Key Fob Problem

[moggie3]

Hi folks

Just purchased a Prius T3 and on two occassions now ,(the last this morning and cost me dearly to get to work on time in a cab) , I have found that my car will not unlock ,even with the little key from inside the fob.BUT bizzare ,when I get home said car having not moved suddenly I can open it.WHATS THAT ABOUT?? Has anyone else had this happen.Rang the dealership at 8am today ,said there was nothing they could do and to call the RAC. Not happy if this is going to be a recurrent problem.Two things I could think of were four newish vehicles various makes within 20yards -all with electronic entry systems presumably, and a mobile phone mast some four hundred yards away.However I have parked in this same spot for two weeks and NO probs.Put the first time down to me maybe not familiar with the car but not now!Awaiting any advice.Thanks

[Red Yaris 54]

It certainly could be the close proximity of other vehicles and phone mast.

I remember a couple of years ago at the Jap Auto Extravaganza at Peterborough the Yaris's with central locking were all becoming difficult to lock and unlock as there were over 20 lined up together and the theory was that the central locking signals were getting mixed.

It will be interesting to see what the dealer makes of it.

[moggie3]

It certainly could be the close proximity of other vehicles and phone mast.

I remember a couple of years ago at the Jap Auto Extravaganza at Peterborough the Yaris's with central locking were all becoming difficult to lock and unlock as there were over 20 lined up together and the theory was that the central locking signals were getting mixed.

It will be interesting to see what the dealer makes of it.

Cheers my friend,

yep I hope they can fathom it out.Its such a shame because in every other respect I am very pleased with the car.Had an Avensis before and had no bother whatsover.

With a bit of luck someone will reply with a simple solution.

Thanks for the reply.

[Mkuk0]

Whenever I park cars in front of the local Civic Offices (they have LOTS of aerials on the roof) I often had problems with the remote locking, and that was on a Vectra, a Focus, Micra with smart locking AND my 'vensis, so I blame that! I don't thinks its your car mate.

[Dickie Mint]

I've owned my Prius for one whole week now, having swapped it with a Focus.

On Sunday I couldn't open the car on the electronic unlock.

Now this de-sensitisation of the keyfob receiver in the car has happened a few times on my Focus. The answer with that was to stand up by the driver's door - where the receiver is mounted - and it worked.

No joy with the Prius. I tried all round the car, not knowing where the keyfob receiver is. Can anyone tell me exactly where the keyfob receiver is mounted?!

I did some internet research on this problem last year. The bad news is that the car manufacturers don't bother too much about filtering the receiver. This means that any radio frequency near that of the fob will de-sensitise it, resulting in the fob signal being received by the receiver in the middle of a load of Radio Frequency hash.

Tetra, the new Police radio system is said to do it, as is being very close to a cellphone repeater mast. Even video senders in a house can do it!

I do find it rather niggling that whilst the "mechanical" key can open the door, you can't de-activate the alarm.

Richard