Finally! How to program a non-SKS key/fob. Detailed!

[svllee]

Hi there Scott121,

My effort didn't seem to work. I have a 2004 Prius, UK version and got the eBay fob programmed to start the car but no success in programming to unlock/lock despite various attempts, at the 11 - 13 points. I am wondering what am I doing wrong. 2 secs, 1.5 secs, 1 sec didn't seem to do it for me. Any other tips?

My question is > If I had locked the car remotely with my working fob and lost it. If I open the car with the manual key, the alarm will sound. Can I then insert the new fob (which can start the car under normal circumstances) to silent the alarm and start the car?

txs!

Originally Posted by Scott121

About two hours ago I was able to program a non-sks key fob (Black Logo) from Remotez4less.com for my 2007 Prius. Strongly recommend anyone attempting this read all of the following at least twice before starting. Timing and sequence are critical.

Programming to use the fob for starting the car was much easier than programming for the door locks, but I was able to do both. I may know why I had problems with the door locks (see below). Following are the directions that worked for me both for "Starting" and for "Door Locks".

Following are directions to program the fob for STARTING the car (only confirmed for Black Logo fob for non-smartkey operation, which means that you have to put the fob in the slot on the dash).

1. Insert old fob into slot and remove it 4 times in a row, then insert it a fifth time and leave it in.

2. Open and close driver door 6 times.

3. Remove old fob from slot. Car is in fob programming mode at this point.

4. Insert new fob and leave in the slot for a full minute. Watch the blinking red anti-theft light on the dashboard. When it stops flashing and goes dark, your new fob is all set.

5. Remove the new fob and you're done. You should test both fobs to be sure they work properly.

Now on to the tough one (Door Locks):

Following are Directions that worked for me for programming for DOOR LOCKS (it was only when I followed steps 1-4 that I was able to get the car in programming mode for the Door Locks; Steps 1-11 are for "putting the vehicle in programming mode" and you use your old (working fob) for those steps. New fob is not used until step 12):

1. Sitting in car with all doors locked I manually unlocked the driver side door (do not open door until step 3).

2. Put Original/Old fob (the one that works) in ignition slot (do not push start)

3. Open driver door

4. Remove fob from slot

5. Insert and remove the fob from the ignition switch twice within 5 seconds (door is still open).

6. Within 40 seconds: Close and open driver's door twice.

7. Insert and remove the fob from the ignition slot (let beep twice before removing).

8. Within 40 seconds: Close and open driver's door twice.

9. Insert the fob into the ignition slot and close the driver's door.

10. Push Power button 3 times (Do NOT depress brake pedal)

11. Remove fob from ignition slot.
NOTE: System should now lock and unlock vehicle once, twice or five times to confirm that the system is in "Programming Mode". If locks do not cycle (lock/unlock) at least once, you need to start over.

12. Within 40 seconds, Press and hold both the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons simultaneously on the NEW fob for 2 seconds.

13. Within 3 seconds: Press remote transmitter LOCK button.
NOTE: System should now lock and unlock vehicle once to confirm registration:
A. If it does, just sit tight for 40 seconds, or open the driver door.
B. If it does not, try pressing and holding the Lock and Unlock buttons simultaneously for approx 1 second and then pressing the Lock Button within 2 seconds. You have roughly 40 seconds to re-try this final step by holding the two buttons for different amounts of time, as long as you were successful at getting the system into Programming Mode (locks cycled at end of step 11).

My experience was that the most time sensitive part of the process was the amount of time I that held the Lock and Unlock buttons down. When I held the two buttons down for 2 seconds it did not program; However when I immediately tried holding the two buttons down for 1 second (or less) it worked fine and the locks cycled when I pushed the lock button.

To exit programming mode, open driver's door.

There are some good directions at the following:
forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=36249&postid+441745
Just pretend that the key shown in the pictures is the fob for the Prius.

Genvibe is having server problems at the moment, but it seems as though the programming is the same for a Pont Vibe (aka Toyota Matrix). Coincidentally, I was also just programmed a new fob for my Vibe and when I compared with the Prius directions for the Door Locks I found them to be almost identical. Not much of a surprise since the Vibe is really a Matrix in disguise. It was these directions that mentioned steps 2 and 3 above, which seemed to make all the difference for programming the locks (at least for me). Prior to following those steps I was unable to get the system into Programming Mode despite numerous (at least 15) attempts and despite the fact that the fob programmed for starting the car on the first try.

Advice is to be patient and read the directions several times before even starting. Also, if you don't get the lock cycling at the end of step 11 you should restart, but be sure the reset the system before restarting. Reset is done by starting the car and then stoping it and then removing the fob before starting with step 1 again.

Anyway, good luck to all.

[chuckh1958]

I have a 2007 Prius with silver logo fob. I bought it used and got a 2nd unprogrammed silver logo fob from the (non Toyota) used car dealer. I was able to program the 2nd fob to start the car just fine using the instructions in this thread, but cant get the remote lock/unlock programming to work. When I get to step 9 where it's supposed to lock/unlock the doors twice to confirm that it's in ADD mode, it only locks/unlocks once. Can anyone tell me how to get the lock/unlock programming to work? I really dont want to spend $100 to have Toyota do it.

TIA

BTW neither fob starts the car unless it's in the dash.

[echase]

Your original FOB should start the car even when it's not in the dash. Make sure the SKS button below the steering column is depressed. Let us know if the reprogrammed unit works. I've been told the unlock with button feature is very tricky in timing, and i still haven't gotten it right myself. Good luck!

[reverai]

Originally Posted by chuckh1958

I have a 2007 Prius with silver logo fob. I bought it used and got a 2nd unprogrammed silver logo fob from the (non Toyota) used car dealer. I was able to program the 2nd fob to start the car just fine using the instructions in this thread, but cant get the remote lock/unlock programming to work. When I get to step 9 where it's supposed to lock/unlock the doors twice to confirm that it's in ADD mode, it only locks/unlocks once. Can anyone tell me how to get the lock/unlock programming to work? I really dont want to spend $100 to have Toyota do it.

TIA

BTW neither fob starts the car unless it's in the dash.

First, there is no such things as an unprogrammed key for a prius. Rather one programs that prius to match up with the key. And while it's easy to get a non smart key to fully to fully work with a Prius, it's quite different with a smart key. I've been reading the various related threads to this issue for months and I don't think anyone has succeeded on their own to get a used smart key to work fully with their Prius. I know at the dealer, they use a computer to clear all keys from the Prius and then add the new smart as well as the older smart key. And if the smart key has been locked(they are locked after being used at least 128 times), it can't be used. The Prius won't been able to read the smart key to match up with it.

Now I don't know if a Prius can see a smart key as a dumb down non-smart key like the fob I have and only unlock the doors and start the car.

In any case, good luck..

Steve

[drhardee]

I'll be a son-of-a-biscuit eater! I tried the 5-step ("differences in red") instructions (on page 3) and I got the new Smart key to work (to start the car only) perfectly! I can use the metal door key to get into and out of the car should it come to that..I didn't want to be stuck with a Prius I couldn't start!

I regret that I spent $50.00 at the Toyota dealership to have them tell me they couldn't do (in 30 minutes with two Master Techs working on it) what I just spent two minutes doing...making a spare smart key work to start my '08 Prius!

[echase]

Write a polite request for a refund with your story and enclose the instructions. You might get your money back, and they will then be able to better help the next customer.

[rapidroy]

Hi, RobH or anybody who is a good elect tech or Engineer thank they could find a way around this 128 time seed chip and enable us to use the used key fobs. I would think this would be an interesting study for the right person. I could certainly use some help in this area. Thanks for Any help I can get. I have a 2008 Prius package 5 and only got one key with it. I have since bought a Logo and non logo key. Programing them to start the engine was easy for me. No luck with the button or smart function.
Roy

[RobH]

Originally Posted by rapidroy

Hi, RobH or anybody who is a good elect tech or Engineer thank they could find a way around this 128 time seed chip and enable us to use the used key fobs. I would think this would be an interesting study for the right person. I could certainly use some help in this area. Thanks for Any help I can get. I have a 2008 Prius package 5 and only got one key with it. I have since bought a Logo and non logo key. Programing them to start the engine was easy for me. No luck with the button or smart function.
Roy

Hi Roy. The 128 number is just a possibility on the non-SKS keyfob. The chip is capable of using it, but I certainly don't know if Toyota chose to use that facility. The SKS keyfob is technically a very different animal. I've looked at a trace of the signals from both, and made some sense of the non-SKS version. The non-SKS version repeats the same data about 5 times for each button press. The SKS version clearly sends multiple blocks of data, but not as exact repeats of the same data. Maybe it sends several corrupted versions of the data, and the receiver chooses the one with a good checksum. Dunno, I didn't get very far.

One very interesting possibility with the non-SKS keyfob is that perhaps the 16-bit usage counter could be wrapped back to zero. While I'm not particularly interested in pressing the button about 64,000 times, an automated test driver could do it in several days. If successful, such a technique could be used to recycle a used keyfob back to the initial (programmable) state. Now is it really worth attaching a $50 keyfob to a dedicated computer for several days in order to upgrade the market value to maybe $150 (a good price for a new keyfob)? As an engineering challenge, it's attractive. As a business idea, there are a lot easier ways to make money.

Just how large the usage counter in the SKS keyfob is is not generally known. If it's 32 bits, then that several days brute force method for the non-SKS keyfob becomes 64,000 times as large for a SKS keyfob. Timewise, the approach is just not viable.

Technically, the Keeloq (non-SKS keyfob) protocol is weak enough that some lab equipment found at universities and a modern PC could be used to bypass the security. I think Toyota agrees, as they have dropped the non-SKS keyfob for Gen3. The Gen2 SKS keyfob is clearly superior, and who knows about the Gen3 keyfob?

If you want to add a full function SKS keyfob to a Prius, then it absolutely requires a keyfob that has a very low usage count. Maybe one that has spent its entire life as an unused spare might work, but in general the requirement is a new-from-Toyota-parts unit. The best price I've found is about $135+shipping from Auto Parts - Parts.com, For Every Part of Your Life . The part number is 89994-47061. Plus programming the car to accept the new keyfob ($30 to $200).

[rapidroy]

RobH, Thanks for the info. I found it very interesting. I took apart a non SKS fob (Black Logo) that I couldn't program to use the door buttons, just to look at. I found the chip you refried to and was trying to cut the power leg to it and ended up breaking the chip on one end away from all four legs. I was hoping to disable the chip and remove the lock. AFTER i broke the chip the little red light wouldn't com on any more, so that was the end of my experiment. It's not hard to get apart, just bang the parting line with a small thin screw driver and pry it apart, then you can play with it. I did glue it back together, at first I just taped it and low and behold it would still start the car, which I didn't really expect. So the start system doesn't use this chip at all. I really only know some DC and AC house wiring. I know O about digital.
I would like to ask everybody if anybody has tried to use the (Toyota Smart Keymaker). If so has anybody been able to program a used SKS fob with it? If so let me know. I don't think the people selling them have ever used them. Asking them the above question and they will only repeat what is in their site literature. Thanks Roy

[rapidroy]

Hi Everybody, I was able to program an SKS Key for my 2008 Prius using the written instructions on this link. I finally gave up on used keys and bought a bran new one. First time I got It to put the car in ready mode. Smart key programing was a little harder. I got it on the third try. I am now a firm believer in the 128 button push lock out. I bought the key on ebay for $109.88 with free shipping. He had 8 keys and I bought 1. May have 7 left. The item # is 180403812884 If you need and want one. Good luck Roy.