03-08-2022, 12:14 PM
So, our Prius is a 2005. That means its main battery pack is over 15 years old ... and so-o-o-o living on borrowed time.
But this is about the two fobs for the Prius. They're all plastic and have worn out. I've changed the batteries in them many times. Now you can't really open them. The tiny nubs for doing so have worn smooth. You can't even slip out the key, which you need if the fob battery goes dead. And without that key you can't unlock the door or start the car.
In the last couple of weeks, the fobs got finicky as the batteries started to die.
Fortunately, I'd bought new cases for them a couple years ago. Yes, a cottage industry has sprung up for them. These new ones have metal nubs and might have better longevity. Anyway, it seemed time to finally switch over to them, because I sure didn't want LCF stranded again, out somewhere unable to unlock or start the car.
The thing is, these are just the cases. You need to transfer the integrated circuitry from old to new. Also a chip that's wedged inside. And of course you'll want to move over your old key.
The whole process is very simple. Per instructions. To actually do it is anything but. It requires a philips screwdriver smaller than an electron, various needle nose pliers to rip apart the old case, a vise to hold it in place while you hacksaw it next to that chip until it unwedges, and other stuff I won't go into. Oh, yeah. Duct tape plays a part. On top of all of this you need a whole lotta luck to not damage the innards in the process.
The first fob took me about 3-4 hours.
The second fob was a shade faster.
Both now work.
I should start a business replacing them.
But this is about the two fobs for the Prius. They're all plastic and have worn out. I've changed the batteries in them many times. Now you can't really open them. The tiny nubs for doing so have worn smooth. You can't even slip out the key, which you need if the fob battery goes dead. And without that key you can't unlock the door or start the car.
In the last couple of weeks, the fobs got finicky as the batteries started to die.
Fortunately, I'd bought new cases for them a couple years ago. Yes, a cottage industry has sprung up for them. These new ones have metal nubs and might have better longevity. Anyway, it seemed time to finally switch over to them, because I sure didn't want LCF stranded again, out somewhere unable to unlock or start the car.
The thing is, these are just the cases. You need to transfer the integrated circuitry from old to new. Also a chip that's wedged inside. And of course you'll want to move over your old key.
The whole process is very simple. Per instructions. To actually do it is anything but. It requires a philips screwdriver smaller than an electron, various needle nose pliers to rip apart the old case, a vise to hold it in place while you hacksaw it next to that chip until it unwedges, and other stuff I won't go into. Oh, yeah. Duct tape plays a part. On top of all of this you need a whole lotta luck to not damage the innards in the process.
The first fob took me about 3-4 hours.
The second fob was a shade faster.
Both now work.
I should start a business replacing them.