How does the Smart Key system work on the Toyota Prius?

I recently purchase a Toyota Prius, the smart key system worked properly when we drove it off the lot. Then latter on we went to start it. We hit the power button twice but the car would not go into gear. I turned off the smart key system and put the key in, shut the car off and turned it back on and it worked. How do I get the smart key system working? Am I doing something wrong?|||There's a nice flash animation tutorial on the Smart Key System (formerly called Smart Entry %26amp; Smart Start) available at:


http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2008/priu鈥?/a>





I also highly suggest re-reading the "Smart Entry and Start System" section of you Toyota Prius Owner's Manual. In the US 2004 Prius Owner's Manual, that's in section 2-1 "Operation of Instruments and Controls," "Keys and Doors" section, pages 23-33. You should also review the use of the Power switch and the push button start, which is also in your Owner's Manual. In the US 2004 Prius Owner's Manual, that's in section 2-6 "Operation of Instruments and Controls," "'POWER' Switch, Transmission, and Parking Brake" section, pages 129-134. Your manual's pages may vary, however.





A common problem with new owners is that they neglect to press the brake pedal when trying to start the car. If you just press the POWER button without having your foot on the brake pedal, you just cycle between "OFF/ACC/IG-ON" modes. OFF is off; ACC is the accessory mode - 12v power is available for the lights, windows, wipers, and radio, but not much else; IG-ON is like ACC except that you now also have the MFD powered on and climate control/fan use. Note that the sole power usage is from the 12v battery, which is not recharged in any of these modes. It sounds like your not starting situation is this case of forgetting or otherwise not pressing hard enough on the brake pedal when starting the car, and getting stuck/confused in IG-ON mode.





If the brake pedal is depressed while pressing the POWER button, the car will cycle between "OFF/READY." OFF is off, READY means that the car is ready to go and can be put into gear and driven. The hybrid battery is connected and will be recharged as needed by the gasoline engine, and the hybrid battery will recharge the 12v battery as needed.








Anyhow, yes, there is a toggle button under the steering wheel to turn on/off the Smart Key System if equipped. Unless you paid for this feature and don't really want it, the only reasons to turn off the Smart system would be either for valet parking, or if you are not going to be driving your Prius for 2+ weeks (reduce the parasitic load on the 12v battery).





With a recognized Smart Key on your person, as you approach the Prius near one of the external sensors (front driver's door, front passenger's door, rear hatch door) from about 6 feet, the interior dome light will turn on and the car will be expecting you. The car will unlock when the back of the door handle of the appropriate external sensor is touched. (To lock, all doors must first be closed, then touch the black square pad on the outside of the door.) Get into the car. The car will recognize that the recognized Smart Key is inside of the vehicle (interior sensor), and will await for you to press the POWER button. All this time, you never have to touch your keyfob.





If you didn't have the Smart Key System in your car, or you turned off the Smart system with the toggle button under the steering wheel, then to lock/unlock your car you'd have to press the lock/unlock remote keyless entry buttons on the keyfob, and to start the car you'd have to put the keyfob into the dash slot.





If the battery in your keyfob was dead, you'd have to use the metal mechanical key inside of the keyfob to unlock the driver's door. Then just put the keyfob into the dash slot to drive yourself to a Radio Shack or the like to get a new keyfob battery.





If the Prius' 12v accessory battery was dead, then to get into the car you'd have to use the metal mechanical key to unlock the driver's door. You'd then pop the hood, and jumpstart your Prius... (The remote keyless entry will not work without the 12v battery. The car cannot connect up the hybrid battery to start the car without the computers running, and the computers first need the 12v accessory battery.)





There are some situations when the Smart system or the remote keyless entry may not work due to interference. For example:


if you have a metallic object next to your keyfob in your pocket or hand, such as a cellphone or iPod, or otherwise blocking the signal between your keyfob and the car


You are parked next to a high-power radio antenna, such as a radio station, a police/fire station, a military base|||you put the key in the slot then you depress the brake while pressing the start button then you shift from park to drive|||Smart Entry and Smart Start allow you to unlock the doors and start the car without having to take the key fob out of your pocket. Prius senses the fob in your pocket; just touch the inner surface of either front door handle (or press lightly on the rear hatch handle) to open a locked door, and just push the Power button on the dashboard to start the car.





If you have the SmartEntry Fob in your pocket and you walk away from the car while it is running, the car will beep at you a few times, and a yellow warning icon on the dash lights up: a picture of a key with an exclamation point over it. But the car keeps running. If the person with the fob stays away from the car, someone else can still get in and drive it since it is still running, but the warning light remains on (so remember to Power Off the car before leaving it).





While the car is running (in park) it will not let you lock the car doors by pressing the electric door lock button by the arm rest while the driver's door is open. It is also not possible to lock the car from the outside by pressing the button on the door handle if you don't have the fob on you. So if you leave the car running, it won't let you lock the driver's door and lock yourself out of a running car if you don't have the fob with you.





There is a button to the left and under the steering wheel labeled 'SMART' which controls whether the Smart Entry / Smart Start system is enabled or not. Push it twice to re-activate Smart Entry/ Smart Start.





or it may be the battery in the fob