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Fob and unlocking

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by lexidium, Jul 26, 2017.

  1. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    My fob suddenly stopped opening and closing the doors but it still starts the car.
    I've checked the battery and that's fine; still lights up etc.
    It's not a smart key so no switch under the steering wheel.
    When I use the metal key, it locks all four doors at once so I assume the door locking mechanism is OK.
    I know about the chicken dance but no second key so can't do that.
    The main car battery is fine and not low.
    What else can I look at?
    Thanks
    Bob
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You should change the battery in the FOB. Starting the car in the keyslot does not use the fob battery, so that's why your car starts.
     
    windstrings likes this.
  3. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    I checked the old one which was a full three volts and changed it anyway just to make sure.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    check the 12 volt.
     
  5. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    As I said in the original post, car battery is fine.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sorry, i missed that. better than 12.4 volts when stone cold, and passed a load test?
     
  7. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    Yes 12.6 cold.
    I just don't know what else to look at now.
     
  8. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    Maybe there could be some problem in drivers power door lock? Using the mechanical key will just mechanically lock the drivers door. Do all the doors lock and unlock from lock switch inside?

    If that’s not the problem then maybe there’s a problem with the key. Or car has just somehow lost the programming memory from the key. You should get the second key anyways as it’s hard/expensive to get Prius working if you lose all the keys.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    stuck fob button?
     
  10. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    If the light on the key lights up when pressing either button they can’t be stuck.
     
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  11. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    No buttons stuck. Fob lights as it should.
    Mechanical key closes all four doors.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i suppose something inside the fob could be damaged. i've even heard cleaning the circuit board can help, but idk.
     
  13. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    But does the switch on inside of the car lock and unlock all the doors?
     
  14. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    Yes. Checked it this morning
     
  15. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    Then the problem in the key is the most likely problem.
     
  16. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    I finally sorted it . . . . .
    Bought the mini vci cable from fleabay. Loaded the techstream software from the disk on to an older laptop with windows xp (32 bit).
    I tried all the methods online for loading it on to a windows 7, 64 bit but couldn't get it to work. It was very easy on the xp, 32 bit.
    Then followed the video on youtube (wouldn't have had a clue without that)

    and managed to program my key and another used key off another car (same make and model) so I now have two fully working keys.

    The only slight anomaly is that it tells you to press the lock and unlock buttons simultaneously for one second but that doesn't work. You have to do it for three seconds. It took me a while to suss that out.

    All in all, I've saved hundreds of pounds so very happy.

    Hope this helps others . . . . . .
     
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