Key fob chip transplant?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by originalHB, Dec 30, 2025 at 6:40 PM.

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  1. originalHB

    originalHB New Member

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    I'm in something of a bind. My key fob is pretty torn up, and the lock button has been ripped clean off, with the PCB pads exposed. I could try to "press" the button by sending a current through the right pad, but I don't want to break anything. Since I can't make a lock input, I can't do the "chicken dance" to program a new fob. I've been trying to clone the chip with a Flipper Zero to no avail.

    Would I be able to get a new key and just swap the chip into that? It looks like I can pull the chip straight out of the old case as is. I'm pretty sure it's that black plasticky thing near the end of the case, so if there's nothing on the PCB that needs to be programmed it might work.

    Is that even possible?
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Oh boy. If ya can it dance then that means fob is not working enough . Someone with a vvdi key tool think locksmith needs read you're immo output data put that data on a new slottable fob UHS supply has fobs 53 bux they also sell vvdi key tools . bone up on immo and proximity functions as pertaining to car or vehicle entry. Look for videos of londsor k518 Toyoda all keys lost wirelessly handled .
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    The pieces in fob have to talk to each other and the vehicles immo box behind glove upper box marked immo black . If from another car you have the fob and the three boxes marked one two and three which are the IMO box the sks box and the other one I put in the picture a few weeks ago if you put these three boxes from another car in your existing car and have the remote that went with those three boxes that could work . Without all that you need immo functioning scanner that's not locked out for usa
     
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The small black chip and the printed-circuit board have independent functions (and they're independently registered to the car). The small black chip is what allows you to start the car when the fob is pushed into the dash slot. The circuit board allows you to lock/unlock the doors and start the car by having the fob with you.

    I don't see what you'd lose by transplanting both pieces into a non-worn-out plastic case. If the non-worn-out buttons then worked, you'd be done. If not, you'd be about where you are now, but without the worn-out buttons.
     
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  5. priumium

    priumium Member

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    @ChapmanF is correct. For relevance, to code a new wireless key (ie the circuit board, which is easily copied) with Techstream, you only need the unlock button working (there is logic behind this).

    It’s the black ”chip” that is most relevant for smart key start though. It’s a symbiosis that is intended to be hard to copy fully by design.
     
  6. Hayslayer

    Hayslayer Active Member

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    Wow, you're saying that the actual lock button on the circuit board was ripped off? Not just the rubber cover? That's kind of awesome.
    If you like doing small projects, are you familiar with circuit board repair? Do you have a hot air soldering system or similar? You could just install a new button on your board and put the repaired board in a new case. I have some old circuit boards from fobs I've replaced that should still have good buttons if you want one.
     
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  7. originalHB

    originalHB New Member

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    Interesting. How would I go about programming that? I don't see any documentation about a PCB-only pairing.
     
  8. originalHB

    originalHB New Member

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    Yeah, the button itself is off. I might try resoldering the panic button where the lock button used to be, but if I need a new PCB I might drop you a line. Thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it!
     
  9. priumium

    priumium Member

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    In my own empiricism, it’s only the PCB you actually code with ”add new key” TS utility.

    I have yet to see any info allowing me to copy the passive black chip without Toyota intervention, or a special 100euro tool (xHorse).

    I would love to be proven wrong though.
     
    #9 priumium, Jan 1, 2026 at 10:21 AM
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2026 at 10:27 AM
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  10. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I can read that black chip with a USA launch 435 I think it is. BUT 8 cannot work with that info for cloning a it's locked . Vvdi can but maybe locked on new purchases. Londsor k518 no lock . And it can do wirelessly alk
     
  11. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Hs supply has the chip you can write to same shape n all of it . Can buy bags of them . Apparently this coffin shaped chip is very popular throughout automobilia
     
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  12. priumium

    priumium Member

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    I had this issue with my 2005, tried to solder in a new button, unfortunately I am such an amateur on this practice (soldering), I managed to destroy the chip.

    However, that pcb/chip is the one that is included with any Chinese clone for 12euro. It’s the ”black coffin” chip (yes, I do like that terminology :)) that is more complex to clone/fix. Always save these from any original fob case.
     
  13. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    12 dollar fobs on eBay marked with those Toyoda numbers are not same as original the boards shape is not even correct not sure you could even access it w the tech software ? Many have bought them and thrown them out. Girls get terrible reviews on sites .
     
  14. priumium

    priumium Member

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    Sure, those annoying girls are not a reasonable solution. ;)

    But I have used those fobs for many years, the pcb fits flawlessly, please elaborate why they suck, and what you recommend instead.

    (Toyota delivered a fob to me for a requested 300eu but since the original fob had no working buttons, they failed to program it and gave it to me for 100eu. That black coffin chip was worth it)
     
  15. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Well I guess I'd like to see what you're buying ? I'll. Post a link of what I'm talking about . But yes the board is the mhz generator for door buttons etc. one could take a tone generator and play round with it to open car doors very lil info needed . But readying the car is another story. That's wen immo protocols are needed retrieving. And that data burned onto another coffin chip . UHS supply sells bags of them they must be widely used in auto immo setups . My bike has this chip embedded in key handle . My locksmith can read my key burn my provided blank and cut it in less than 4 minutes. With the universal piece of machinery that sits right next to the cash rregister. People bring their keys in and before he even talks to them he takes their key and sits it over this machine and make sure it reads the key and pulls all the protocols and info out of it and then tells customer it'll be 25 plus a blank of say 25 if he has .