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Prius key not working after replacing fob (plastic case)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Superstar18, Dec 8, 2021.

  1. Superstar18

    Superstar18 Junior Member

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    Hi everyone,

    I have a Prius 2004 and the key was not looking great after so many years. I bought a new case (only the case, not the eletronics), changed it but it seems something isn't right. The car is not opening from the key buttons or the smart unlock/lock sistem. It's exactly like when the battery drains but this is not the case.
    The car only starts if i insert the key, not like usual just pressing the start/stop button without adding the key.

    I've done everything like in all the youtube tutorials that show you how to change the case. Opened the case, moved the electronics from the old case, to the new one. Moved also the smal black chip. I've done everything very carefull and didn't broke the electronics or something.
    This is one of the tutorials i watched:

    I also tried to add back the electronics in the old fob but it doesn't fix the problem...
    I also checked the smart button under the steering wheel, it's unpushed like usual but i also tired to start the car and push and unpush it again... didn't fix the problem.

    What do you think should fix this problem? Did anyone had this issue?
     
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    By small black chip you mean the rectangle shaped thing at the end of the FOB, right?
     
  3. Superstar18

    Superstar18 Junior Member

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    Yes, sure, that one. When i press on the butons the red led from the key is blinking so somehow the key is working but it doen't has any effect on the car. I also changed the battery with a new one, just in case this would fix the issue but sadly it didn't.
     
  4. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    It might be possible that something on the circuit board is broken so that it still reacts (lights the red LED) when you push a button, but it's unable to transmit to the car. Do you have a second fob to confirm that the SKS system on the car still works properly?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  5. Superstar18

    Superstar18 Junior Member

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    I was also thinking about that but can't exactly know how to confirm. I will try to ask a profesional to look at the circuit board in a few days but i don't understand how i could've brake it. I just opened carefully the case and moved the CIP and the circuit board to the other case... And the key worked fine till that day.
    Sadly i don't have a second fob.
    My father asked in the past Toyota if we could make a second key and they said that it would cost 250$ but the smart key will not work. I don't understand why. They didn't gave him any other details and it seems to be kinda stupid.
    I saw that there are companies that say they can copy the key (with or without the old key), that would be my only other option... just that i'm very frustrated because i don't understand what happend and what "broke". I'm very familiar with these things.
    I searched all internet for someone who could've have the same situations but found nothing yet...
     
  6. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Buy a new key from eBay and use the old one to program it?
    Costs US$100 on eBay
    So long as the old key starts the car by inserting it in dash, I think it can be used to program a new one.
     
  7. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Can you try this?

     
  8. Superstar18

    Superstar18 Junior Member

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    i tried the "chicken dance" from the video but only with this key, hopeing it will be reprogammed or something but nothing happend.
    Yes, i will try to buy a new key and reprogram it but i don't know if the reprogramming is made from the CIP inside the case (the little square black thing) or the circuit board (that could be actually the broken part)... The issue is that i don't understand why this happend so i could know the best solution. Buying a new key to reprogram it's expensive and i don't know if it solves the problem.

    The only thing i know for sure is that the car starts when i'm inserting the case with only the CIP inside so i think the reprograming of the new key i could buy is made by the CIP but i don't know for sure so i could go in this direction.

    A friend that is a electrician told me that we could try to clean the Circuit Board with some tipe of special alcohol but he will be available only next week to help.
     
  9. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    No, the chicken dance requires that the electronic board part of the fob to work. Hopefully you can get your fob repaired. Might want to call a couple locksmiths and explain then see what they can do.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  10. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    I seem to recall that there are taxi companies in Bucharest that use Prius cars. Why not contact one of them and ask how they get their keys fixed?
     
  11. Superstar18

    Superstar18 Junior Member

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    Here the usual cars used for Taxi are Dacia Logan. Very few Prius on taxi.

    I will try and contact that Prius service. Thank you!

    There are some companies i could contact but i was hoping to find here somebody that had also my issue. It had broken very odd, without me doing anything special and i was hoping for a quick fix but it seems the issue is more complicated... :(
     
  12. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    yes, the problem is complicated by having only one key. When you get your key fixed, I suggest you get another one also at that time so in the future when you have a problem it is easier to fix.
     
  13. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    If Toyota did say that then they are the stupid ones. As long as you have a fully functioning key, you can add another new key (and $250 sounds quite reasonable for this — the new key alone is $120–$160) and it will be fully functioning. If you do not have at least one fully functioning key, then a new key can be added (and I would recommend that all others are deleted) however, that will cost a lot more.
     
  14. Another

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    Agree. Moreover sometimes one has to bite the bullet and pay the dealer to do the work. The couple of hundred dollars is just what it costs.
     
  15. koco

    koco Member

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    With this key system it is best to keep one good remote locked away and just use a spare. It's the worst smart key system Toyota has used.
     
  16. MarkySparky

    MarkySparky Junior Member

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    Whoever at the stealership told you that they couldn't make the SKS work, is clueless! If you can put TechStream on an old laptop and get an OBD2 compatible cable from eBay or elsewhere following one of the many online guides for doing so, you can program it yourself. You can add a new SKS fob easily, or slightly less easily, add another used SKS fob by following directions for "lost all keys" reprogramming. Sounds like you need to go to another dealer or find a good local hybrid mechanic shop that can do the work if you choose not to do it yourself.
     
  17. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    The OP is effectively "all keys lost" & so would need a working Techstream PLUS a code to reseed the certification ecu (available from a sketchy site somewhere in Europe?). Add in a couple fobs and that's still several hundred dollars. Don't know what the OP's tech level is.

    OR the OP goes to a competent locksmith. OR a dealer.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  18. MarkySparky

    MarkySparky Junior Member

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    I purchased a "token" from ericbecy here on PriusChat using PayPal a few days ago, he is from Wisconsin, and has a hybrid car repair shop. I did have to go to that site in Europe to have the calculation done to get the passcode (enter VIN, token, and 96 digit seed number that you downloaded from the car via TechStream). Went to this site to do the free calculator function with the token I got from Eric. < https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.weboctopus.nl%2Flexus-scion-toyota-pass-code-by-seed-code-calculator.php%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1lb3gLqxfeL4ZXO_K_h_gRVo96p0rz2H-SGfGLhNRNsR6GnVyAXyDrdTU&h=AT09kfkEImPuzgb_qpp3LJgx01QzkfUx4a17g1Am0AoEqDJlOONShgm7O0sPL03zrVObu-MMFN9VuIUwNy8MyB8Ak4xFcm5mGgYChhVfkNQ2owZFXXSemMpA93yYceG5ojY>
     
  19. Woodstock74

    Woodstock74 Junior Member

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    Did you ever get any resolution on this? I've run into a similar issue. Had a working, yet knackered key fob. Decided to replace the housing. Watched a tutorial video, ordered the case, it arrived, and I set about carefully dissembling the old case in order to install the electronic guts into the new case. All went fine, didn't forget the RFID chip, even swapped over the battery hatch gasket and the information sticker. And then nothing. The light on the fob lights up, corresponding to hitting the buttons, but the car doors won't lock or unlock. And after you open the door with the conventional key, the car doesn't recognize the proximity of the fob and thus you have to plug the fob into the receptacle in order to start the car. So I effectively have a brick for a remote. Really flummoxed as to what could have gone wrong.

    I am curious though, how does the RFID work in conjunction with the circuit board? Does the RFID chip have to touch/make contact with the circuit board? Is it anything at all like that, or nothing at all? Because that's the only conclusion I could come to, that there's a slight dimensional difference in the new parts and when the new case is reassembled, the circuit board and the RFID chip are just slightly out of contact. I did try to shim the RFID chip to insure it touched the circuit board but it didn't change the situation in the end. The lights lit on the fob when the buttons were pushed but the car didn't unlock.

    So ultimately the only conclusion I came to is that there's a high inherent risk in messing something up when dissembling the old remote to replace the case, in spite exercising care and caution.