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Electronic Key is not recognized by Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Clark, Jun 4, 2015.

  1. Clark

    Clark Junior Member

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    I have a 2012 Prius Hybrid and when I came back from a 5 week trip 1 of the 2 electronic keys would not work, the car said key not detected. I replaced the battery and the red light comes on when I press any of the 3 keys but the car still does not detect the electronic key. The other key I have works fine.
    Any suggestions besides going to the dealer?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You may have to bring this to the dealer, unless you have techstream and able to look at the keys registered to the car.
     
  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Hmm...
    So if I'm reading and comprehending your post correctly you have your two fobs, and one is working fine, and the other isn't?

    Which clearly would point to the problem being with the one fob that isn't working. Which is "kinda" good because then you know it's NOT part of the receiver in The Prius.

    But strange because Prius SKS fobs are pretty durable. Yours is only a 2012 so not that old.

    Did anything abnormal happen to the fob in question? Can't imagine how it would lose it's connection/programming to The Prius.

    As part of a purely Voodoo attempt at resolution, I might be highly tempted to take the battery out of the fob for 24 hours, then replace with another new battery.

    I'm afraid if you take it to a dealership they are just going to default to "You Need A New Fob". So trying another battery? While a long shot, reach...would be one I might take.

    Let us know what happens.
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    another thing you can try is swap the 2 batteries in the 2 fobs, if the problem moves to the working fob.....then it's your battery
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    clark? clark? hello?
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Is this maybe still a warranty item? The basic warranty is 36 months or 36,000 miles. Powertrain warranty is 60 months or 60,000 miles.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would think so, but maybe 3/36?
     
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  8. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

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    Just an FYI on this. I recently replaced the FOB battery in my 2010 Prius (just sold it). I bought a pack of two batteries. The batteries would NOT fit into my 2012 PIP FOB but would fit in the 2010 FOB even though they are supposed to be the same battery...CR1632. The new ones I got were not Panasonic but one of the other brands. They seemed to be a few hundredths of an inch too big (diameter) for the 2012 FOB but fit in the 2010 FOB just fine.

    Mike
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that is very odd.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe the battery manufacturer was real close (or slightly over) the diameter tolerance limit, and the fob battery bay tolerance correspondingly undershot?

    (That's it, my brain cells are toast for today.)
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thats a good point though. when doorman (or whoever he was) went to japan to teach them how to build cars, one of the main points of quality control was if two parts are mating, and they are both at the end of tolerance, it can be a disaster.
     
  12. srl99

    srl99 Member

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    Are you referring to Deming? If so, worth a google and some reading - great stuff.