I have my 2011 and all of a sudden my car stopped being able to sense it in the car or outside the car. The lock and unlock function still works which is puzzling, and when I tapped it to the power button in effort to start the car, the car still does not start and says it can't locate the key. I dropped a 85lb weight on it the other week at the gym but it appears there wasn't any damage when I took the key apart, and it was working fine up till now. The spare works fine, but I'm just hoping I don't have to buy another key =/ Any suggestions on where to buy it, or is the dealership the only real option. TIA also noticed this is the same part number, and since i only need the new circuit board I'm assuming, I wonder if its the same size as the prius one
definitely try a new battery before a new fob. also, check to make sure a button isn't stuck. did you put the battery back in the right direction? if you do need a fob, do your due diligence, it's a complicated process and a lot of threads here on the subject, if you don't want to spend $400. at the dealer.
I had this happen shortly after I got my car. I wasted money on a new remote battery, but the problem was caused by the smart-key functions being inexplicably turned off. I was able to turn it on again by navigating in the "car" menu in the head unit. I've noticed a few strange things like this happening; some times things can spontaneously reboot themselves with different settings. In lieu of a better explanation, I'll put it down to errant EM field-eddies created by the hybrid system.
