Keyless strating of the Prius

Welcome to PriusChat Dwested.

Just from what you have written, you are saying two different things. Past tense: "I could get in the car with remote in my pocket and start up the car by pushing the soft button" . . . and present tense: "now the car only starts by inserting the remote."

What you don't explain is the present tense . . . when you approach the car, can you unlock the doors without touching the remote (Key FOB )?

If you answer "NO" to that question; under the steering column is a button which disables the Smart Key system. Try pressing it and then try starting the car without inserting the FOB.

If you answer "YES" . . . I do not know.

 

There are 2 buttons under the steering column. One is to set the Tire Pressure monitor, the other turns the Smart Key System (SKS) on and off.

I suspect that after the tire dealer repaired the flat and checked the pressure on the tires, they probably tried to reset the tire pressure monitor and pressed the wrong button. They may have realized their mistake and then pressed the correct button, but by then they had already turned off SKS.

When you try pushing the button make sure you press the correct one.

 

And if it isn't the button under the wheel, it could be the battery in the fob.

Tom

 

The dash button is an easy mistake. At least they tried. My mechanic fumbled around trying to reset the oil change light and managed to turn off half of the MFD screens. Talk about an "oh sh!t" moment.