New key conundrum - remote broke

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by JoeVR, Jul 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM.

  1. JoeVR

    JoeVR Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2020
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
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    Hi everyone,

    I have a 2007 Prius and I only have one key for it. Unfortunately, I accidentally ran my only key through the washing machine. After many attempts at disassembly and drying it out, the proximity key still works and the button on the exterior door handle will still lock it, but the remote lock unlock doesn’t. Sometimes the car will lock itself at random times as if the lock button is always being pressed. And the remote battery goes dead pretty quickly now.

    I would like to get a new key and program it myself, but the long and complicated programming process includes pressing the lock/unlock buttons on your old remote - which on my original key does not work.

    Can anyone give me any tips or advice on how to resolve this?

    thank you in advance!
     
    #1 JoeVR, Jul 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    My first inclination would be to take the fob apart, take the battery out, and swish the whole circuit board around in some distilled water. Maybe further go after the areas under the buttons with a swab and some isopropanol (and the undersides of the buttons too), then let it thoroughly dry out, put the battery back in, and try again.

    Only I seem to remember, while gen 3 fobs easily come apart like that, the gen 2 fob cases may be glued or sonic welded or something.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Jul 23, 2025 at 12:12 PM
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