1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Yikes, I washed my FOB!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Ozark Man, Feb 20, 2016.

  1. Ozark Man

    Ozark Man Member

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    Has anyone washed their Fob in the washer. I realized I had left mine in my jeans pocket at about the second or third cycle and I panicked. Got it out and dried with the hair dryer. I rushed out and tried it and it worked just like normal.
    Guess Toyota must have anticipated my stupidity.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I would not press any of the buttons!!!

    open it up and let it dry out completely
     
  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    They say put in rice to dry out. Mine also survived one wash.
     
  4. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    guess that was your lucky day! ;)

    I made a habit (pretty much like putting the seat belt on once I enter a car) to put all the keys on hooks right beside the door/

    [​IMG]
     
  5. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    The jury is still out on this home remedy:

    Rice is most definitely not king

    Dry, uncooked conventional rice was the worst of the seven options we tested. It absorbed the least water in 24 hours, losing out to silica gel, cat litter, couscous, instant oatmeal, classic oatmeal and instant rice.

    More importantly, the sponge that we left in open air performed far better than any of the drying agents. It’s possible that the absorbent materials could have matched open air if we’d used a lot more. But it seems that leaving your phone on a shelf may be the best option.

    How We Drowned Nine Phones and Found The Truth About Rice - Gazelle The Horn

    I recommend removing the battery immediately, sponge out as much liquid as you can, and air dry.
     
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  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Alternatively, after removing the battery, the fob should be thoroughly rinsed off with distilled water to remove any remaining detergent. Shake out the water, then thoroughly rinse with pure, 100 percent isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol will absorb any remaining water and dry out much faster than water.

    While your fob may be working now, it is likely that the small circuit traces have been contaminated and will eventually corrode and fail, unless cleaned thoroughly as outlined above.
     
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  7. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    My Sienna smartkey went through the full hot wash/warm rinse cycle and full high heat dry cycle and nothing happened. Total time in the machine about 2 hours. It still works.
     
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  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...ah you dried it out well though;)
     
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  9. Ozark Man

    Ozark Man Member

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    Even though I appreciate everyone's advice I don't think there was any damage either. I opened it up and couldn't detect any evidence of moisture. I guess they're fairly watertight. Thanks everyone.
     
  10. Dion Kraft

    Dion Kraft Member

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    Good that it worked out...That FOB is not your only one is it?
     
  11. Ozark Man

    Ozark Man Member

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    Thanks. No I have another one so I'm OK if there were to be a problem later.
     
  12. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    It's now a "clean machine". ;)
     
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