strange SKS behavior - battery issue or user error?

I'm having an interesting experience with my SKS fob (I'm a new owner). The first time I use my car each day - and sometimes after I've been away from it for a while as well - it doesn't seem to respond to the SKS to unlock the door. Won't even unlock with the buttons on the FOB, I have to take out the key. When this happens I sometimes have to put the FOB in the slot to start the car, sometimes (more often) not. However every time I enter the car (and am inside, before starting her up) I see an icon on my display that is a red car with a vertical key on it. I have been unable to locate a glossary in the owner's manual that explains the meaning of this icon.

My understanding is that the black rubber button on the door handle is for *locking* the door but not unlocking it (the salesman at the dealership - not Toyota, though he owns a Prius - told me it unlocked it, but I haven't found that to be true and the manual said otherwise).

There are times the SKS works to open the door, though it seems to be pretty finicky. Even when it works it is seldom immediate. Doesn't seem dependent on the location of the FOB - at least the behavior is inconsistent even with the FOB in the same place. Thinking it might be a battery issue, but quite possible it's user error of some sort.

thank you!

 

No, purchased car used, no 2nd fob. Not about to pay even in the 3 digits ... was looking at a forum yesterday that talked about reprogramming used fobs to work with your car, that seems like the thrifty way to go. Not sure where to go to get one that doesn't have that 128- use limit though. Suggestions?

Interesting about that icon. I had suspected as much, although the car will start 95% of the time without putting the fob in the slot. I guess it's just an advanced warning system of sorts. Will be looking at some instructions I just saw on this forum for getting battery out, since it definitely isn't an intuitive process (and I'm pretty decent with gadgets generally).

 

That only works some of the time in my case. Looks like, as others have said, I need a new battery.

 

according to the posts I read, you can buy a used one and do a funky procedure (involving inserting/extracting fob from slot, opening/closing driver's door etc) to program it to work for your car. Unclear as to whether the SKS could be programmed to work, but if not that's not critical if it saves significant $ (I'm on a tight budget).

what is cost of new fob? is the programming procedure the same as the one I read re reprogramming an old fob?

 

so is that "chicken dance" I read about (which people were using to reprogram used fobs) the same one I need to use for programming a new fob? Hope I can find the thread again ...

 

Thanks everyone. Replaced the battery and the sks works better than ever (even when it was working ok a few days ago, the lights weren't turning on when I approached the car - now they do). Will be looking into getting another fob soon.

 

Actually I think I was mistaken about the appearance of the icon. It is a red car, with a VERTICAL key inside it. Not horizontal. Still happening, even after fob battery replaced. Nowhere in the manual does it explain the meaning, arrrrrgh. The manual doesn't mention an icon for a bad fob battery either that I could see (I think I remember reading about some warning beeps, but don't remember the details). And Toyota's website doesn't have info on warning lights for the 2008 model year.

 

It's flashing, so hard to capture!!