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Rechargable key fob?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by notyou, Feb 28, 2008.

  1. notyou

    notyou New Member

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    I own a 2007. A friend who owns a 2008 claimed to me that he can recharge his keyless entry key fob by inserting into the dash.

    Since I can't locate a 2008 manual online, it's difficult to verify whether or not this is the case. And searching priuschat with words like "recharge" and "rechargable" (in this case) is an exercise in futility :). Any 2008 owners care to comment?

    Thanks!
     
    #1 notyou, Feb 28, 2008
  2. patrickindallas

    patrickindallas Shire rat

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    I don't think there's a rechargeable battery in the fob.

    But I could be wrong.:confused:
     
    #2 patrickindallas, Feb 28, 2008
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Nope. It's not rechargeable. The BMW keyfob is (apparently) but not Toyota ones.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Feb 28, 2008
  4. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    The little battery lasts about 18-24 months under normal usage. I can change it that often.
     
    #4 Bill Merchant, Feb 28, 2008
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    It's not rechargeable. Why does your friend think that it is? (I'll guess that the salesanimal told him so.)
     
    #5 richard schumacher, Feb 28, 2008
  6. Presto

    Presto Has his homepage set to PC

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    My guess would be the salesguy. On a side note, my FOB is going on 3 years with the original battery.
     
    #6 Presto, Feb 28, 2008
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Interesting. Mine's > 3 years and still working.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Feb 28, 2008
  8. EJFB1029

    EJFB1029 New Member

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    Think about it, if its a Smart Key, its hardly used as a remote, battery should last a long time.
     
    #8 EJFB1029, Feb 28, 2008
  9. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Mine's coming up on four years. I almost always use the car's buttons for locking, though; using the fob for locking would no doubt reduce the battery life.
     
    #9 richard schumacher, Feb 28, 2008
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yes but it's still communicating with the car, otherwise how do you think the car knows whether to unlock the doors or not when someone touches the door handle?
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, Feb 28, 2008
  11. poffy74

    poffy74 New Member

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    Probably a salesman. I have a friend/coworker that also has a 08. He got his about a month before I got mine. He told me that putting his key in the slot would recharge the battery. I assume his salesman told him that.

    When I got mine I read the manual and realized that it does not charge. I mentioned it to him and he read his manual and for sure there is nothing about charging.

    Steve
     
    #11 poffy74, Feb 28, 2008
  12. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    TP, I was being conservative. Battery life depends on how you use the fob, and, perhaps, where it lives when you're not driving. You're right, the car and fob are always trying to carry on a dialog, or rather, the car is always asking Are you there? and the fob responds I'm here if it "hears" the call. The car's "voice" only carries about 15 to 20 feet (4.5 - 6 m), so you should keep your fob farther away than that to minimize radio chatter and maximize fob battery life.

    I recall a few years ago a PCer who kept having her fob battery die. It turns out she parked in her garage and was in the habit of dropping her fob in a little basket just inside the kitchen as she entered her house, about eight feet (2.5 m) from her car. The car constantly polled the fob until the fob's battery died after only a few months.
     
    #12 Bill Merchant, Mar 1, 2008
  13. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Just did one of mine (we have 4) and it's nearly 4 years old. It was getting flakey. Here's the link (with pics) to change it:

    2004 Prius Keyfob Battery Change

    It says "tiney phillips screwdrive" and the DO mean tiny.
     
    #13 hill, Mar 1, 2008
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