Warranty & Maintenance Guide

The ECU information cannot be used to program a fob. It is just for pairing if I recall correctly. @Elektroingenieur may have more details.

 

I seem to remember that they can use Techstream to program a new fob from scratch, but they punish you severely in the wallet for your foolishness. I'll also wait for someone more knowledgable like @Elektroingenieur to come along and clear the fog.

 

Yeah. I think they need to reseed the system in the car completely.

 

I don't know the difference between programing a fob vs. pairing a fob. If a virgin fob specific for PRIME is "paired" with the car, doesn't it open and close doors (SKS) and start the car? Out of fear of loosing both fobs, I thought of purchasing an extra fob and make a copy of physical key. My plan was to hide the physical key outside of the car and keep the fob inside of the car with battery removed. This way, even if I loose the fob I carry with me, I can always unlock the door and drive the car. However after I found out the cost of an extra fob (and key) is ~$500 at a dealer, I decided to purchase a virgin fob from eBay. I got one for ~$100. The problem is, none of the dealers nor locksmith I checked with will program (or pair?) the fob not purchased from them. I don't have a working Techstream to DIY.

 

That’s correct: the code on the key number plate is used only for cutting new mechanical keys, not for anything related to the Smart Key system or immobilizer. Toyota dealers, and others with Security Professional access to techinfo.toyota.com, can look up key codes, and anyone with the right equipment can duplicate existing keys.

Stored, yes; retrieved, no. There are procedures (described in my previous posting and in many other PriusChat threads) for adding keys, removing keys, resetting the system, and replacing various ECUs, but as far as I know, the Toyota Techstream software doesn’t include any way to view or enter vehicle or key IDs directly. The best precaution is to have a fully-registered spare key, stored in battery-saving mode away from the car.

The reset procedure is more cumbersome, especially at dealers, where there are procedural controls to deter misuse, described in bulletin T-SB-0057-18, “Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset.” I’m not sure how much security this adds; third parties sell the service of computing the same information to anyone, no questions asked.

Yes. I believe “programming” and “pairing” both refer to what Toyota calls “registration.” As the Repair Manual (more info) explains, registration “enables the smart key system function, wireless door lock control function and immobiliser function to be operated.”

The so-called “chicken dance” procedure for older vehicles kindly described above by @bruceha_2000 isn’t applicable to the fourth-generation Prius or Prius Prime; according to the Repair Manual, registration requires a Toyota Techstream diagnostic system.

 

Thank you very much for clarifying all of this mystery surrounding the smartkey registration procedure. It seems for me to use the virgin fob for my PRIME as a third spare, I would have to find someone with Techstream to perform the registration. One question I have about this is that I have read somewhere that there are several levels of Techstrem licensing, and the smartkey registration is only allowed with a registered security professionals. If that is true, I guess I am out of luck to use the ebay purchased fob unless I can find a deale or authentic locksmith agreeing to use it to the registoration procedure.

 

You’re most welcome.

There are different levels of access to techinfo.toyota.com, and two of these—Professional Diagnostic, open to anyone with $65, and Security Professional, open only to those registered with NASTF—include the Techstream software. I believe the only difference is that the Security Professional subscription also includes “key codes and immobilizer/smart reset capability,” i.e., the ability to request pass-code numbers, which are needed to use the Smart Code Reset (Smart Key Reset) feature in Techstream.

As long as at least one registered, working key is available, the reset procedure isn’t needed, however. Any Techstream installation that works properly with the vehicle can be used to register “virgin” keys that haven’t previously been used with another vehicle, or to de-activate previously registered keys.

 

Thanks again. It seems dealers and locksmith requiring OEM fob ordered through them are concerned about this "extra virginity". The OEM fobs through them are $200 to $250. The refub fob I bought from ebay was less than $100. The ebay seller claims it is "virgin" meaning the previous programming has been wiped clean, but I have no way to confirm that, although it did come with a blank physical key. I will have to find someone with working techstream to use that fob.

 

I think you can buy physical key blank at any dealer or even in amazon or ebay. The price you mention $161.34 is for the fob registration (aka programming) service or OEM fob?

Edit: I see you had an invisible Amazon link ( I have ad block). The fob in the link is not for the PRIME. It will not work. For PRIME you will need

Toyota Part Number: 89904-47460 , 8990447460
FCC ID # HYQ14FBE

MSRP was $300, but it seems now it is $197 and you can find it close to $130 at some Toyota dealers. Most of sub $100 ones you will find on ebay are refub "virginized" fob.

 

@Salamander_King is right. That's for a Gen 2 and won't work in a Prime. Or even a Gen 3 or 4 I imagine.

 

I stand corrected. I did search for the fob, and I am now finding brand new OEM fob from TOYOTA dealers at substantially lower than what I have seen before. The prime parts prices may have come down.
Transmitter - Toyota (89904-47460) | Boch Toyota South

 

I had looked too. Is that the name for the fob??

 

The parts number matches. No image though. "Transmitter" sound like correct terminology for "fob" to me.

 

Thanks for heads up. It seems Gen2 was easier to program the fob, For PRIME, Techstream is a must have as it turns out. I have not yet to figure out how to install and run a cheap pirated version of a Techstrem purchased from ebay. I will have to take the fob to a dealer or locksmith who agrees to do the programming on a BYO fob. I called several locksmiths in Boston area to see if they would do it. The price was $150~$200 for programming only. I may try to get it programmed if I have time next time I go down there.