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Replace Both Driver Side Doors (Smart Key)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Frontporch, Oct 19, 2017.

  1. Frontporch

    Frontporch Member

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    Last week, while driving home on a highway just after dark, a deer sprinted across the highway and t-boned my car. I was driving 65 mph and saw the deer at the very last moment and swerved onto the shoulder. The deer hit my car around the door handle and must have tumbled across my back door and quarter panel and broke the fender retainer. The car was in good shape other than rock chips. I have been parking away from cars all the time I have had it. The damage is cosmetic, but I would love to change the doors from a scrap vehicle.

    I contacted a guy on craigslist who was selling a car that was rear ended. Asked him if he decides to donate could I give him cash for the doors and would do the swap myself. He contacted me last minute and with less than a day to do the swap, I realized that I had to tear down the entire door because I had a smart key system and he did not.

    Two questions ( and thanks for reading this far )

    If I find a car with the same paint color and has the smart key option
    1. Can I find a harness connector behind the interior kick plate and B-panel cover where I can quickly disconnect the harness for both doors?
    2. Will a donor door with a smart key setup work with mine? or is there something internal to the door specific to my car that I need to remove?

    Thanks

    Also... I guess if I come across another car like the one I found without smart key, can someone verify that the door skin itself is the same, and I can swap over the electronic guts to the new car?
     
  2. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Too much irrelevant info before question 1 & 2.

    Have you even tried to look? All manufactures most likely have made the door wiring harness completely detachable.
    You realize, worse case scenario, you could cut and solder all the wires? Do you even know how to solder?

    Front doors only contain the antenna for SKS. Brains of SKS are inside the car. So, the answer is YES.

    SKS and non-SKS doors are same, minus the SKS handle and wiring.

    You are in over your head! Bring SKS into non-SKS car, would require skills you clearly do not have.
     
  3. Frontporch

    Frontporch Member

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    exstudent,

    I have seen your postings for a while on this site and I thank you for your help and with answering all of my questions.

    I do want to point out that you kind of came across as a dick in your response here, clearly making assumptions about my abilities to fix things. It is perfectly reasonable for someone to ask a question of this nature to a wide audience when the question could be answered by tearing off plastic panels and searching with a flashlight. I simply want to find the person who has done this and can say "Yes, the best way to do this is.... It took me 1 hour...". Why wouldn't I want to tap into the knowledge and experience of this forum. Isn't that what it is here for?
     
    dolj likes this.
  4. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Thanks! And we shall both continue to live happily ever after.

    Contemplating conversion of non-SKS to SKS would be a significant undertaking. Skills aside, how much free time do you really have?
    Think about the opportunity cost: what could you have been doing with all the hours spent to make a non-SKS into SKS?

    Interior will have to be removed completely, to access the wiring and multiple SKS components.
    Rear bumper and rear splash guard may have to be removed too.

    Dash
    Find SKS ECU, Immobilizer ECU, Engine ECU, Steering Lock ECU, and Tuner ECU (wireless door lock receiver).
    Hopefully these are all bunched together on one plate.
    Oscillators (antenna)
    Front doors (RIGHT and LEFT)
    Front Center Console.
    Left rear quarter panel.
    Rear bumper exterior and interior.​

    Wiring
    Carefully back track and remove to be transplanted.
    Cut and re-soldering likely to be required; hopefully sparingly.​

    Wouldn't it be easier just to buy another SKS car?
     
  5. Frontporch

    Frontporch Member

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    exstudent,

    I was surprised by the detail you provided. It seemed like you were answering a question I thought i didn't answer, but after reading my initial post, I see my error.

    I meant to say

    Also... I guess if I come across another car like the one I found without smart key, can someone verify that the door skin itself is the same, and I can swap over the electronic guts to the new DOOR? (not new car).

    I love the SKS system, but wound't attempt to move it to another car.
     
  6. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Safe bet is body parts are interchangeable across Gen2 (2004-2009). Gen2 only came as 1 body style: the "beloved" oval/egg shape. Base vs Touring was difference, but this was wheel size and rear suspension only; you can convert non-Touring into Touring, easily.

    As you know, manufactures want parts to fit as many models as possible, to keep costs and inventory requirement down. Very unlikely there is a difference in door skin for SKS car vs non-SKS car. Door handle and the additional wires for SKS system would be the difference.

    Safe bet that you could put a non SKS door onto your SKS Prius. Retain SKS functionality after transfering internals from SKS door into NON-SKS door.