06-23-2016, 04:40 AM
quote:
Originally posted by kalakoa
by the third or fourth, when you're programming the new key, it'll be a piece of cake.
I'd hope by that time you stop having USPS lose the keys...
{grin} I've never lost a key, but, when I bought my Prius, it only had 1. I'm no dummy as, the possibility exists, and that's a scary concept anyway you look at it. Dealers will charge anywhere from 350-800 bucks, after you get your car towed to them, to make a new smart key fob.
Plus, it is strange that you can do the hat trick and program one because, the reason it cost so much to make it is that, they are burned in, 'Flashed'. I've flashed my computer's bios system a time or two, back in the day, early 1990's. It's a bit dangerous and will waste your whole mother board if it's done wrong. When you flash a chip, you're burning in psychical, permanent memory. Yet, I don't think 'the hat trick' actually flashes the smart key. However, I've tested the programming. If you remove the battery from the smart key fob it would erase its memory, It should require reprogramming to work again. It doesn't so, I presume that, the car's computer writes the new chip's info into its memory. Plus, I've also had both of the car's 12 volt battery, and the hybrid battery removed. Which means; if those sources were maintaining the computer's memory systems, it would require re-programming too. But nope. And I'm certain, a 'hat trick, is not going to flash your car's memory systems, no way, that's way to dangerous. I suspect the motherboard is protected with some type of capacitor and as long as it retains power, unless both of the batteries are disconnected for a long, extended period, 'the hat trick' is somewhat permanent.