Smart Key Issue

Intermitent success is an indication of the FOB battery struggling.

Use the indicator light on the FOB itself to verify it really does have full power. If you don't see red every time, a new battery is needed.

Photos of this are in the User-Guide.

.

 

Okay, here are some things to try and/or think about:

1) Do you have a cell phone or other radio device near the fob when it doesn't work? Radio interference is a known cause of trouble.

2) Has this problem occurred at more than one location? Sometimes a local radio source causes trouble in one area, but it works okay when you get away from that spot.

3) Does the problem occur with both fobs?

Tom

 

I know this sounds stupid but once I had a pocket full of change and my FOB wouldn't work until I switched pockets.

 

Not at all stupid. Any electrical conductor (coins, keys, etc.) can interfere with radio transmissions.

 

Although brand new, it wouldn't be unheard of to have a weak battery. They're cheap enough to toss and put in a fresh one

Others have already mentioned interference from a cell phone, also a Blackberry (Mine will sometimes cause the SKS to go "dead").

A very strong fixed land radar station, especially a "pulsed" phased array, could cause issues. The radar will typically operate 400-500 MHz, but harmonics and sidelobe can change that. There aren't too many such installations in North America, so I'd be surprised if that was it

Proximity to other radar sources, ILS, VOR, strong radio or TV transmitters, cellular tower, could all create issues. It could be hard to narrow down the true cause

Start with the battery, that's easiest

 

Hey the battery in the Keyless remote is very easy to change. Takes about 3 minutes, costs about $3.29. To replace it you remove the little mechanical key from the keyless fob, then you hold the button over that releases that little key and at the same time you slide the part of the key with the Toyota emblem on it off and when it comes off you will see 4 small screws-remove them and the battery is revealled for replacement. I just did mine after having the car for almost 3.5 years.

 

There is always warranty. Well for the first 3 years there is.

 

:welcome: Welcome to PriusChat!

I'm surprised I haven't seen this mentioned yet: the SKS defeat switch is located at the bottom of the dash under the steering wheel, next to the TPMS reset switch. If you somehow kick or bump the SKS defeat switch, SKS stops working completely. Check the switch to make sure it's out (I think). This is a handy switch to know about when you leave your Prius at the airport for a week and want it to start when you get back.

 

It was in the OPs opening post.

 

Mine quit working yesterday. My car is just one year old. Although it works to start the car, it just will not allow me to lock or unlock the doors. I get the long beep when I try to lock the doors. As if there is a door open. (all doors are shut). Then I use the lock button on the FOB to lock the doors and they all lock just fine. When I return and place my hand in the door handle, nothing happens. I need to use the fob again to unlock. Yet when I enter the car it starts just fine. Any ideas? Sorry for the hijack.

BTW. the little red light on the fob works all the time.

 

That is exactly what happened to me one day and the wife and I
spent 15 minutes trying to figure it out, when we did it was that
my wife had her fob in her jacket in the car.

I am not saying that that is what is happening to you, but what I
would do is to try the disable button under the steering wheel and
the reinable it a gain and see what happens.

 

I turned off the SKS button under the dash. Then it would not make the long beep when I tried to lock the doors. Then I pushed the button again, and it makes the long beep, but does not lock the doors. Just as it had done before.

However, now that you mention it. I am not sure where my other FOB is. I will look to see if it is in the car somewhere.

 

Ah Ha! I found my other Fob in the hatch area. Thanks for the tip.

One fob in the car and one fob out, is not a good combo. Very confusing.

 

I replaced my batteries today. I got my car in October 2003, so that's 4 years and 9 months of battery life. I had a heck of a time getting the cover off the the fob. Then one of the screws absolutely refused to turn. I ended up drilling it out with a small drill bit, small enough so that all it did was remove the screw head. So one only has three screws to hold the battery cover on, but not a bid deal since the fob cover hold's it along with the three screws.

 

You are right about radar as a source of Smart Key interference. I work on a naval base adjacent to San Diego Harbor, and have witnessed a few times when my Smart Key didn't work. In every single instance, a US aircraft carrier was steaming by, with some radars rotating. It's something specific to aircraft carriers that other ships don't have, as I have not witnessed any smartkey problems when other classes of warships or merchant ships go by.

If radar interference is the problem source, rest assured you will always be able to unlock your car with the mechanical key and start your car with the smartkey inserted in the dash pocket.

 

Probably the result of multiple bands used by modern Nimitz-class carriers. I'm fairly certain - though a bit rusty - that Nimitz class uses C/D, E/F, L, and G-band up to 4 MW peak power.

 

Oh, great. Now we'll have to shoot you!

 

You will notice I was *careful* to not explain *how* it worked. I .... who's that knocking on my door?

<BANG!>