Yep! I just tried it in the driveway...started the car, put the key out on the sidewalk and then drove down the driveway. Car kept flashing KEY NOT FOUND (or something similar) and flashed the red triangle...

So, does this mean that these cars a much more difficult to hotwire???

 

Aye, that it did! Didn't worry about it as my friend was still there...but I had just totally forgotten that the keyfob was in my pocket as it rarely is there...it is 99% of the time in my purse!

 

You can not hot wire TCH. Without proper code the computer won't work, without computer the car won't go anywhere. You could hack the computer , but that would require some really good skills in computers and intimate knowledge of Toyota system, which is not easy to come by. You could also try to intercept FOB codes, but that would require special computer tools and to be in close proximity of the keys. In other words it is possible, but not easy. Some kind of hard core computer geek turned car thief comes to mind. Also, if for example I was going to go into all this trouble to steal the car, why in the world would I want Camry? Ferrari, top of the line Merc or Beemer would be my more likely target, fast enough to run away from cops, expensive to bring good profit. BTW car jacking become so popular because new cars are too hard to steal without the keys, especially for looseres who end up stealing cars.

 

Maybe that's why Toyota calls it "Smart Entry/Smart Start" and not "Smart Run"?
Think about it. Would you want the car to stop just because the key fob battery fails?
Might cause a bit of a nusance if you were crusing down the expressway and that happened and the car "just stopped".
Makes perfect sense to me the way it works.
J

 

Okay - Since I've not yet taken delivery of my car (picking it up on Tuesday night) I am really curious what I'm going to do if the FOB cr@ps out altogether.. Can I unlock the car with the key? Is there a conventional slot / ignition switch to insert the key to start the car?

Sorry for such n00bie questions, but I still am a n00b!

 

1. There is a mechanical key inside a slot in the fob to gain entry.
2. Holding the dying fob near the "POWER" button should allow starting.
Note: Keep fresh batteries in the console bin - just in case.

 

Also you will get a warning message on the MFD when the FOB batteries begin to weaken so an actual battery failure would be unlikely. Unless, of course, you choose to ignore the warning message.

 

Thanks Guys..


Now - looks like all I need to do is find a cover for that compartment!

 

Good points, but for the sake of technical accuracy...

This will work with a completely dead fob, as it uses a separate non-battery powered RFID chip inside the fob. It gets the power it needs from the car (but only works within inches of the power button).

Keeping fresh batteries in the console bin will only increase the number of batteries that go bad! (The shelf life of the batteries is not much longer than the in-use life.)

-- Alan

 

If that's the case, why does the manual warn to keep the fob away from bluetooth cellphones and other devices?