We’ve been experiencing a persistent issue with our 2011 Prius smart key fobs. For the past fourteen months, both of our key fobs have required battery replacements roughly every two months. This has become quite frustrating, especially since the dealership hasn’t provided a definitive solution beyond simply replacing the batteries with generic ones. They’ve checked the programming, synchronization with the car, and the key fob buttons themselves, consistently concluding that a new battery is the only remedy.
Adding to the confusion, we were given a printout outlining Toyota’s official policy stating that smart keys should be kept at least two meters away from metal or electronic devices. The dealership suggested that keeping our 2011 Prius smart keys on the same keychain as our 2007 Prius key could be the problem. However, this explanation seems unlikely because both sets of keys coexisted on the same keychain without issue from 2011 until late 2013. The frequent battery drain problem only started about 14 months ago, around December 2013.
This timeline makes us question the keychain theory. Could it really be the cause after two years of no problems? Searching online Prius forums, we’ve come across discussions suggesting that Energizer replacement batteries might be more effective, as they are reportedly the original batteries used in the key fobs. Perhaps the generic batteries from the dealership aren’t holding up as well.
Thinking about what changed around November-December 2013, a possible factor emerged: we both upgraded our iPhones (to a 3G and a 5). Could the iPhones – through magnetism or radio waves – be interfering with the lifespan of these generic replacement batteries? It seems like a plausible theory considering the timing.
To try and mitigate this constant battery replacement cycle, we’ve decided to keep the 2011 Prius smart keys separate, storing them in our bags instead of on the keychain. We are also planning to switch to Energizer replacement batteries to see if that makes a difference.
We are open to any other suggestions or insights that could help resolve this ongoing issue. If anyone else has experienced similar rapid battery drain in their 2011 Prius key fobs or has advice on extending battery life, we would greatly appreciate your input.
