The manual warns that anyone with a PaceMaker should stay away from the Smart Key system due to potential interference caused by the Smart Key radios. This sounds mostly like lawyer speak than an actual warning, but I was just wondering if anyone checked into the details of this. My mom has a pacemaker and I'd hate for her pacemaker to freak out just because she sat inside the car.

 

Normally, the fear of lawsuits would compel the automaker to us a conventional key system, wouldn't it?

 

Don't use your cell phone while filling up your gas tank. The whole filling station will assplode, Rambo First-Blood style.

 

Don't forget the message Rambo sent on the cellphone:....in a town named Hope (really)

 

The manual also states to use the hands free technology only when stopped. Right.

 

I did check into it .The pacemaker company said to treat it like a cell phone. In other words, don't put the key (or whatever you want to call it) in your shirt pocket nearest to the pacemaker. They said if the key is in the console, everything would be fine. My Dad has had no trouble at all. Hope this helps.

 

The Toyota manual does not express concern about the keyfob, but rather the active radiation area of the car antennas, both interior and exterior. Remember, it's a two-way system. The car and the keyfob both radiate energy. My brother in-law has a pacemaker and I'm embarrased that I have to warn him away from my car. I just wished I knew about the danger before I bought the car.

 

The EMF radiated by the PassKey transmitters inside/outside the car is safe. Persons with pacemakers/inplanted defribilators should avoid close contact near hidden antenae: overhead light console, rear deck areas, trunk latch/rear bumper and ext. door panels. The EMF (electro-motive force) weakens with distance. We have RFID card readers at my workplace and they have posed no problems for employees with PMs/DFs. The door-reader sends out EMF energy only a few inches out to read cards w/chips. The PassKey is a similar system, except that it constantly "communicates" with the transmitters.

Parts of the system can be disabled by the dealer using their scan tool -- see page 38 of owner's manual.

I am a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) working in public health and safety.

UPDATE: My father who has a pacemaker had no problems in my TCH. In fact, he complained that the frigid A/C bothered him quite a bit!

 

Martin - I'm certain that you have the best intentions in your message - however - it's not kind to belittle people's legitimate concerns when either they or loved ones have these devices. Regardless of the strength of the radiation, there may be a possibility of interference. You'll find these warnings on literally every electronic device nowadays. Certainly the potential for interference would be minimal - but it's not non-existant. Microwave ovens have been known to interfere with these devices for a long time even though they are exceptionally well shielded.

To those that are concerned - I urge you to talk with your physician / surgeon or a representative of the company that manufactured your device. Tell them of your concerns and ask their advice. Please don't take the advice of people you do not know or who's credentials are unknown.

 

Will the SKS RF interfer with pacemakers? It depends on the pacemaker itself, also on the individual patient. (Some patients very seldon need the pacemaker to "kick-in", while others rely on their operation frequently.)

After I got my TCH home, I spent quite some time pouring over the owner's manuals (yeah, I'm strange in that way). I was concerned about the warnings about pacemakers since both my parents have pacemakers. I visit them about once or twice a year.

I asked the service department if I could disable the SKS system myself or would they need to do it since it would only need to be disabled when I went "home". (I couldn't see paying them to disable then enable it just a week later). They said they didn't know and would have to check. (They were ready to let it drop right there. I wasn't going to. I wanted an answer!)

Two weeks later, after several calls, I got the answer. It CAN be disabled without using Toyota's IntelliTester. They then disabled the system. I asked them for the directions and they acted like "Oh, YOU want to know how to do it?". After finding out that the information was not widely distributed, I told them that I wanted to know how to disable and enable the system, unless they (and every other Toyota service department) were going to do it for free whenever I needed it done. They finally gave me the print-out saying how to do it.

After The SKS system has been disabled, the car has to be unlocked like a "normal" keyless remote control. Then the key fob needs to be held next to the START button (as if the fob's battery is dead).

Let me know if you wish to have the instructions posted.