Any way to operate the vehicle fobless (no remote) ?

[font=Comic Sans MS:8acbe9b0ee]Sorry, the engine immobilizer will keep the car from running without the fob that belongs with that engine. The little key only opens the driver's door, nothing more. You can turn off SKS with the switch under the steering column, which will require the key. Even if the fob's battery goes dead, you can insert it into the dash and the car will power the fob enough to confirm it's the right fob and let you start the engine.

On the other hand, the fob is small and lightweight, ideal for backpacking...[/font:8acbe9b0ee]

 

When I worked in detailing at the Toyota dealer and before that the Volvo dealer, the paint protection offered to new car buyers cost us from our supplier around 25$. Rust proofing cost even less. When I bought my Prius the Finance guy wanted 665$ for paint protection and 205$ for fabric protectant, 1061$ for vehicle total protection from theft. I know the guys in detail so I went to talk with them.
They gave me the Paint Protection from Toyota <665$> for a six pack of soda. It had been used on an echo but still had about half the bottle left. It consisted of a paint glaze and a wax along with a bottle of car wash and a bottle of renewing wax. Total cost to the dealer... <I asked> 36$. Their idea of fabric coverage was an aftermarket fabric protectent. They buy it from the detail supplier for 16$ a gallon, dilute it with water, and spray it on your seats. The Total Protection Package <against theft> 1061$ was a mechanical engraver and your drivers licence engraved into the glass on your Prius. Their most expensive items are the rubber silicone spray... they spray it on the tires and rubber parts to make them look shiny, and the renewing wax and paint brightener for used cars.
They salary the detailers and those guys hump all the time. They never get a break and rarely make more then 10$ an hour. It is all pure profit on top of the inflated interest rates they offer to buyers who don't know better and the sugested retail they charge for the car.
Do yourself a favor and buy a good wax and use it 3 times a year. If you are worried about your fabric buy some scotchguar* and spray the entire interior.
-Paul R. Haller-

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:09a969c4cf]Maybe I misunderstood your initial question. I thought you were asking if there was any way to operate your Prius without the fob. Perhaps I was mislead by "we would like to leave home without it."

It's quite possible to lock the car with the fob inside, using a radio-signal-shield like your Altoids tin, or even leaving the fob out in the open. If you are going to leave the fob in the car while you backpack, may I suggest removing the battery from the fob and then hiding the fob someplace. Most car theives, after breaking a window to get in, won't know to look for the fob, and since it's not got a battery, they would have to find it and stick it in the dash to power up the car.

The fob is pretty waterproof; someone here mentioned sending it through a washing machine with no deleterious effect. Your car will be more safely immobilized if you take the fob for a hike.

I stand by my first reply: you need the fob to drive to the trailhead.[/font:09a969c4cf]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bobjeri\";p=\"105493)</div>

Been discussed before, shield it and the car can't find it. On the other hand, you might as well just drop it in the console and turn off the SKS with the switch under the steering wheel. Same effect and you would be doing that to save your 12V anyway Of course you might want to hide/disguise it really well no matter where you put it, people have been known to break into cars left at trail heads, even for only a few hours.

Just don't lose the small key or you will be breaking a window to get to the fob.

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:a1a05661e6]Ahh, it becomes clearer... If you remove the fob battery from your "extra" fob, there's even less liklihood someone will drive off with your car. The thief would have to know about Prii and inserting the fob in the dash.

Check out Sufferin' Prius Envy's signature.[/font:a1a05661e6]

 

I wonder what the stats are on stolen Prii. Around here, Prii are so rare that a stolen Prius would be spotted by the cops as soon as it appeared on the road. Might not even make it to the chop shop.