost along the process...again the vehicle won't auto-lock (because you opened a door) after you close the door unless someone manually pushes lock on the key or inside the vehicle.

    3) You are outside the car and use the key to press unlock, and let the preset 30sec (or how long you set in the vehicle) or so pass by without opening any door(s), the car will then automatically relock (because no door was opened)

    4) You need to get somewhere, but you may've misplaced your chipped key and took out your cheap nonchip key from your magnetic hiding box...OH YEAH you're still SOL because you can't start the car.

    This thread is old and misleading that the OP would post that they can get their non-chip spare key to start the engine in case of a scenario where they lost their key...just hide the valet key or get a locksmith to do a chip spare (still would be some chunk of change but less than dealer), other than that you can't start the engine without a chip present
     
    #18 SwhitePC, Jul 21, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2017
  19. Sean Nelson

    Sean Nelson Active Member

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    I'm in the habit of pressing the "lock" button on the driver's door armrest as I'm exiting the vehicle to lock the car so as to eliminate any possibility of the nefarious RF hacks that can be used to simulate your key and open the doors. Because of that I've accidentally left my key in the car (it's an actual key, not the "keyless entry" key fob) and locked myself out. Fortunately I had a spare "valet" key tucked away in a secret location that I was able to use to open the car.

    I totally agree. A simple key without a properly recognized transponder won't be accepted by the car's immobilizer, and so the car simply won't start even if you do get into it. The best it would do is to allow you to open the door to retrieve an original key that you accidentally left inside. But if you lost the original key while you were outside the vehicle then you'd be SOL.

    Also, it should be noted that the Prius uses the newer type of transponder chips that have a rolling security code, so you can't use the generation of blank keys that just required a locksmith to "copy" the transponder chip's code from the original key to the spare. You need to program the car itself to recognize the new key. None of the locksmiths I contacted were able to do that, so I ended up going to the dealer to buy my spare key and have the car programmed to recognize it.
     
  20. kingnba6

    kingnba6 Active Member

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    My C1 starts with fine with the $5 simple copy.