New key conundrum - remote broke

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by JoeVR, Jul 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM.

  1. JoeVR

    JoeVR Junior Member

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    Hi everyone,

    I have a 2007 Prius and I only have one key for it. Unfortunately, I accidentally ran my only key through the washing machine. After many attempts at disassembly and drying it out, the proximity key still works and the button on the exterior door handle will still lock it, but the remote lock unlock doesn’t. Sometimes the car will lock itself at random times as if the lock button is always being pressed. And the remote battery goes dead pretty quickly now.

    I would like to get a new key and program it myself, but the long and complicated programming process includes pressing the lock/unlock buttons on your old remote - which on my original key does not work.

    Can anyone give me any tips or advice on how to resolve this?

    thank you in advance!
     
    #1 JoeVR, Jul 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    My first inclination would be to take the fob apart, take the battery out, and swish the whole circuit board around in some distilled water. Maybe further go after the areas under the buttons with a swab and some isopropanol (and the undersides of the buttons too), then let it thoroughly dry out, put the battery back in, and try again.

    Only I seem to remember, while gen 3 fobs easily come apart like that, the gen 2 fob cases may be glued or sonic welded or something.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Jul 23, 2025 at 12:12 PM
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    The X-horse dealers sell factory silver back fobs correct ones like 56 bucks. programming a new ones easy if you have 1 fob that functions . Works car slotted etc.
     
    #3 Tombukt2, Jul 23, 2025 at 9:39 PM
  4. JoeVR

    JoeVR Junior Member

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    Thanks guys,
    I tried to clean the board in distilled water and used alcohol before drying everything out. My issue continues to be that the remote function is still not working, so I cannot program a new remote - since the old one is not 100% functional.
    Are there any other programming tips or tricks or options before I would need to get a dealership to program it?
     
    #4 JoeVR, Jul 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I'm not sure 100 percent is real if it's talking to transponder. Should be able . If not i think exhorse has a 80 dollar solution
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Jul 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You said just unlock buttons is issue
     
    #6 Tombukt2, Jul 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
  7. JoeVR

    JoeVR Junior Member

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    That is correct - just the unlock buttons are the issue.
    But I’d like to create a second key copy as a backup. Can you tell me more about the exhorse $80 solution? Thanks so much
     
    #7 JoeVR, Jul 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If you don't have one working fob to start with, the reprogramming procedure using a seed is needed.

    The dealer can do that, but so can typical auto locksmith outfits, and might not charge a lot.
     
    #8 ChapmanF, Jul 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
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