Understanding the 2004-2009

Prius and 2007-2009 Camry

HV Smart Key Systems

by: Paul Cortes

Image courtesy Toyota Motor

Corporation (www.toyota.com)

Are you ready for

Toyota Smart Key
systems? Pt. 2
Complaint: Customer states and active tests to find out what is going on. However,
car is beeping you can also learn a lot with a few simple actions and
observations. No matter how fast you can connect a
Before beginning to diagnose a symptom, it’s best scanner, these simple tests will be faster.
to make sure it’s actually a problem, not a normal
function. The Smart Key system attempts to protect
the driver from himself with lockout prevention and How to check the Smart Key
safety warnings. When the Smart Key system detects
Cancel Switch
an unadvisable condition, it will use the interior and
exterior beepers to alert the driver.
If Smart Key functions are not working, check the
Smart Key Cancel Switch first. Just sit in the driver’s
You’ll find beep code charts in the owner’s manual
seat with the Smart Key in your hand, press the
and on TIS in both the Service Information section
Smart Cancel switch once, and then press the power
and Reference Information sections.
button without pressing the brake pedal. If the power
button LED turns green, the Smart Key system is now
working. Congratulations, you fixed the car! If not,
Maximum diagnosis with press the Smart Key Cancel button again to restore
minimum effort the original setting.

The Toyota TechStream allows a technician to check If you’re willing to kneel down and wedge you head
many Smart Key functions quickly by using data lists between the steering wheel and seat, you can also

2 MasterTechnician Online | www.mastertechmag.com

check whether the Smart Key function is ON or OFF
by checking the switch position. The push button
switch will protrude more when the Smart Key system
is active, and it will be closer to flush when the Smart
Key functions are locked.

How to check the Smart Key

battery condition

A low Smart Key 3V battery will cause intermittent

loss of Smart Key function at first, then no function
at all. You can check battery condition by pressing Smart Key Cancel Switch: If Smart Key
the lock or unlock button three times in a row and functions are not working, check the
observing the LED. Each time you press the button, Smart Key Cancel Switch first.
the LED should respond immediately with each press.
No response or slow response indicates a low battery.

If the Smart Key battery is failing too often, advise

your customer to keep their Smart Keys away from
electronic interference. If a Smart Key thinks it “hears”
an oscillator, it will respond, and in doing so will drain
the battery.

Likewise, if the car is parked near a source of 315

MHz interference, the 12V battery may go dead.

Observations and Conclusions

without any tools

Test 1 – Lock the car and walk out of range with The Camry Smart Key LED is well
the Smart Key, about three meters is enough. Wait for amouflaged when it’s not lit
a moment or two, and then walk toward the driver’s
or passenger’s door with the Smart Key in hand while
watching the LED on the Smart Key. The LED should
blink once when you are about a meter away.

What happened?
•The car is locked and Certification ECU is
pulsing the Exterior Oscillators.

•When the Smart Key comes into range, it

“hears” the Wake Up command and the
Vehicle ID Code request.

•The Smart Key sends its Vehicle ID code

to the Door Control Receiver, and the
Door Control Receiver relays it to the
Certification ECU.
The Prius Smart Key LED is a little easier to see

November 2009 | MasterTechnician Online 3

Toyota Smart Key Pt.2

Test 3 – Touch the sensor on the driver’s door

If the Vehicle ID code in the Smart Key handle. The door or doors should unlock, depending
matches the Vehicle ID code in the Certification on the configuration, set in “Customize” menu with
ECU, the Certification ECU tells the Exterior the Techstream.
Oscillators to ask for the Key ID code.

The Smart Key then sends its Key ID code to

the Door Control Receiver, and flashes the LED.

What do the test results tell you?

•The 12V aux. battery has at least a
partial charge.

•The Smart Key battery and Smart Key

worked. This is the wrong way to test a touch sensor.
Holding the Smart Key too close to the
•The driver’s door Exterior Oscillator is Driver’s Door Oscillator Antenna (the door
working. handle) can interfere with the signal.

•The Door Control Receiver is working. What happened?

•The Certification ECU received the touch
•The Certification ECU is working. sensor input, and told the Body Control
ECU to unlock the door(s).
•The Vehicle ID code in the Smart Key and
the Certification ECU match. What do the results tell you?
•The touch sensor is OK.

•The door lock actuator(s) are OK.

Test 2 – Right after the LED on the Smart Key

flashes, check the dome light, it should come on
(assuming the bulb is OK).
Test 4 – Open the
door while watching for
What happened? the “door open” light on
•The Door Control Receiver received the the combination meter.
Key ID code and relayed it to the
Certification ECU. Door open icon.

•The Certification ECU verified the Key ID

code matched. What happened?
•The door courtesy switch closed when the
•The Certification ECU requested the Body door was opened.
Control ECU to turn on the dome light.
•The Body Control ECU received the
What do the results tell you? courtesy switch signal and illuminated the
•The Smart Key is fully registered in the door warning light.
Certification ECU.
What do the results tell you?
•The Body ECU is working. •The door switch, Body Control ECU, and
door open light are all working.

4 MasterTechnician Online | www.mastertechmag.com

 Test 5 – Get into the car with the Smart Key while
watching the Smart Key LED. It should flash once.

What happened?
•The Body Control ECU informed the
Certification ECU the door had opened.

•The Certification ECU started to pulse the Wrong key icon

Interior Oscillator. Security icon for Prius. for Prius.

•The Smart Key broadcasts its Key ID code.

What do the results mean?

•The Interior Oscillator is working

•The Front Room Antenna is OK.

Wrong key message for Camry HV.

Test 6 –
CAMRY HV: Step on the brake pedal while •The Certification ECU (Smart Key ECU)
watching the LED on the Power Button. It should compares S-codes with the Immobiliser
be green. ECU (ID Code Box)
PRIUS: Press the brake pedal while checking the CAMRY ONLY – The Certification
brake lights. ECU checks for matching L-codes in the
Immobiliser ECU and Steering Lock ECU.

What happened? CAMRY ONLY – The Steering Lock ECU

•The brake switch closed. successfully unlocked the steering and sent a
verification message to the Certification ECU.
•The signal reached the Certification ECU.
What do the results mean?
•The Certification ECU told the Body •The S-codes in the Certification ECU
Control ECU to turn the Power button LED (Smart Key ECU) and the Immobilizer ECU
green and the brake lights on. (ID Code Box) match.

What do the results mean? •The L-codes in the Immobilizer ECU (ID
•The brake switch signal was OK. Code Box) and the Steering Lock ECU match.

Test 7 – Press the power button while pressing the

brake pedal. Verify the Security light turns off. Test 8 – Verify “Ready” is displayed on the dash cluster.

What happened? What happened?

•The Certification ECU verified Smart Key was •The G-code matched in the Immobilizer
registered (using the same process as before). ECU (ID Code Box) and the HV ECU.

November 2009 | MasterTechnician Online 5

Toyota Smart Key Pt.2

Performing this entire series of tests takes about 30 The key blanks can be purchased separately from
seconds once you’ve done it a few times, and it will the Smart Key, so if key insert is cut incorrectly, it’s not
give you all the information you need to choose and the end of the world.
intelligent diagnostic path.

Prius registration procedure

Adding Smart Keys or
Replacing Lost Keys When replacing a lost Smart Key, always ask your
customer if they have any other Smart Keys at home
In order to register new Smart Keys, you’ll need and inform them any keys not in your possession
a Techstream or the older Toyota Intelligent Tester will not open or start the car. You would be amazed
can also work with a CAN adaptor. The Techstream how many people will fib in order to avoid the
is vastly superior, and once you own it, you’ll kick inconvenience of collecting all keys if you don’t
yourself for not having bought it sooner. explain why you need to have all keys.

There are four steps to

replacing a lost Smart Key.

1. Perform the Key Code Erasure procedure

in the Immobiliser ECU (ID Code Box).

2. Register all existing and new keys in the

Immobiliser ECU.

3. Perform the Key Code Erasure procedure in

The Smart Key insert can be removed when the Smart Key ECU (Certification ECU).
the release button/slider is actuated.
4. Register all exiting and new keys in the
The new Smart Key emergency insert will be blank
Smart Key ECU.
and will need to be cut to match the lock cylinder in
the driver’s door. The key cut code can be obtained
from TIS with a Security Professional subscription Author’s note:
and VIN, but if you don’t have machine capable of Whatever changes are made to the keys registered
cutting the new key based on this code, it won’t do in the Immobiliser ECU should also be made to the
you much good. Smart Key ECU and vice versa. The S-code is stored in
both the Immobilizer ECU and the Smart Key ECU.
Some locksmiths will be able to cut the key insert The S-code is created using all registered Key IDs
with the VIN or the key code. All Toyota dealers will be in each of the ECUs. Since the S-codes must match,
able to cut the key insert for you, but their willingness presumably the Key IDs in each ECU should also
and fees will vary wildly. match. Registering three Key IDs in the Immobilizer
ECU and one in the Smart Key ECU is possible, but
Be sure to take care of the dealership(s) that take care probably a bad idea. Exactly when and under what
of you! It’s like Darwin’s theory of natural selection. circumstances the S-code is (re)created is a mystery
Reward dealerships possessing desirable traits with a to me. Mismatched S-codes will prevent a Seed Reset
steady stream of parts orders if you want them to be (a procedure explained below). Mismatched S-codes
around to help you in the future. may be an issue that can only be caused by installing a
used Immobilizer ECU or Smart Key ECU, but unless
The key blank can also be copied from the existing you know for sure, better safe that sorry.
Smart Key blank at a hardware store or other business
with a key cutting machine.

6 MasterTechnician Online | www.mastertechmag.com

If your customer is just Before performing a seed reset, you must check the
adding a Smart Key, there customer’s identification, registration and vehicle
are only two steps. to make sure they match (think of yourself as a
Certification ECU). Your LSID will be associated with
1. Register the new key(s) in the Immobiliser the reset, so if your customer’s ownership is disputed,
ECU (ID Code Box). you’ll be the one on the hook. At best, you may loose
your license. At worst, you may be caught up in a
criminal investigation.
2. Register the new key(s) in the Smart Key ECU
(Certification ECU).
A slight digression --
Obtaining a locksmith license will be very
important for shops that want to stay in the business
When all Smart Keys have been lost of diagnosing and repairing cars. Even if you don’t
care about doing seed resets, you’ll find an LSID is
If all keys are lost, you’ll need to perform a Seed Reset. necessary to replace ECMs on many modern cars.
It’s a little bit of a hassle (a lot of paperwork), but
It’s a good idea to register at least two new keys jumping through hoops when required is part of
when a reset is performed so your customer does not being a professional. You’ll find the information you’ll
end up in the same boat later. Although you may find need to get started here – http://www.aloa.org
that a customer who lost all of their keys will also be
resistant to spending additional money on “extra” Here are some tips for a successful seed reset.
keys. You can lead a horse to water…
•Before embarking on a Smart Code Reset, make
You’ll need to be a licensed locksmith in order to sure the time and date on your computer are
qualify for a TIS Security Professional subscription, correct. An incorrect date or time may cause the
and without a Security Professional subscription, you reset to fail.
won’t be able to perform a Smart Code Reset.
Currently the TIS Security Professional subscription •Make sure the Techstream has over 60% charge or
is only available as a stand-alone subscription. In other is plugged in.
words, if you already have a TIS or TIS Professional
Diagnostics subscription, Security Professional is •Use a charged booster pack on the battery
not added to your account, it’s an entirely separate
account with a different login and password. •Have your LSID and password handy

A disassembled Camry Smart Key

November 2009 | MasterTechnician Online 7

Toyota Smart Key Pt.2

•Make sure you can connect to the internet will be able to register it in the Immobiliser (ID Code
Box). However, you will not be able to register the
•If you have a working key, verify it works in the key key to in the Smart Key ECU (Certification ECU).
slot with the Smart Key Cancel switch on (Prius), In other words, you have a key that will start the car
or when held next to the Power button with the 3V when the inserted in the key slot, but none of the
battery removed (Camry). This will verify that the wireless functions will work.
Transponder Key Amplifier & coil are functional.
Author’s note: These procedures have worked for
me. There may be other methods, but this is what I’ve
Used Smart Keys/EBay Smart Keys found to work through trial and error.

New Smart Keys come with a Key ID burned in at If a customer-supplied key won’t register in the
the factory, but the Vehicle ID is blank. If a customer Smart Key ECU (Certification ECU), check the
brings a key in with a Vehicle ID already burned, you model and FCC numbers to make sure they match
(you’ll need to remove the back key cover on the

The FCC ID is on the back of the

Camry Smart Key.

When testing Transponder Key Amplifier on

a Camry, there no need to reassemble the
Smart Key after removing the battery. Just
hold the guts next to the Power Button and
press the power button. Removing the Smart
Key battery is unnecessary on the Prius; just
press the Smart Key Cancel switch and insert The FCC ID is under the back cover on
the Smart Key in the Key Slot.] the Prius Smart Key.

8 MasterTechnician Online | www.mastertechmag.com

Prius Smart key). Then check the Smart Key battery The first Smart Key registered after a Smart Key Reset
(using the 3 button press method mentioned earlier). will be registered with the power off, despite the scanner’s
If the numbers and the battery are OK, the next post-failure troubleshooting tip, “Was the IG ON?”
step is to erase all keys from the Immobiliser ECU
(ID Code Box) and the Smart Key ECU (using the
same key). Then try registering all of the remaining Replacing ECUs
keys, including the new key. Sometimes this works,
sometimes it doesn’t. Imagine a car towed in from another shop with the
following write up –
If the erasing all key codes did not solve your wireless
registration woes, try a Smart Key Reset, followed by Customer states dealership said needs new HV
an Immobiliser Reset. VERY IMPORTANT – use the ECU. Customer declined repair and had another
suspect key for the resets. When finished, you will have shop install a used HV ECU from EBay. Customer
one key registered in the Immobiliser ECU and no keys states car will not Ready with replacement ECU,
registered in the Smart Key ECU. Go ahead and register but will Ready with original HV ECU.
the key in the Smart Key ECU. It should work.
You’ll only have 20 ignition cycles or less to do the
Don’t let failure freak you out. It happens sometimes. right thing.
If at first you fail, try again. It’s not a one shot only
deal (although there may be some sort of limit). Do you –
1. advise the customer to get another used HV
ECU under warranty?
Other Registration Woes
2. advise the customer to buy a new HV ECU
The Immobiliser registration always seems to go from the dealer?
smoothly. If there’s going to be trouble, it’s likely to
occur when registering the key in the Smart Key ECU
3. advise the customer to re-flash the HV ECU?
(wireless registration). The scanner will offer the
following advice when registration fails. “Make sure
4. advise the customer to connect terminals TC to
the Smart Cancel Switch is off and the IG ON”. The
CG for 45 minutes at DLC3?
manual will offer even less.

Check to make sure the wireless functions are Remember the G-code is stored in the Immobiliser
working properly with the registered key using the ECU (ID Code Box) and the HV ECU and they must
techniques in the observations and conclusions match or the car will not Ready.
section above. If the interior oscillator or door receiver
is not working, the key can’t be registered. If the HV ECU is replaced with a unit from another
car, the G-codes will not match, so a different used
Don’t forget about the Smart Key Cancel Switch, ECU will have the same problem.
the scanner will remind you, but the reminder is only
effective if you are carefully reading the prompts. A new HV ECU from the dealer will solve the
problem because it comes in automatic G-code
Wireless interference can hamper wireless key registration mode. However, it’s costly and isn’t
registration efforts. Put your cell phone in airplane necessary.
mode, move the car away from transformers, wireless A reflash probably won’t be possible, and won’t
routers, fluorescent lights, etc. solve the problem.

Rogue keys can be very frustrating. If one of the Connecting terminals TC to CG for 45 minutes with
Smart Keys in the car has a stuck lock or unlock the IG ON is the best answer. This will force G-code
button, it can ruin your day. Remove all but essential registration on an HV ECU that is not in automatic
keys from the car, and then try again. registration mode.

November 2009 | MasterTechnician Online 9

Toyota Smart Key Pt.2

New ECU/ECM Registration

New
Key ID S Code L Code G Code
Component
Techstream
Key (Smart Code - - -
Registration)

Techstream
Certification
(Smart Code - - -
ECU
Registration)

Techstream (ECU SST at DLC3

ID Code Box - Automatic Communications (TC to CG for
ID Registration) 30-44 min.)

Techstream (ECU
Steering Lock
- - Communications -
ECU
ID Registration)

Engine ECM* - - - Automatic

Certification Techstream SST at DLC3

ECU & ID (Smart Code Automatic Automatic (TC to CG for
Code Box Registration) 30-44 min.)
Required after installation of NEW Components
*If a used Engine ECM is installed, Manual G Code registration using the SST at DLC3
(TC to CG for 30-44 minutes) must be completed.
Chart compliments of TIS & TMC

10 MasterTechnician Online | www.mastertechmag.com

 Be sure to use a power supply type charger to keep Full procedures as well as a lot of
the battery from discharging, since leaving the power additional information can be found at
mode in “ON” for 45 minutes is far more than most http://techinfo.toyota.com. Smart Key information
Prius batteries can handle. can be found in the following areas –

Also, take the time to find or make an appropriate tool •Vehicle interior ->Theft Deterent / Keyless Entry
for jumping the connectors. The OBDII port will need
to last the life of the vehicle, and poor pin fit caused by •Vehicle Interior -> Door Lock
paper clips or oversized spades can be a real pain later on.
•Engine / Hybrid System -> Starting
Replacing other ECUs
•General -> Introduction -> Repair Instructions ->
Other ECUs will need to have their codes in Customize Parameters
agreement when they are replaced. The following
chart from Toyota indicates what must be done •There is also a lot of information in the Technical
depending on which ECU is replaced.. Training section. (It may be the best source of plain
English explanation).

Re vie w q u e s ti o n s to A customer requests an additional Smart Key.

sp a r k f ur th e r th o u g h t You own a Techstream, but you are not a licensed
locksmith. Can you do this job?
or a d d it i o n a l r e s e a r c h
If you cannot open the car door or start the A customer has lost all of their Smart Keys.
car with the Smart Key in your pocket, but the What do you need to do an Immobiliser
doors unlock when the Smart Key unlock button and Smart Reset?
is pressed, and the car starts with the Smart Key
in the slot, what should you check first? You’ve just registered a customer-supplied key
in the Immobiliser ECU, and the car will start
If the Smart Key LED flashes when you walk with the key in the key slot. However, no matter
toward the car, but the door doesn’t unlock when how many times you try, the key will not register
you touch the sensor, what would you check? in the Smart Key ECU. What next?

If the power mode changes to ACC and ON, but You are performing a routine Health Check
does not Ready, what simple test would you do next? during a service and you find a code B2795. What
should you do?
If you are able to enter the car with the Smart
Key in your pocket, but cannot change power A customer owns two Prius and has four Smart
modes and the Security light continues to flash, Keys. He wants all four Smart Keys to start either
what would you suspect? What simple test would Prius. Can you do this? Why or why not?
you do next?
Congratulations, you’ve just read an extremely
A Prius is towed to your shop from another long article on a complex subject. I hope you
shop. The other shop reports they replaced the learned enough to make it worth the time
Certification ECU with a used part, and now the you invested. If you found errors, disagreed
car will not start. The dealer says they need to buy with statements, know how to do it better,
a new Certification ECU. What would you do? [email protected]

November 2009 | MasterTechnician Online 11