There pretty durable.
I once ran a fob to one of my Toyota's thru the washer and never fazed it.

I can't speak specifically to the Toyota fobs, but in general, car fobs have two totally separate electronic devices in them. There's a battery powered radio transmitter connected to the buttons, which is used to send the lock, unlock, remote start, etc., signals and to tell the car when the fob is nearby or in the vehicle.

Then there's an unpowered device similar in theory to a proximity card or NFC tag - the car sends out a radio pulse, an antenna in the fob converts it to electricity, then uses the electricity to compute a return signal and transmit it. This part is generally a sealed unit embedded in a block of plastic that is not susceptible to water damage and that is pretty robust - kill it by putting it through a wood chipper robust, not kill it by stepping on the fob.

There's a specific location to hold the key while pressing the start button for the car to activate this system, usually the start button itself.

Even the main fob electronics are generally very durable and not very susceptible to water damage.

Thanks for this very educational thread V-Tail. I’ve been wondering about starting my car if the fob battery expired. Those thousand-page, poorly organized, manuals are daunting.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:

I hate these stupid keyless start fob thingies. A solution in search of a problem.

Yup.

People love 'em. It sells cars like crazy.

The Fob battery will last 4-5 years.
You can NEVER lock your keys in the car....
If you can't find your car-hit the alarm button--you'll see and hear your car.
Put the little metal thingy that came with the fob in your gun safe--that's how you can get another fob-it's fob ID #
The new Toyota's come with 2 years of factory maintenance--every 6 mo's. Keep track of time and mileage.
My son has a RAV4--it's done very well.
No issues at all.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:


Life was simpler when I had my 1950 Studebaker straight six with three pedals on the floor (five, if you count the headlight dimmer and starter button), and a three speed column shift. And a convertible top that was about as waterproof as a colander.

Hold on here....You had a stupidbaker? A pervertible no less? That thing could be worth a bundle today.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
The Fob battery will last 4-5 years.

Maybe on a junk Jap car. My wifes VW is now just over 12 years old and both my FOB and hers are still working fine. Of course that's German engineering and parts. Makes me wonder if her Toyota will give anywhere near that kind of service.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
The Fob battery will last 4-5 years.

Maybe on a junk Jap car.

Indefatigably classy.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
The Fob battery will last 4-5 years.

Maybe on a junk Jap car. My wifes VW is now just over 12 years old and both my FOB and hers are still working fine. Of course that's German engineering and parts. Makes me wonder if her Toyota will give anywhere near that kind of service.

The key fob on my 2006 Corolla still has the original battery and functions flawlessly. The Rav 4's have been some of the most reliable SUV's on the market.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

Or you could have a backup battery stored in your wallet or inside the vehicle in the owners manual since you now know how to access the key.

Read the manual, see how to change the battery in the fob should it go out when you are out and about...

Batteries are easy. My concern is, what if the fob decides to self-destruct? What if I drop it into a puddle of water, or drop it and step on it, totally smashing it? (You have no idea how clumsy I have become, with my fingers deadened by Guillain Barré Syndrome. My day is not complete until I have dropped two or three things.)

The passive electronics should still work.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

Life was simpler when I had my 1950 Studebaker straight six with three pedals on the floor (five, if you count the headlight dimmer and starter button), and a three speed column shift. And a convertible top that was about as waterproof as a colander.

Hold on here....You had a stupidbaker? A pervertible no less? That thing could be worth a bundle today.

Actually, I had two. The first was a 1950 Champion coupe. Two-tone. Baby blue and rust. Real rust (iron oxide), not that fake rust-colored paint. It was six years old when I bought it at a sleazy used car lot in Norfolk VA for a couple hundred bucks when I was in Navy guided missile school in Dam Neck (near Virginia Beach) in 1956.

The next year (1957) when I graduated from missile school, I traded the coupe for a 1950 convertible. Ran fine, then later that year I sold it to get a VW when the VW was just starting to appear in small numbers on American roads. That was when VW drivers would wave to each other. My early VW had the semaphore arm turn signals that popped up and stuck out, saluting nothing particular.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
The Fob battery will last 4-5 years.

Maybe on a junk Jap car.

Indefatigably classy.

It's Burg. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

I have a 2011 RAV4 with the keyless start.

You CAN still start the car if the fob is dead. While holding the brake, touch the fob to the start button until the green light turns on. Then start as normal. I’ve done it. It works similar to a proximity badge reader if the fob doesn't have enough juice to transmit.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
My wife just bought a new 2019 RAV...

I apologize for the thread drift, but how does your wife, and you, like the RAV4?

I’m considering purchasing a compact SUV later in the year. I’m drawn to Toyota’s reputation for reliability, but find the current design choices of the Toyota/Lexus line to be somewhat off putting, to be polite.

I would envision keeping this car for my oldest child to drive. She will be of driving age about the time the car will paid off.

As an FYI, the current key fobs can easily cost $350 or more to replace through a dealer.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
I have a 2011 RAV4 with the keyless start.

You CAN still start the car if the fob is dead. While holding the brake, touch the fob to the start button until the green light turns on. Then start as normal. I’ve done it. It works similar to a proximity badge reader if the fob doesn't have enough juice to transmit.

This makes sense. This is how our badge readers at my office works, no battery required in the badge. Although I don’t know what would happen in the event of a power failure.

Car keys were a $95 added option that you didn't want... remember

I have a 2016 Toyota with the keyless start. A couple of months ago my wife (who mostly drives the car) got in the car and a message came up on the dash display that said remote battery is low. Replaced the battery and all is well.

The fob for my Focus ST never leaves my pocket until I get home, so I have very limited opportunities to drop it. There's a spot on the door I touch to lock the car and when I place my hand on the door handle the car unlocks. I press the start/stop button on the dash to start or stop the car. With a manual transmission, I don't have remote start. The keyless fob is fobulous! I wish my truck had it.

quote:

Originally posted by Broadside:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
My wife just bought a new 2019 RAV...

I apologize for the thread drift, but how does your wife, and you, like the RAV4?

She likes it. I have not driven it.

the "Fob" for a tesla is a credit card thing or your phone.