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Warning - Key battery low

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by vday, Nov 14, 2012.

  1. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    Uhhh, I was *only* given keyfobs, and to my knowledge they do not have mechanical keys.

    Did the 2013 Prius include mechanical keys too?

    I mean, it has the feature where I just touch the handle and I can get in, not to mention I dont think there is even a keyhole on it. I know the ignition certainly doesn't have it. Trust me, I prefer having that mechanical key since a piece of metal cannot fail, but I am pretty sure it is not an option.
     
  2. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    Yes! A standard camera battery, buy just about any where.

    Have your dealer take your other fob out to your car and have him show you how it works. Then he can get you the correct one! If he needs to.
     
  3. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    Look at your key fob real close your real key is built in the end of the key fob. Check your manual for a picture of the metal key.
     
  4. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    You should be able to buy them at the places you mentioned plus Walgreen's etc.
     
  5. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    2 months from first warning until battery completely dead. Do not install a new battery in the spare just because. Think about the environment. The fob works just fine without battery by holding next to the start button. You can open the door with the mechanical key contained within the fob. You won't be stranded just because the fob is out of battery.
     
  6. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    Thanks...big ole face palm over here...when I got home last night I looked and found that both the jets have the mechanical key, so that's good--learn something new everyday!

    The SAD news is I replaced the battery (Kroger had an Energizer one) but it STILL doesn't work.

    Since I bought from 'AS IS' from
    a small independent dealer I'm waiting on him to laugh at me when I tell him it doesn't work. I even thought it strange the battery would be dead after less than 2 years.

    But I have *a* key fob, should I just take to Toyota and have them reprogram it?
    I'm thinking to take it next week to have them fix the recall anyway

    It's cheaper than buying a new key from scratch. Wouldn't a re-program of the key just set me back about $100 or so?

    Or is there a way to get the car to recognize/reset it?
     
  7. ETP

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

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    Get a whole card at eBay. I change mine every two years.
     
  8. ETP

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

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  9. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    So you swap out the entire internal component?

    Does it have to be reprogrammed by Toyota?
     
  10. ETP

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

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    Card of batteries.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    While the tip of the built-in physical key will serve as a screw driver for popping open the case, I found another screwdriver I had at hand, with a slightly wider blade, was more effective, easier on the case. Also, be very careful with the fob open, handling it. Those buggers are expensive. For such a pricey item it'd be nice if they'd shielded the printed circuit a bit better, made the battery placement a bit more upfront.
     
    HondaTheNextOne and CR94 like this.
  12. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    I think this is a lost battle.

    Will Toyota be able to reprogram the key to my car?

    With labor is there anyway it will be less than $100?
     
  13. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    Update: dealer FINALLY found the other key. I couldn't even leave it in the car while locking it since it still acknowledged it, naturally.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats!(y)
     
  15. Siward

    Siward Active Member

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    First time?

    I got the "low key battery" warning about 3 times in the last 7 months but I've never replaced the fob battery. Sometimes the sensor simply doesn't pick up the key fob signal from my pocket and is not the result of a low battery. I own a 2012 Prius, so my fob battery is about 2.5 years old.

    Then again, you have a 2010 Prius. Your battery is more likely to be low since it is older. It is up to you whether to take your chances or to simply replace the battery.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you maybe getting interference from cell phone or something. i never get the low key battery message. i have gotten the no key present message a couple times though. but the car still powers up.:confused:
     
  17. srevelation

    srevelation Junior Member

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    I found an interesting situation. Got the "low key battery" message after turning off the car, but ONLY when we have both fobs in the car (i.e. both my passenger and I have a fob in our pockets/purse). Doesn't go off for either fob alone. Anyone else have this happen?
     
  18. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    My wife and I have experienced a similar situation when both fobs were present in the car.
     
  19. srevelation

    srevelation Junior Member

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    So was it an indicator that one of the batteries was low or just a radio-frequency anomaly?
     
  20. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Probably interference between the two fobs. The warning has not returned since then.