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Smart key battery

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by zhonda, Sep 17, 2012.

  1. zhonda

    zhonda New Member

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    2012 prius v, owned less than 1 year, today when wife is shopping about 2 hours from home, her key does not work any more. When you push the power button, key sign displayed on the dash board. Remote lock and unlock bottom does not work, but panic button still works fine.

    I drove 2 hours with my key, car start fine.

    I called dealer, they said battery is dead in the smart key.

    Anyone else have the same problem?

    Any suggestion on where to buy the battery cheap, I was thinking about getting 5 of them just in case.

    Can the car be started and driven without the smart key battery, I know the door can be opend with physical key (inside the smart key)

    Thanks,
     
  2. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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  3. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    OP, it'd help to list state or metropolitan area you're in. FRYS.com should have them fairly cheap, if they're near you. If not, try Walmart. Do not go to Radio Shack. Their coin cell battery prices usually suck.

    Some folks have pointed me to Electronic Components Distributor | DigiKey Corp. | US Home Page, but you need to factor in the shipping.

    I'm not sure what yours takes. It might be a 1632 battery. (On Gen 2 Priuses it was a CR2032, but I believe it changed starting w/Gen 3 liftback.)
     
  4. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    It is a 1632 battery. Radio Shack prices are a bit steep for these batteries, but that is because they aren't at typical chain stores. Target didn't have any. I bypassed WalMart, thinking they wouldn't have them if Target didn't (and, I knew Radio Shack carried them). It isn't always worthwhile to spend 30 minutes driving and looking to save $2.00.

    There was a post in the Key Fob Battery Lasted 3 Years! thread where someone listed an on-line source at a great price.
     
  5. Kutanks

    Kutanks Member

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    Best buy has it. But I bought it with my discount 5% over cost

    Nexus 7 ? 2
     
  6. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    What was their retail price?
     
  7. Kutanks

    Kutanks Member

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    Like 6 bucks for a two pack

    Nexus 7 ? 2
     
  8. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    I paid $2.5 for two batteries (SH included) from Ebay about 3 years ago. Since my purchase the price seems to have gone done to $1 for five batteries, SH included. For me just the cost of fuel in my Prius to drive to BB would cost a dollar, not to mention my time.

    Does anybody really wonder why BestBuy is heading to BK ?
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you can drive the car by holding the fob upto the start button.
     
  10. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Problem is the CR2032s probably aren't right for any of the currently sold Prius family members. OP has a Prius v wagon.

    I kinda wonder if those batteries are genuine Sony batteries and not counterfeits, given the item location is supposedly Shen Zhen, China.
     
  11. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Fair thought, given how much crap comes out of China. However, the generics I bought also came from China, and they are going strong some 3 years later.

    I imagine that cheap electronics is much more of a gamble than cheap batteries.
     
  12. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    It is a 1632 battery. See my post above and the link to the other thread for a discussion of where you can pick up the 1632 battery.
     
  13. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    $1.40 for five batteries
     
  14. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    Nice link, though it is an auction. The next bid needs to be $1.51. (Better than what I paid!)
     
  15. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Yeah, I was lazy with my linking. I found a buyItNow link for $1.4 but linked to the auction bid. I think it fair to say the prices will end up similar, and SH is free.

    By the way, HOW do vendors in Asia ship free an item that is so inexpensive ?
     
  16. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    Hmm. Perhaps there is no cost to them for the product (out of date battery, for example).
     
  17. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    If that is the case, more power to them. The no-name batteries I bought from Asia are going strong after 3+ years.
     
  18. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    If you bought five for the price of my one, you'll get many more years of service for the dollar!
     
  19. Kutanks

    Kutanks Member

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    Haha I work for best buy and its a shitshow. I work in customer service and I know more about the products we sell than most of our "salespeople." Looking for a new job so I cut my hours down to like 12 a week but you can't beat the employee discount.

    Nexus 7 ? 2