Key fob is water proof

[Peyto]

Does anyone know what these key fobs cost to replace? From the posts here I gather none of you have ever lost or destroyed your key.

I once lost my keys while swimming under a waterfall. I was up in the local So Cal mountains in a very remote location, an hour's drive from home. I swam up to the waterfall a few times and finally decided it was falling with too much force to swim under it. Later, before hiking out, I realized the keys that had been in my pocket were missing. Fortunately I had carried a dive mask with me to explore the pools and the keys had a little red plastic fob that floated just enough to bob above the sandy bottom. I had to swim right under the waterfall to about 10 feet deep to find them.

Another time I lost them at Laguna Beach 1&1/2 hours from home while skin diving. Luckily the surf was small and the water was clear. I found the same red fob on the sand right where the waves were washing in and out.

That was a plain old fashioned key for my '76 Toyota pickup. It's amazing I found it in either location. I learned from those two experiences to always take a 2nd set of keys and give one of them to my hiking buddy or my wife.

If you don't need regular access to your hitch, look into a Hitch Safe Hitch Safe, Key Storage Hitches, Hide Car Key, Auto Key Safe, Trailer Hitch Covers, Receivers

Just threw mine on last week and it's perfect for keys while hiking, kayaking, etc. I had to do a bit of grinding on the corners to get it to fit, but other than that I'm pleased.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Does anyone know what these key fobs cost to replace?

Probably about $150 for the key, plus labor to reprogram the Fob & Transponder when you replace them; so maybe $200~$300? I forget what we charge for these Key/Fob combo keys. I know the Prius/Smart Keys are like $400+ with programming and the customer receives the laser cut physical key in the mail.

Through a series of unfortunate events I've been on a full saltwater dive to ~100 ft through a shipwreck, sat on a ocean floor toilet, sat in a crashed airplane all with my forgotten Toyota key in my pocket. (3 separate dives on a vacation where I didn't realize my key was in my pocket until later in the trip)

Like a charm.

So that's pretty water resistant! I knew the gaskets on them kept them pretty dry in wet environments as I have unfortunately washed my keys once, not to mention gotten water and such all over the.

I was just about to ask if anyone has depth tested them.

Well we know they resist a lot of water/liquids and they are safe to about 100ft.
[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] Time to bust out the pressure vessel and see how deep these babies can go! :fishing:

 

[bimrunner]

I'm not going to try it with my key... not liking the alternatives if my push button start doesn't want to talk...

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I'm not going to try it with my key... not liking the alternatives if my push button start doesn't want to talk...

Worst case scenario you break the Key Fob portion, unlike say Mercedes or BMW; you can hold the key to the Start button and the light should turn green with your foot on the brake and stat the vehicle. This is the "Manual Override" of the smart key system in case the key fob battery dies, basically the antennae pings the transponder chip directly vs. the keyfob amplifying the signal. It's in your owner's manual.

 

[DesertCanyons]

Cost of electronic key fob

Thank you BlackWorks. It's not worth the price to take a chance on the key being damaged. There are lots of small waterproof boxes by Pelican and others for when you need to take your key scuba diving. When I beach dive I often have to take the key with me. Up until now I have been using a solid metal key that is not affected by water. That may change when I get the new 4Runner. If the T4R accepts a metal key in the door, that's what I'll use.
:bathbaby: :surfer: :washing:

 

[dieck]

For the record I'm not certifying any other toyota keys will work after a dunk to 100 feet nor am I saying they are designed to that spec. Just that in my specific case they survived.

I wouldn't do it again. . But seemed relevant to the thread.

 

[NYRunner]

Am I the only one who's had to change their battery? The rubber seal is pretty substantial IMO, and mines been dunked plenty of times without a problem

 

[TTown]

If you don't need regular access to your hitch, look into a Hitch Safe Hitch Safe, Key Storage Hitches, Hide Car Key, Auto Key Safe, Trailer Hitch Covers, Receivers

Just threw mine on last week and it's perfect for keys while hiking, kayaking, etc. I had to do a bit of grinding on the corners to get it to fit, but other than that I'm pleased.

Since the doors can be opened when the transponder is in your pocket, will the the doors still open if the key is in the hitch?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

For the record I'm not certifying any other toyota keys will work after a dunk to 100 feet nor am I saying they are designed to that spec. Just that in my specific case they survived.

I wouldn't do it again. . But seemed relevant to the thread.

That's why we need [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] to test his keys in a pressurized water tank for everyone so we all know how deep they can go!

Hear that! We want cold hard numbers! Graphed in pretty colours, complete with conversions in BAR, KPA, and PSI! :whip2:

Am I the only one who's had to change their battery? The rubber seal is pretty substantial IMO, and mines been dunked plenty of times without a problem

The rubber is fairly substantial and seem to seal pretty well, so I have never really been worried about a dunk in the sink or a puddle. I was curious about the depth they could go though.

Thank you BlackWorks. It's not worth the price to take a chance on the key being damaged. There are lots of small waterproof boxes by Pelican and others for when you need to take your key scuba diving. When I beach dive I often have to take the key with me. Up until now I have been using a solid metal key that is not affected by water. That may change when I get the new 4Runner. If the T4R accepts a metal key in the door, that's what I'll use.
:bathbaby: :surfer: :washing:

Like I said above, they'll survive being soaked in water unless it's cracked/not clipped together completely. But you can have a metal key cut for the door; I do recommend you get it VIN cut by a dealer or locksmith (that can do Toyota keys via VIN/security code) as I would rather pay a little extra for a factory fresh key; vs. have a worn key duplicated.

Since the doors can be opened when the transponder is in your pocket, will the the doors still open if the key is in the hitch?

Not sure? The hitch safe should be thick enough metal to dampen the key fob signal, but if not you can always just wrap it in aluminum foil or make a small mesh cage (Faraday Cage) to tamp the signal down since the mesh should ground through the hitch safe.

 

[1engineer]

That's why we need [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] to test his keys in a pressurized water tank for everyone so we all know how deep they can go!

Hear that! We want cold hard numbers! Graphed in pretty colours, complete with conversions in BAR, KPA, and PSI! :whip2:



The rubber is fairly substantial and seem to seal pretty well, so I have never really been worried about a dunk in the sink or a puddle. I was curious about the depth they could go though.



Like I said above, they'll survive being soaked in water unless it's cracked/not clipped together completely. But you can have a metal key cut for the door; I do recommend you get it VIN cut by a dealer or locksmith (that can do Toyota keys via VIN/security code) as I would rather pay a little extra for a factory fresh key; vs. have a worn key duplicated.



Not sure? The hitch safe should be thick enough metal to dampen the key fob signal, but if not you can always just wrap it in aluminum foil or make a small mesh cage (Faraday Cage) to tamp the signal down since the mesh should ground through the hitch safe.

Well so far we know it will hold together at 52 psi lol.

 

[jrandom]

IP68 :banana:

Kidding, who knows, good info though

 

[Mmikey]

I'm not going to try it with my key... not liking the alternatives if my push button start doesn't want to talk...

Even if your key is dead, you can start your 4Runner by pressing the key FOB against the push button start button. Still not worth ruining your key FOB though.

 

[bimrunner]

Even if your key is dead, you can start your 4Runner by pressing the key FOB against the push button start button. Still not worth ruining your key FOB though.

Exactly. The replacement cost of one key is huge.

 

[NoDak]

Since the doors can be opened when the transponder is in your pocket, will the the doors still open if the key is in the hitch?

it should since there is a sensor on the back liftgate to unlock the vehicle.

I programmed my auto door lock to engage at 12mph.

went thru a car wash (first few months i had it, hey it was February) and doors locked and attendant just grabbed the door and unlocked it.

I was not happy about that. I have been meaning to test if you can still unlock the doors :

1. engine running
2. engine off / acc mode
3. engine off / on mode

I will be extrememly pissed if you can unlock the doors with engine running and your in the drivers seat from outside the vehicle.

 

[DesertCanyons]

...

I programmed my auto door lock to engage at 12mph.

... I have been meaning to test if you can still unlock the doors :

1. engine running
2. engine off / acc mode
3. engine off / on mode

I will be extrememly pissed if you can unlock the doors with engine running and your in the drivers seat from outside the vehicle.

Yes, that would be bad. You expect to be secure when you're driving. Here I Pasadena we recently had a case of someone hijacking a car from an unsuspecting driver while he was at a traffic light. No gun, perp' just opened the door and pulled him out.