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Smart key working, but car not sensing?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Atomhingst, Mar 2, 2012.

  1. Atomhingst

    Atomhingst New Member

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    So, just overnight, suddenly the car doesn't respond to my key fob. When I press the button on the fob the little red light lights up, so the battery works. I open the car by usin the oldschool physical key, and get in. The car refuses to start up, until I try to put the fob in its slot, and then it starts like normal. What could this be? I tried checking other threads, but they were all about the fob being out of battery or broken, which doesn't seem to be the case here, as I tried both my two fobs and neither work. Any ideas?

    It's a 2008, by the way.
     
    #1 Atomhingst, Mar 2, 2012
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    :welcome: there's an on/off switch below the steering column, maybe you bumped it? or maybe the lite will work when the battery voltage is too low for the fob to work. or maybe your 12v is going bad.
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 2, 2012
    stips likes this.
  3. Atomhingst

    Atomhingst New Member

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    Thanks for the suggestion, but that wasn't it. When I try to start the car with the key in my pocket it lights up on the dashboard this icon as if I didn't have the key. Then I pressed the on/off button and did the same thing, with no reaction whatsoever :-/

    As for the battery, it would be a bit strange if both my key fobs died the same very morning.

    About the 12v battery, how will I be able to tell? I'm pretty clueless about cars, I'm afraid.
     
    #3 Atomhingst, Mar 2, 2012
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there is a test you can do on the mfd. search for it on this forum, if you can't find it, someone will post a link. or you can have it tested at the dealer.
     
    #4 bisco, Mar 2, 2012
    Harold m. Brooks likes this.
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Although you may depress a fob button and see the red status LED appear, that does not necessarily mean that the fob battery has sufficient power so that the Smart system will work reliably.

    Your car is ~4 years old, and if the fob batteries are original, I suggest you replace them now to rule that simple and inexpensive issue out - unless you prefer to look for an expensive and complicated reason for your car's problem.
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, Mar 2, 2012
  6. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    wait a minute Patrick, are you saying that when you hear hooves you think horses are nearby, not zebras?? that's just crazy talk:D
     
    #6 cnschult, Mar 2, 2012
  7. Atomhingst

    Atomhingst New Member

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    Yeah good point, I'll try that, I just thought it would be weird that both the key fobs died at the very same night. Especially since one has been in use and the other has stayed in a drawer.
     
    #7 Atomhingst, Mar 3, 2012
  8. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    #8 ETP, Mar 3, 2012
  9. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    #9 ETP, Mar 3, 2012
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if it is the fob batteries, it could be that the one in the drawer was already dead and so it seemed to you that they both died at the same time.
     
    #10 bisco, Mar 3, 2012
  11. tdelker

    tdelker Junior Member

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    Did you try this:

    there's an on/off switch below the steering column, maybe you bumped it?

    I just had the same problem after bumping this small button down by the bottom of the dash under the steering wheel but closer to the pedals. I actually had to look in the manual *gasp* to find out why my smart key wasn't working.

    Tom
     
    #11 tdelker, Mar 5, 2012
    stips likes this.
  12. okiebutnotfrommuskogee

    okiebutnotfrommuskogee Senior Member

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    The batteries in both of the smartkeys for my 07 failed at almost the same time at the age of about 4 3/4 years. I replaced them and everything was fine again. Then shortly after that I replaced the whole car.
     
    #12 okiebutnotfrommuskogee, Mar 5, 2012
  13. Chynith

    Chynith New Member

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    I also have problem same.
    My fob was replace new battery but still not work.
     
    #13 Chynith, Aug 19, 2015
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    try the other suggestions listed above, and welcome to priuschat.
     
    #14 bisco, Aug 19, 2015
  15. Chynith

    Chynith New Member

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    Hi Bisco,

    I try with above suggestion, but still not yet work... I replace 2 batteries, I check and push and unpush the cancel switch under steering but still not working..

    Any suggest else? also how to sync fob to smart key system?
     
    #15 Chynith, Aug 19, 2015
  16. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    Do you have another fob? If not, you should get one anyways because if you lose (or if it really breaks), it will get very expensive.
     
    #16 valde3, Aug 20, 2015
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