2Nd Gen Physical Key Issue

[Julian30]

Hi,

I've discovered that when I use the 'blade' key (or another spare physical key I had cut) to enter the car it causes the car alarm to go off, lights flashing, alarm sounding, the full works and the only way I can get it to silence is to use the remote fob (pushing the 'unlock' button) which rather defeats the point of having a physical key (to a point).

The backstory is I purchased a 'used' fob (as I only had one master fob provided when I bought the car) and reprogrammed it to work in the ignition hole (couldn't get it to work on the doors) and have hidden that within my car and got 2 new blade keys cut which one can be keep in my wallet and one in my wifes handbag; the idea being that if I lose the main fob then one of us should have a blade key with us to access the car and get the fob from its hidey hole so we can drive the car; however if the alarm is going to go off every time we use the physical key it seems like a bit of a dead end.

Any ideas (apart from paying Toyota over £200 for an official 'spare' key?

[Parts-King]

Why would you use a key to unlock it?

[ian rooke]

Hi on both my gen 2 and 3 both did the same if you open the door with the key the alarm will go off.

[Parts-King]

The remote sets the alarm, if it is set with the remote, you cannot unset it with a key, thats why the alarm goes off

[Julian30]

Why would you use a key to unlock it?

To get into the car if I've 'misplaced' the fob or if the fob stops working for some reason.

[Julian30]

Update: Seems I've been a tad silly, discovered that whilst the alarm will go off if opened with a physical key, as long as a fob is inserted into the ignition area and you start the car (as normal) then the alarm will stop (it worked once anyway, I'm going to try it again with different keys)....so sorry for asking what may have been a stupid question; I'm new to Prius owning!

[Parts-King]

In that case you will need a spare fob with you (as you have done) the alarm will go off until you unset it with a remote. The key does not switch the alarm off

[Parts-King]

Fair play, i didnt know it did that myself

[timberwolf]

Is the alarm set on both single and double locking of the fob? (It probably is, I just can't remember)

[Julian30]

Yes it is

[timberwolf]

Thanks. If I recall the alarm will also go off after jump starting the car with a flat Battery, because you've also had to unlock the car with the mechanical key.

[Julian30]

That makes sense :-)

[Julian30]

I can confirm that although the alarm will go off (if it was set initially) if you open the car with a physical key as long as you have a fob to start the car with the alarm will stop once you start the car; I have tested this with several keys and two fobs now.