Minor Smart Key problem = ECU Replacement

Regardng my 2004 package 9 (which I think is now called package 6 ... meaning you got everything the car could possibly come with):

When my SKS smart function seemed to die a year ago I thought, "no biggie" I'll just use the remote to open the door(s) and plug the fob in to start up. This happened around 19,000 miles. The only reason I was at the dealer at that time was so they could program a 2nd SKS. It took numerous tries, and THREE HOURS. Only intermitent smark function after that day.

At 42,000 miles I got a recall for a brake light switch. Needing an oil change anyway, I asked them to reprogram BOTH SKS's so the smart function would work again. So they had the car for the whole day. They called me back around 5PM.

At 5PM the dealer says, "We can't replicate your problem.†That was because the dealer plugged the fob into the dash and the car started fine. They never even thought to try the smart function. Those fellows can sure be knuckleheads on occasion. Next, they acknowledged a problem, but they were out of time for that day. They asked me to bring it back EARLY so they could play with it for a longer time. Oil change & brake switch complete, I would come back another day.

5 minutes later, I got home. Hit the remote to lock it and will it lock? No. Neither of my fobs will remotely lock any more. "HEY!! What’s up with that", I said to the service tech upon immediately calling him back. I bring in two FOBS for smart programming and I loose the ability to lock the doors remotely. BTW, it's VERY annoying to have to pull that tiny key off the fob to unlock the doors. "Don't worry Mr. Hill, we'll get it right when you bring it back". (for another day)

Later in the week, and back in the shop, the Prius got worked on all day. They called at 5PM saying, "err, Mr. Hill we still have a problem". They said the SKS's ECU was the problem, and it'd have to be replaced ... and that will be over ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. "So, let me get this right ... I bring in a fob for programming at 19,000 miles, where I loose the smart function, and now at 42,000 you loose my remote door lock function ... so i have to buy a $1,000 + ECU?

Lovely. At least I bought the ZERO deductible bumper-to-bumper extended warranty. But this isn't the end of the SKS snafu. Wind the calander 2 weeks forward, the ECU is ordered and installed. Time for me to pick up my properly working smart system, right?

"Mr. Hill, your car is ready ... only there's just one more thing. We could only program ONE of your TWO fobs completely. The other fob will only work if you stick it in the dash ... and it will no longer remotely lock/unlock the doors ... and the smart function won't work on it either. Thanks Mr. Hill ... and have a nice day." Yea, thanks a lot. So I left with only one properly working SKS.

I just got off "anythingtoyota.com" where I had to buy a 2nd fob. Just doesn't seem right, does it? Gary

 

I'm going to the Laguna Hill/Irvine (South Orange County CA) dealer. But you're right ... I'm motivated now to go north to the Tustin Dealer. They're still gladly working on RAV4-EV's up there, and those owners have high regards for their tech's ways. When my new fob comes (from anythingtoyota.com) in a couple days, I'll be taking it to Tustin.

I'm going to used the damaged key as my spare ... leave it hidden in the car. Since it no longer has remote unlock or smart capability, I'm thinking it will work fine just to start the car if I use it's door key hidden under the car. Lemons turned to lemonaid :^)

Yes, I complained at 19,000 miles that the smart function died, which they recalled. But the service manager's take on it is that since I waited 'till 42,000 miles,that all bets are off. To their credit, I realize the fob programing details are like vodoo. Thank God for extended warranties or it would have really been ugly.

 

Hi Evan,

Yes, I've read on numerous posts that the ECU must necessarily come w/ the new~coresponding FOBs. When I saw only 2 fobs sitting in the car upon completion of my work order, I said to the service manager, "Hey, where's the new fobs that come w/ the new ECU??" They said there is none.

What does one do at that point? Should I tell them, "hey, that's impossible ... I've read tons of posts on priusonline & prius chat that say otherwise"? No ... at that junction ... and with days and days of ongoing frustration ... I grabbed my one crummy fob & one working fob and got the heck out of there, just glad that I had ONE WORKING SKS fob. Thanks a lot Toyota of Irvine. But if I can go back & bitch with authority (writing) please, someone let me know.

BTW ... the folks at anythingtoyta.com aka Mike Calvert Toyota (home of the $131.00 + $7.00 shipping replacement fob) now say that this web site is officially "unmanned" ... but I'm still trying to get my replacement fob from them, as this is the cheapest advertised price … if in fact I can get them to honor it. Gary

 

Read the fine manual (I believe that's what that means)? Not sure how that applies, if in fact they DID RTFM. ... And what is the "fine manual"? Anyway, I'll see about contacting customer support (if in fact that's not an oxymoron) to see if they will pursue this.

I'll advise what they say.

 

OOOHHhhh, NOW I get "rtfm" (feeling like a dope). As to nitpicking the factory warranty before it runs out, I had no need because of the extended waranty. And thanks for direction to downloading the Manual. I'm doing that right now. Then, I'll be dealing with customer service folks.

 

WOW ... Downloaded the service manual. Quite a chore, as it wasn't in one big file. 90 minutes, 224 separate pdf files, and $10 later, I still can’t find anything under the smart key / ECU adobe files that specifically states that the new ECU comes with two fobs. When I call customer service, I'd sure like to be armed with that in writing though. Quite a saga i got going here. Gary

 

What I did with the service manual was to clumped a bunch of the files togehter. Fortunately I have the full versioni 7 of Acrobat so i can eventually put all the doc's together into one super file when time permits.

In the mean time, I've sent off my detailed letter to customer support, asking for a remedy ... more better than being sent off with one working smart fob with my new ECU. Wish I could have found in writing ... in the service manual, that the ECU MUST necessarily come with 2 fobs.

Heck, I would have been satisfied even to have found it to say it necessarily comes with one! In any event, my note to Toyota customer support went out yesterday, and I was hoping there'd be a profuse apology when I got to my email today. Rather than that? I got nothing. Gary

 

If so, PLEASE have him put it in writing! I spent MORE time with Toyota Service reps today. They gave me a case number: 200603101073. Whoopie - do. They never did answer my email, so I called them back. They told me if I wanted to try and get my 2nd FOB replaced I would have to have the extended warranty company "shake-them-down" for it (my translation, as they didn't seem to give a rip) because after all ... "it was the waranty company that paid for it", they said.

I said, "What? You mean if my aunt Bertha paid for my ECU being replaced, then she'd have to get my FOB, when the dealer shorts me a FOB?". No response. So after thanking Mr. Toyota "Service" rep, I bad him a nice week-end.

I called Longo Toyota (suposedly the largest here in CA) and spoke to Glen about ECU's. He's their SKS guru. Glen said that "NO ... a new ECU doesn't come with ANY new fobs". He checked it on his parts order computer thingie. I told him that makes NO sense, because if you have to wait 2 weeks and spend a GRAND on a new ECU, only to find out it's NOT your ECU, but rather your FOB(s) died, you'd then have to wait for FOBS to be ordered. And Toyota wouldn't do anything dumb like that ... right? :^)

Anyway, Glen said that Toyota CAN program the new ECU to old fobs, thus new one(s) don't come with it. When my new fob arrives (probably tomorrow or Monday) I'm taking it, and my mortally wounded fob to another shop. I'm hoping another shop will be able to program the new, AND the old one, so i can go back to Irvine Toyota service WITH A VENGENCE.

So - if there isn't anyone who can show otherwise, in writing, that SKS ECU's come with a new fob. I'm S.O.L unless as the customer service nut said, my extended warranty wants to shake them down for the cost of my new one. I'm going to have to get an awful lot of enjoyment out of this SKS to recoup my time.