Riddle me this Batman
 

4 1/2 years ago I did the Rav 4 key fob conversation. Yesterday I go to lunch and as I shut off the car, the plastic piece that holds the physical part of the key to the fob just shattered.

Luckily I had a good portion of the key still sticking out of the ignition. I get a pair of pliers with one hand and hold the key fob close to the ignition with the other (I'm not sure how the chip works but I wasn't taking any chances). I grab ahold of that key with the pliers and give her a twist......she started as soon as she cranked over. I drive back to work and finish my shift.

I knockoff work and head out to my car. Again I hold the key fob close to the ignition with one had and turn the key with pliers in the other. She fired right up....then died 2.5 seconds later. I gave it another twist and she attempted to start but immediately died. I tried to start it over and over and with every ignition turn, the starter would cut off a fraction of a second sooner than the previous attempt. Before too long the starter would not bump or engage at all. No clicking noise or anything. Just a weird hummming from the speaker every time I turned the ignition.

I know what you're thinking and the battery was not deing. I have to give it to whomever designed and built our factory battery because that thing is fucking resultant. I was in sub freezing temps cranking her for 15mins straight (thanks E85 in cold weather) before it finally fired. I have literally put that battery through hell and it's still alive. I know for a fact it wasn't the battery.

My spare key is at home and I live 40mins away without traffic. My roommate was in a job interview so I couldn't ask him to bring it. Luckily one of my coworkers that lives near me was still at work and was able to give me a ride home. She offered to give me a ride in the morning and I could just bring my spare key with me then.

The next morning we get to work and my car fired right up with the spare.

Why did it start up after I broke the key fob but acted that way when I got off work?

When I was on lunch and it started after the fob broke, it's like there was "residual signal left" and the car started. Then when I went to leave work, the signal slowly faded away when each attempt at starting it until the signal dissipated.

Because, your pictures are too damn big .........:eyebulge:

What is the ...... Rav 4 key fob conversation ..??


humfrz

key start cars will actually crank and start but if the software code is not read from the fob part then car will shut off after a few seconds. The keylees cars wont even crank.

check the key symbol on dash if its orange or red then car will die its indication that code is read from fob, if it still red in coulour code is not reading correctly or fob is bad

id also try removing then reinserting key into ignition this may trigger some kind of reset

Lol they are uploaded straight from my cell phone
I was able to drive home from lunch just fine and it was broken.

When I got off work and was attempting to start it, there were no lights on the dash indicating anything.

Trust me when I said I tried everything......pulling the key out and putting it bank in....pulling the key out, opening the door, closing it, putting it back in....locking the doors then unlocking them......pulling the key out, opening the door, closing it, looking the doors from the fob, unlocking them, opening the door, closing it, putting the key back in and turning to start it....I tried everything I could to "reset it".

When I was on lunch and it started after the fob broke, it's like there was "residual signal left" and the car started. Then when I went to leave work, the signal slowly faded away when each attempt at starting it until the signal dissipated.

It is swapping the guts for a flip out key. Sort of like a little switchblade. I considered it until I read about them breaking all the time.

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1bI0VO...b-2-font-b.jpg

This^ Pushbutton start cars send out a strong signal to find the fob's chip as long as it is in a two foot range of the seat. The unit checking for the physical key is very week and looking for the chip in a very specific place. Only an inch or so can mean it doesn't recognize it.

OK.

But why would anyone want to do that..??

I had a "switchblade" key like that for my miata ...... never thought it was special.


humfrz

^that. When I had my sti i had a key that wasnt chipped as a spare. If i tried to use it i had to hold my chipped key exactly right or it would do just as you described. You probably were holding the broken fob a little different and the connection wasnt good enough

I don't like large objects in my pocket and the factory key is bulky. Honestly is oversized imo. This was a way to shrink it and hat it laying in my pocket more comfortably.