Keys on new (to me) Corolla Hybrid

[wotnoshoeseh]

Hi all,

I bought a Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Icon earlier this year - 2020 with 44k miles.

I got two new batteries for the keys which were fitted at the time.  Now, some ~6 months later, I am having trouble with the key not activating properly i.e. the light does not come on when the button is pushed and the car will not lock or unlock.  I took the Battery out, and checked it for Battery voltage but it was perfectly o.k.

I think there is an issue with the internals of the key not making proper connection with the Battery.  Has anyone else had this problem?

 

Thanks,

D

[TonyHSD]

If you don’t use the keys often they might be canceled by the car ECU’s and needs reintroduction. It’s an easy 5 step process. 
Put a new bay in with longer date. 
Find only step by step guide and follow instructions. 
It’s easy. 

[taxidriver50005]

The Battery really don't last long in these keys, the key is constantly transmitting for the smart system to work... 6 months is normal for Battery in my key fobs... Also cheap batteries don't always make it that far. 

[TrackLink]

3 hours ago, taxidriver50005 said:

The battery really don't last long in these keys, the key is constantly transmitting for the smart system to work... 6 months is normal for battery in my key fobs... Also cheap batteries don't always make it that far. 

I keep my keys in a Faraday pouch - presumably this stops the continual transmitting, extending Battery life.

[AndrueC]

3 hours ago, taxidriver50005 said:

The battery really don't last long in these keys, the key is constantly transmitting for the smart system to work... 6 months is normal for battery in my key fobs... Also cheap batteries don't always make it that far. 

I've not had a problem. I've owned my '19 Corolla since new and have only had to change the batteries twice - the last time being a couple of months ago.

[AndrueC]

21 minutes ago, TrackLink said:

I keep my keys in a faraday pouch - presumably this stops the continual transmitting, extending battery life.

You have a 2024 Corolla so I think your fob will go to sleep if it's left stationary.

It's easy to test. Put the key somewhere close to the car where it would normally allow the locks to operate. Wait ten minutes then try and open the doors.

If true it also means there's no need to keep it in a Faraday pouch.

[Dylanfan]

I always switch the key off so it doesn’t talk to the car. Just hold down the lock button & press the unlock twice, the red light flashes twice to confirm.

To use again just press unlock.

[AndrueC]

5 minutes ago, Dylanfan said:

I always switch the key off so it doesn’t talk to the car. Just hold down the lock button & press the unlock twice, the red light flashes twice to confirm.

To use again just press unlock.

That's too much hassle for me. Might as well just go back to a simple fob. I like smart entry - it was one of my must have features that made me buy the Excel model. I do think that Toyota were silly not to have the fob go to sleep when they first implemented it though. Even without the security aspect of it the idea of a key fob continuously transmitting seems wasteful.

[TonyHSD]

Every Toyota car from 2010 or even earlier with keyless entry  the remote goes sleeping and no Battery discharge or any affect on 12v Battery. 
How do you think if there is constant signal transmission these tiny batteries will survive. Just lock and unlock your car at least once every two months with your spare key and the Battery will last years. 
 

[AndrueC]

17 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

Every Toyota car from 2010 or even earlier with keyless entry  the remote goes sleeping and no battery discharge or any affect on 12v battery.

Really? I'm sure I did a test once where I left the key on the rear bumper and after half an hour the car still unlocked.

[AndrueC]

Nope. Just tried it after leaving my keys on the rear bumper for forty minutes. When I tried to lock the car I got a long beep and 'keys detected in vehicle' on the dash. My19 at least does not having sleeping key fobs as I thought.

The fob and 12v Battery life is fine however.

[Heidfirst]

3 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

Every Toyota car from 2010 or even earlier with keyless entry  the remote goes sleeping and no battery discharge or any affect on 12v battery. 
How do you think if there is constant signal transmission these tiny batteries will survive. Just lock and unlock your car at least once every two months with your spare key and the battery will last years. 
 

I am fairly certain that was not the case with my 2012MY Avensis T Spirit, it used to go through batteries in between annual services.

[TonyHSD]

We aren’t talking about when key fob is in the car or nearby.
We are talking about when the car is locked and key fob is away from the car in the house for example. The remote is in sleeping mode. The car is the one who is looking for the fob and when you take the key in close proximity the car detects the key and prepare itself like switch on interior lights etc and you can unlock if you like. 

[AndrueC]

What's the difference between a key fob and a remote?

If I can leave my fob on the rear bumper for forty minutes and it is still detected when I try to lock the car it implies that it never goes to sleep. Although I suppose it could be using passive RFID.

I don't think it's using passive RFID because otherwise we wouldn't need to hold a fob with a weak Battery against the start button.

It seems more likely that my fob (being of the older kind) is continuously transmitting or continuously listening.

Edit: The fob must be continuously transmitting. Something must be for there to be a security risk and surely the car doesn't sit there all the time calling out of the fob. That would be just too stupid, surely?

[Cyker]

As far as I can tell, the Smart/Keyless fobs operate in a low-power listening state most of the time, but they are indeed listening for a ping from the car, which is does in intervals.

That's partly why disabling the Smrt entry system helps extend the life of the 12v Battery - That constant beacon consumes quite a lot of power! After several days of continuous pinging, if the car doesn't get a reply it will also enter a lower power state where it doesn't ping as frequently.

If the smrt fob hears a ping, it will go into active mode and start responding to the car (The red LED will start to flash to show this) and they will keep pinging each other with challenge and response messages to make sure they are the right pair and also to triangulate position until you open the door and start the car.

 

[Mojo1010]

Think only from 2023? the fob has been designed to go to sleep/stop transmitting signal after no movement for a few minutes. This stop the relay theft.

[Dylanfan]

When I clean the car I put the key fob in the house, otherwise every time I wipe over the door handle the car starts bleeping because it is unlocked but I’m touching the unlock button. With the fob in the house, not far away, the signal is not picked up. I think the fob then goes to sleep.

I switch the fob off to save the Battery but also for security purposes.

[TonyHSD]

Why would you leave the keys near the car and look for signal transmission? 
Lock the car and take the key away 2 meters or more and then if you know how to measure a signal transmission or voltage drop will be interesting to see what happens. 
The problem with Battery in key fobs is lack of use and the Battery goes bad. Mooly has explained this very well in other posts and make sense. This is also the reason why sometimes after new Battery replacement still we may have not working key, battery been on a shelf far too long. 

[Dylanfan]

I’m sure the fab Battery is changed every other service. Last year they changed the one I took the car in with and left a new Battery in the car for the other one. In five years I’ve never had to change one myself.

[tfc]

Mine seems to chew batteries, even when I disable the fob it might last me about 12 months. What I've noticed if the fob is disable and I try to start the car its says Key error and wont switch on the ignition but if I put the fob up to the start button it will start even with the fob disabled as if the Battery is flat in the fob.

I have set my fob so it will only work if the keys are in the front ie. pocket or passenger seat but if I throw the keys on the back seat it wont start.