quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
So if the fob itself is dead but everything else is working, you are basically screwed. Especially at 2:00 am when you are traveling in the hinterlands and the nearest Toyota dealer is a many mile tow-truck ride.

That is when you thank your lucky stars that you put a couple of extra key-fob batteries in the glovebox, which the backup key will let you get into....

quote:

Originally posted by joel9507:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
So if the fob itself is dead but everything else is working, you are basically screwed. Especially at 2:00 am when you are traveling in the hinterlands and the nearest Toyota dealer is a many mile tow-truck ride.

That is when you thank your lucky stars that you put a couple of extra key-fob batteries in the glovebox, which the backup key will let you get into....

I'm not talking about a battery; that's easy. I'm talking about a fob that dies. Something in the internal circuitry goes belly-up. Maybe a capacitor or some other component dies. Something that no amount of batteries will cure. Now what? You have the metal key, but what good does that do, unless there's some place to insert the key in order to enable the starter?

Even if the battery dies you should still be able to start the car. There is a transponder in the fob that allows the push button start to work. It only relies on proximity to the car not power in the fob.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I'm not talking about a battery; that's easy. I'm talking about a fob that dies. Something in the internal circuitry goes belly-up. Maybe a capacitor or some other component dies. Something that no amount of batteries will cure. Now what? You have the metal key, but what good does that do, unless there's some place to insert the key in order to enable the starter?

Electronics can go bad, for sure, but having had key fobs since the '80s in various Mazdas, Chryslers, Toyotas and Benzes, I haven't had any go south unless actors best left anonymous put them through the wash. Lost, batteries dead, absolutely.

A system is as strong as its weakest link, and an electronic fob with no moving parts isn't likely to be that link. Starters themselves are more likely to go bad than the fob.

If it's a major concern most cars come with two fobs - you could use put the second one next to the spare battery in the glovebox. Or, if the second key is already in use, they are pricey but you could buy an third and have the dealership program it to your car.

Also, as Paten points out above, the Toyotas (maybe other makes) have a sensor in the start button that can tell when a fob is near even without the fob having a good battery. If I recall, for my Rav4 I would need to get it right up against the start button. Check your manual - if your car has that going for it, that could obviate the need for spare batteries and/or spare fobs.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by joel9507:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
So if the fob itself is dead but everything else is working, you are basically screwed. Especially at 2:00 am when you are traveling in the hinterlands and the nearest Toyota dealer is a many mile tow-truck ride.

That is when you thank your lucky stars that you put a couple of extra key-fob batteries in the glovebox, which the backup key will let you get into....

I'm not talking about a battery; that's easy. I'm talking about a fob that dies. Something in the internal circuitry goes belly-up. Maybe a capacitor or some other component dies. Something that no amount of batteries will cure. Now what? You have the metal key, but what good does that do, unless there's some place to insert the key in order to enable the starter?

My car you can lock and unlock, roll up windows, and start from your phone, maybe yours had same capibilities? I find crap I can do every time I get it it. It's a rolling computer and entertainment system. Bells and whistles don't even describe these newer cars.

I do like the convenience of being able to drop your car off for any kind of work and being able to just flip a small toggle switch to remove your house and other important keys, and just leave the FOB.

Additionally, I for one am really glad that you cannot lock the car or trunk with the FOB inside. Mine fell into the trunk when unloading a few bags of groceries

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by joel9507:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
So if the fob itself is dead but everything else is working, you are basically screwed. Especially at 2:00 am when you are traveling in the hinterlands and the nearest Toyota dealer is a many mile tow-truck ride.

That is when you thank your lucky stars that you put a couple of extra key-fob batteries in the glovebox, which the backup key will let you get into....

I'm not talking about a battery; that's easy. I'm talking about a fob that dies. Something in the internal circuitry goes belly-up. Maybe a capacitor or some other component dies. Something that no amount of batteries will cure. Now what? You have the metal key, but what good does that do, unless there's some place to insert the key in order to enable the starter?

The separate circuitry in the fob that allows you to start the car even if the battery is dead in the fob is more reliable than fifty different things in the car that can break and keep it from starting.

Just bought the same car minus the hybrid part. Batteries last for a really long time and then the car warns you for a really long time that the fob battery is low. I don't know for how long because I finally just changed the battery after 5 years and about 6 months of warnings in my wife's Toyota.

Like they said above. Fob can be totally tits up and you just use the attached key to open the door and then step on brake while putting the Toyota symbol against the start button, the car will recognize that and allow you to push button start at that point. Could you theoretically damage the "transponder" portion? I guess, but you could theoretically bend your old school key as well, so there's that.

These things sell because they are convenient. Not even close to solution in search of a problem. At 3am, in the snow, dark, rolling my luggage to my car it is nice to just walk up and open the door without setting my shit in a snowbank to pull out my key. You also can never lock your key in the car. That alone might have saved my marriage. lol. Also, any Toyota with a start button starting in 2019 (?) has remote start from your phone. I think that is fairly useless but locking your car and ensuring all your windows are closed is not.

What is the downside here? If you think it is needless complexity then I would politely tell you any car of recent manufacture is already there. At least this is convenient.

You bought a hybrid and THIS is the piece of complexity you are most concerned with failing?

You should have checked the Curmudgeon Option Package, and these nuisances would have been deleted.

I've never heard of one of these fobs failing, and as others mentioned there are options if they do in most cases. Battery will also give you lots of warning on dash indicators. As several have indicated on page 1, have you RTFM?

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

You should have checked the Curmudgeon Option Package

We are going back to the dealer on Friday to get something installed that was supposed to be included, but was out of stock.

While we're there, I'll check to see if the Curmudgeon Option Package can be added after the fact.

It sounds like something I really need.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

have you RTFM?

It's a big-assed FM. Hundreds of pages in small print.

It might take a few days (or weeks) to get through it.

It isn't the best written manual. I ended up with a remote starter on the key fob. Didn't know it was there until the guy starts the car up from the outside. Cool. That being said, I still haven't found the section that covers that feature. I am lucky the guy told me how to do it.

I also have become a fan of the digital speedometer vice the analog. Took awhile to find that section.

Congrats on the new car. I'm curious, what dealer did you get it from?

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

Congrats on the new car. I'm curious, what dealer did you get it from?

David Maus in Sanford.

Not my favorite dealer, but it's not my car. Wife's car, wife's choice.

We did get quotes from a half dozen or so Toyota dealers. David Maus was not the lowest, initially, but by the time the deal was done, they were the lowest. A couple of times when the sales guy was trying to manipulate things, I stood up and said to my wife, "Let's go." That resulted in a manager running over to intervene.

"What can we do to sell you this car today?"

"Stop playing stupid games."

"What would you like your monthly payment to be?"

"Zero. We are cash buyers."

"What are you trading?"

"Not trading. We already have an acceptable written offer from CarMax, across the street. If you want to beat their offer, that's fine, but this deal is not contingent on trading the old car to you. It's probably simpler if we just do a straight cash purchase."

On and on it went, four or five hours. Not an enjoyable way to spend July 4th.

I had similar BS happen with a VW Passat 15 years ago. Sticker was $36k. I went back and forth with salesmen at the two VW dealers in town and ultimately got one (the one conveniently close to where I lived) down to $33k, while the other would only go down to $33,500.

Showed up to do the deal and the asshole salesman had $33,500 on the paperwork and acted like I was an idiot for thinking we'd agreed on $33k.

I got up, told the manager his salesman had cost him a sale and how, and then bought the car for $33,500 from the inconvenient dealer.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

Congrats on the new car. I'm curious, what dealer did you get it from?

David Maus in Sanford.

Not my favorite dealer, but it's not my car. Wife's car, wife's choice.

We did get quotes from a half dozen or so Toyota dealers. David Maus was not the lowest, initially, but by the time the deal was done, they were the lowest. A couple of times when the sales guy was trying to manipulate things, I stood up and said to my wife, "Let's go." That resulted in a manager running over to intervene.

"What can we do to sell you this car today?"

"Stop playing stupid games."

"What would you like your monthly payment to be?"

"Zero. We are cash buyers."

"What are you trading?"

"Not trading. We already have an acceptable written offer from CarMax, across the street. If you want to beat their offer, that's fine, but this deal is not contingent on trading the old car to you. It's probably simpler if we just do a straight cash purchase."

On and on it went, four or five hours. Not an enjoyable way to spend July 4th.

That was dealership #1 for me, I walked, not here to play games. Sell me a car at the price I want or say you can't do it and let me be on my way. It's all part of their game, after three hours of what should really be a 30 min transaction they try to get you any way they can, and figure most people are so invested they go along. Me I'm a dick, the dealership that pissed me off I strung him along just for the fun of it. He called me on the way way to pick up car, I told him beat their offer by $250 and he's got a deal, nope, he gets his caricature of a boss to call me back, the same guy who dressed up in a US Flag suit for memorial day to call me back. I was so happy to say fuck off when he said he could match offer.

I hate the stupid car buying games, you'd think the internet would have fixed it, but nope.