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Desperate key question

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by acarapella, Nov 7, 2022.

  1. acarapella

    acarapella Junior Member

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    Hey all, VERY strange one. The key works as a smart key, but does NOT work when inserted in the slot - the car has no idea its there. With smart key cancel, the car cannot be started. In Tech stream, part of the process of registering a key is using it IN the slot to turn the ignition on, and that how I discovered this. Again, key works fine as a smart key and as a manual fob. It will not turn the car on when in the slot with or without the smart key cancel button activated.

    The 12v battery is recent and not suspect. The keyfob battery was changed with an energizer cr2032 during this event so thats not suspect either

    Is the slot assembly (easily removed with the lower dash piece popped off and 2 harnesses unplugged) what actually reads the key? could that be bad?

    thanks
     
    #1 acarapella, Nov 7, 2022
  2. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Search the forum for RFID chip.

    There should be one in the FOB case, but sometimes when the case is swapped for a new one, the chip gets left in the old case. The slot works by recognizing the chip. If it's not there, well, there's nothing to recognize.
     
    #2 TMR-JWAP, Nov 7, 2022
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    The slot is easily removed when you take off that panel it's remotely possible it could be bad but. It is an amplifier Read the label when you take it out I have several here on the floor I thought at one point it was a problem in my car but it is just an amplifier like the poster above said I think it amplifies the signal of the transponder which is the little tiny chip that goes in the bottom of the remote not the green board with the battery. When the green board with the battery works correctly and the transponder is in the little slot in the bottom of the remote where it's supposed to be apparently the green board will amplify the transponders signal and it can stay in your pocket and start the car and all that that's what I had going on before my remote messed up. This is not to give you any answers I'm just to tell you that you can take the slot out easily off the panel that pulls down and play with that all you like
     
    #3 Tombukt2, Nov 7, 2022
  4. acarapella

    acarapella Junior Member

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    Thank you both.

    It is 100% the transponder issue. Well, at least 99.96%.

    I haven’t bothered searching, so if it’s not a pain in the butt to answer here on this thread, what are my options to move forward? I have access to textstream, but I believe there are certain special key codes required from Toyota to program a car to a new master key, and I am assuming that is the only option I have?

    A little bit frantic about this one, hoping for a solution that doesn’t involve hundreds of dollars and a locksmith
     
    #4 acarapella, Nov 7, 2022
  5. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    #5 SFO, Nov 7, 2022
  6. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Just to be clear, your old fob with the missing RFID chip cannot be used as is. You could harvest an RFID chip from a cheap secondhand fob – either an SKS or non-SKS fob will work – to make it viable.

    After you have replaced the RFID chip you will need to do an 'all keys lost' procedure to acquaint the replacement RFID chip with your car. After you have a fully working fob you can then add additional keys quite easily.
     
    #6 dolj, Nov 8, 2022
  7. acarapella

    acarapella Junior Member

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    Thanks to both of you sfo and dolj

    the car works as is and will continue to but I do want to correct this. I’m going to dig and see if I have an old key. What a pain in the butt :(
     
    #7 acarapella, Nov 8, 2022
  8. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    An old key from this car or from a different prius?

    If you have an old key from the car, then that could solve all your problems since it would allow you to perform the chicken dance to program a new key. New aftermarket keys are available for a very reasonable price.

    I've purchased 2 of these and they come with programming instructions. Took only a few minutes and they have full SKS functionality.

    for Toyota Prius 2004-2009 Smart Remote Key Fob 3 Button - MOZB31EG 89994-47061 | eBay
     
    #8 TMR-JWAP, Nov 8, 2022
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2022
  9. acarapella

    acarapella Junior Member

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    I mean a key for another car and then buy a pin. This car came with one key :( the aftermarket’s are like 80, right?
     
    #9 acarapella, Nov 8, 2022
  10. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    You would need to have a Gen 2 Prius FOB. I don't think anything else will communicate with the car.
     
    #10 TMR-JWAP, Nov 8, 2022
  11. acarapella

    acarapella Junior Member

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    Right. Good chance I do have one - outside of my own love for these cars, we own a dealership and have dozens of GEN2s per year. Also GEN3s. Only a couple GEN4 since the market went crazy and they cost as much as new with 80k on them =( I am currently driving a 17 iii touring as my demo. And an 08 touring with 76k!
     
    #11 acarapella, Nov 8, 2022
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