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Key Help!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Jessica Stewart, Nov 4, 2019.

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  1. Jessica Stewart

    Jessica Stewart New Member

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    I have a 2012 Prius (gen3), and I have a lost key issue. I just need to confirm a few things about key function because I somehow lost my keys last night on a 5-minute drive.

    Is it absolutely IMPOSSIBLE for the car to fully start unless the key is INSIDE the vehicle? (As in, is the car "smart" enough to know not to start if the keys are on top of the car or have fallen underneath the car?)

    I know you can't manually lock the car if the key is inside, but can you lock a key inside the car with the second key fob?

    TL: DR:
    I got into my car last night, drove five minutes home, and could not locate my keys upon exiting the vehicle. When I try to start the car, it says "key not detected," but my key battery was low, so I guess it's possible that the signal isn't strong enough if it's under something inside the car? I am able to lock and unlock the car with my second key fob. Basically, I feel like I'm losing my mind. (And, yes, I have torn up everything I own looking for the keys.)

    Thank you!
     
    #1 Jessica Stewart, Nov 4, 2019
  2. Tande

    Tande Active Member

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    As a "Test".......Can you start your car with the second key fob on top or under the car? ........
     
    #2 Tande, Nov 4, 2019
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have you searched along the seat rails from the front and back with a flashlight?
     
    #3 bisco, Nov 4, 2019
  4. Jessica Stewart

    Jessica Stewart New Member

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    I have tried that, and, as far as I can tell, the car won't start with the key on top or under the car, which gives me hope that I couldn't have possibly driven off without them.
     
    #4 Jessica Stewart, Nov 4, 2019
  5. Dimitrij

    Dimitrij Active Member

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    I can't know this for sure, but there is a possibility that your fob has an RFID doodad in it, so that the car would "see" it whether it's powered or not. In any case, this is what the fob like in my both post-2015 vehicles (that said, neither of them is/was a Toyota).

    Is it entirely impossible that the key fell out of the car while you were driving?
     
    #5 Dimitrij, Nov 4, 2019
  6. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Yes.

    Yes. (And as a technical point, you can manually lock the car with the key inside using the hard key.)


    TEST: Get out, use the power door lock to lock all four doors, and shut the driver's door. Does the car emit a long beep and unlock the driver's door?

    If YES, your key is inside.
    If NO, your key is not inside.
     
    #6 Johnny Cakes, Nov 5, 2019
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or the battery is dead
     
    #7 bisco, Nov 5, 2019
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  8. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

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    Is it possible that you got in the car and started it and then closed the door? Maybe the key fell out then.
    But, I forget, do you get a key not detected warning when this happens.

    The carpet under the seat has some flaps ...be sure to look/feel everywhere for it may have slid during driving

    Mike
     
    #8 3PriusMike, Nov 5, 2019
  9. Jessica Stewart

    Jessica Stewart New Member

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    Yes, I have also considered this because the key battery was low. (It wasn't yet at the "touch the power button with the key" level of low, but I was occasionally getting low battery warnings.) We have torn through the car multiple times looking for the key, which was attached to a substantial keychain.

    Yes, typically if the car is running, and I step out of the car with the keys, I get the "key not detected" warning. Did not happen on this particular night. This whole thing is truly perplexing.

    So, I've been trying repeatedly to see if I can get the car to start if the key is on the hood or just underneath the door. I would say 95% of the time, I get the key not detected warning. Twice, however, we have been able to get the car to start with the key outside of the car, once when the key was on the roof and another time when the key was right under the door.
     
    #9 Jessica Stewart, Nov 5, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 6, 2019
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    could it have slid off the roof into the ww area?
     
    #10 bisco, Nov 6, 2019
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