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2011 Prius Help with FOB keys both dead

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by priusFTW, Sep 15, 2019.

  1. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    Hello All,

    I purchased my 2011 Prius brand new back in early 2012. I was given two brand new FOB keys. On 8/24/12 I reported an issue with Toyota service that the FOB on both keys was draining the battery too quickly as they were dead. They replaced the batteries as it was under warranty in both FOB's.

    The one FOB key I have kept in a secure place, unused, and the other I use it daily. Most recently I noticed I was having trouble with the FOB key I use daily, as it seemed the battery was dying, so I replaced it. Worked OK for a short time, but then started to show signs of a dead battery again. Swapped it with the other FOB key I don't use, and same issue.

    Took both keys to dealership, they tested both. Told me that the circuit board on the one FOB key I rarely use is completely dead, and the other is nearly dead. Also told me it would cost $547 to replace each FOB key as they are no longer covered by warranty.

    Does this sound logical? Do the circuit boards on these FOB keys fail in this short amount of time?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not that i recall reading, and idk what a 'nearly dead' circuit board is.

    try to find a locksmith who might be able to help, or another dealer.

    did the fob battery last from 8/12 until now? if so, that's a pretty good run
     
  3. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  5. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    Yes, but i thought FOB batteries last 10+ years. This is not a battery issue, however, it is the circuitry of the board within the FOBs on BOTH keys.
     
  6. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    It sounds fishy to me. Is there any chance either FOB was completely submerged in water? Do all the buttons work freely and pop back up to their normal positions? Was either FOB stored in some tight place with an object possibly pressed against a button for a prolonged time? Were they stored in a corrosive atmosphere, maybe near pool chemicals? If none of the above, I don't see why the circuit board could fail.
     
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  7. spiralhelix

    spiralhelix Active Member

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    Well, circuit boards don’t just “go dead”. A trace might burn up if overloaded, boards are fragile and can break, resistors can fail, and the most likely winner: capacitors fail. Capacitors are the most suspect as they do kinda have a finite life. But most places don’t know how or what to fix, therefore “the entire board is toast” is the answer. Surface mount capacitors are more challenging to replace than through board as a hot-air rework station is really preferred.

    That, however, doesn’t answer your question. I wouldn’t think your second FOB would drain all that quickly either, but it’s hard to really have an opinion as we don’t know all the details of where/how it was stored. Is it close to the car, far away? Stored in the garage damp environment, in the house in a drawer? Has it ever been wet or dropped in water? Lots of variables to assume manufacture defect at this time.

    Also what kind of batteries were used? I know I got some from amazon on the cheap that barely lasted a year.

    The fact they have it on record that you were having issues, you could push the envelope and say they weren’t fixed the first time. They need to test the boards and tell you how you would have caused a failure.


    -Spiral
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    fob batteries typically last 3-5 years
     
  9. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    No the one FOB was kept in a safe deposit box for safe keeping in case I ever lost the other one. And NONE of them were ever submerged in water or mistreated ever.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's basically a brand new fob then. but since you never used it, you don't have a track record like the one you use.
     
  11. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    Correct the one FOB is brand new, don't use it and stored carefully and properly. I wrote to Toyota, because I'm so disgusted by this, as I don't feel that the circuit board on the FOB key that was rarely used should be dead.
     
  12. spiralhelix

    spiralhelix Active Member

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    Well, capacitors do fail with or without use. I’ll still agree that having both fail is suspect in so many ways. Not to be a buzz kill, but 8 year old FOBs I don’t think you’ll get much help from Toyota. I hope you do though!

    Without going back and re-reading. If you replace the batteries they do work correctly? Just a short amount of time than you’d like? because you can buy a LOT of high quality batteries for $547!


    -Spiral
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    take it apart, clean it (search here for methods) and make sure all the buttons work properly. install a battery with a reading of 3.3 volts
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and it should still start the car with a dead, or no battery
     
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  15. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    In the one used daily yes, in the other stored one, no, its completely dead, new battery does nothing as toyota dealership confirmed.
     
  16. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    yes, i know, thanks, but it is annoying as hell. I paid for the smart car feature, i want it to work properly.
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed, i would be also
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i had no idea capacitors fail. still, you don't here much about fob problems here until someone drops theirs in the water or some such
     
  19. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    Also, I would just buy a new FOB if the programming for this particular model wasn't such a bitch.
     
  20. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

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    2 years ago I bought a new keyfob for my 2015 from a local locksmith, and he programmed it for a total of about $175. Don't get your replacements from the stealorship!
     
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