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$3,400 new key fob

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by 2016.touring, Jul 20, 2020.

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  1. 2016.touring

    2016.touring New Member

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    I lost my only key fob. I called the only dealer in town who told me i had to have the car towed to his site with a projected cost of around $375 to get and program a new fob since there was no original. I checked with a local Automotive locksmith who offered to come to my location and open the locked doors and program a new key fob for $250. Great! He failed to program the fob because he brought the wrong fob with him. Error messages obtained on his ipad said "failure to communicate with the computer module". He left without charging me anything. I had it towed that night to the dealership. They received the same error message on their ipad. They blamed it on a dead battery charged me for a new one and communication failed still. After 2 days they asked the toyota sevice center to get online and try to reprogram two computer modules one of which was the identity module. They failed. They informed me i would have to replace two modules at a cost of $3400 because they were ruined by the on the street Automotive locksmith. I had no choice. I still dont believe that a non invasive procedure with a commercially available program could destroy two computer modules. It was the dealer and manufacturer against an automotive locksmith company and it was my fault for not choosing the dealer in the first place. As an engineer and programmer i dont see how this could happen.
     
    #1 2016.touring, Jul 20, 2020
  2. husami

    husami Junior Member

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    I feel for you. I paid $200 to dealer just to try and fail to program a second key fob which I bought on ebay. I then bought a blank key fob from ebay (Toyota) and I bought the MCI programming tool and the TechStream software which took me hours to get working. But finally I was able to program a second key. As a programmer, you can see that nothing is impossible. I am glad now I have two keys in case one is lost. The problem is that most of the time my 12V battery dies and I require a jump. The problem with my key is that mechanical key doesn't work.
     
    #2 husami, Jul 20, 2020
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  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I can't say that this is what happened to your car, but some car ECUs only allow n failed connection attempts before bricking themselves.
     
    #3 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jul 20, 2020
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  4. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    Sorry to hear of your trouble. Losing that last FOB is never any fun - but to have the modules die on you - whew!
     
    #4 krmcg, Jul 20, 2020
  5. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Automotive modules can get bricked very easily. We have come close to frying $1500 ECM's with just one failed reflash. While it is not uncommon, I am not entirely surprised either. You may need to go after the mobile locksmith who did this damage.
     
    #5 The Critic, Jul 20, 2020
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  6. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    Put the spare in a safe or with other valuables so that it is easily found.
     
    #6 CooCooCaChoo, Jul 20, 2020
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow

    i would contact toyota corporate, and ask for some goodwill help. 4 year old car, that's just not right
     
    #7 bisco, Jul 20, 2020
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  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    $3400 for a new key fob! I knew it is expensive to replace a fob if both are lost, but never thought that much. Thinking ahead, I did buy virginized key fob to program it as a spare and to save it in a safe, but I have never got to programing it. Maybe it was good thing I have not tried to do it DIY. I might have bricked the ECU. I am so sorry for your trouble, but thank you for giving me a warning what not to do if I am not sure how to DIY.
     
    #8 Salamander_King, Jul 20, 2020
  9. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    Pretty sure its not just the key fob, but instead having to replace the whole keyless entry security system with matching receiver and transmitter.
     
    #9 CooCooCaChoo, Jul 20, 2020
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  10. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Yes, I understand that is what ended up costing. But it all started with lost fob(s), and messing with the programing unsuccessfully.
     
    #10 Salamander_King, Jul 20, 2020
  11. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    This isn't the first I've read on P/Chat - but the others were resolved much cheaper. Similar with a relative on a Mazda.

    I guess the bottom line is to always have a working spare, even though it will cost more than we want to spend.
     
    #11 alanclarkeau, Jul 20, 2020
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  12. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    The headline is a bit misleading as the reality is....

    I don't think there is any Godzilla, King Kong, smashing of a key fob scenario that would ever result in replacement of just the fob being $3400.
     
    #12 The Electric Me, Jul 20, 2020
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  13. JakeCastle

    JakeCastle Junior Member

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    OMG what a nightmare.... I would feel robbed. Hope local lock smith is bonded and insured. I can only be thankful that i was able to buy a used key fob off ebay and program it is with pirated techstream myself. Need to remember tech stream runs on x32 and not x64 OS which is why a lot of folks are having a problem with it.
     
    #13 JakeCastle, Jul 21, 2020
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  14. pianewman

    pianewman Active Member

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    The OP and or moderator should change the title of the thread. It IS misleading, and a casual google "Prius key fob replacement" searcher might rightfully be alarmed by it.
     
    #14 pianewman, Jul 21, 2020
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