Smart key fails in one area

A cell phone will block the fobs signal. So if you have the key in the pocket under the cell phone on your belt it is a good bet that the signal will be blocked. THis is the only thing I have found to affect the signal when actually at the door or hatch.

 

The vehicle to SmartKey frequency is 134.2 kHz. The SmartKey to vehicle frequency is 312 - 315 mHz.

The attached document explains when the vehicle transmits. The SmartKey waits to be polled by the vehicle, before transmitting.

 

I've noticed that my car doesn't seem to 'find' my key if my cell phone is next to it in my purse. At least I am thinking that's what is interfering with it. What has puzzled me is the fact that I have gotten in the car, turned it on, then it screams for the key, which is in my purse on the floorboard. What's up with that?

 

Once I was parked next to another Prius. Its door was open. I don't know if that's relevant. My SKS would not function and I had to take the fob out of my pocket and press the Open key. Once or twice, the black handle button would not lock the car, and I had to use the fob button. These incidents have been extremely rare, but they've happened.

The fob is a radio-control device, and as such is subject to RFI. And RFI can be really weird. I wouldn't worry about it as long as it works most of the time.

 

If there is ANY radio transmitter operating near your car, you can have problems with the key. Some items of lab equipment are essentially radio transmitters, so if you park near a building, and on the other side of the wall someone in a lab is operating something that is emitting radio waves, you can experience problems.

Try parking away from the building, for one thing.

 

Have the same problem but just with the passenger side door. 99 times out of a 100 I must use the unlock button on the fob. Have been to the dealer twice and it always works fine for them, of course. They said some Toyota data sheet mentioned to stay away from a microwave oven, it will put the fob in sleep mode. I don't buy it because it should be affecting all the key functions. I have a 2008 with less than 5000 miles on it. They refuse to replace the passenger door sensor just to see if it will solve the problem. I'm sick of this problem, any suggestions?

 

If the problem is only with the passenger door, then it isn't a fob problem. Just as a sanity check, try it with the fob out of your pocket. On rare occasions your body or pocket contents can block the signal, and it is possible that your approach to the passenger's door is different than your approach to the driver's door.

Most likely you have a problem with the transponder on the passenger side. Get your dealer to look at it. There is one for the driver's door, one for the hatch, and one for the passenger's door. Each can fail without affecting the others.

Tom

 

Does this problem happen only at one physical location, or does it happen wherever you go?

If the dealer cannot replicate the issue, they will be reluctant to throw parts at the problem since they probably can't get reimbursed by Toyota. Can you demonstrate this failure for the service writer, when your car is parked at the dealer?

Does the problem bother you enough so that you would be willing to pay for replacement of the RH door electrical key oscillator?