First of all, I _did_ search the forum and didn't find the answer. My sister keeps losing keys. Now she has one master key left and neither of the others. It's not a "smart key" - it's the kind you stick in the ignition and turn to start the car. Last time I checked, if she loses all of the keys, it's going to be $700 from Toyota to get her going again. Can anyone give me advice before she does this again? She is a poor person and I'm going to be the one who has to rescue her... thanks Scott
You're both in luck: the Prius c with the twist key is a very simple key, same as certain years of Corolla and Yaris, much cheaper than the smart keys for the big Prius. There are three parts: the metal key, the transmitter for lock/panic alarm, and the chip for the immobilizer. Pretty much any hardware store can handle this type of key duplication.
Buy an Apple air tag and put it on her key ting. That way if she loses it again you will have a location.
Thanks. I called a reputable locksmith who does transponder keys and he told me I needed two keys and the car to program another key. Was he mistaken?
Yes, at least if a Toyota Techstream diagnostic system is used. According to the Repair Manual (more info), to register an additional key, “Customer must bring at least 1 key,” that is, a key that’s already working. If you also want to make any lost keys unusable, you need to bring all the registered keys, so they can be re-registered. That wouldn’t change anything in this situation, of course, since there’s only one key available.
Yesterday we bought a 2015 Prius C with one twist key. The Manual packet in the glove box does have a Key Number noted. Does have the key number help?
That key number will let a dealer or locksmith cut a new mechanical key- the part you stick into a lock and twist. That has nothing to do with any remote lock or immobilizer functions on the car. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
