How should I get the computer chip out of this old Prius key?

October 19, 2022 11:30 AM

I'm trying to move the electronics from an old Prius key to a new case, something that is harder (for me, at least) than it looks in this video. The old plastic case is now split open, but there's a tiny bit of plastic overhanging the chip on one side, and I'm worried about how to pry it out in general. Is there a good way to avoid possibly breaking it? Is a flat screwdriver a bad idea?

I know nothing about electronics and have never tried something like this before. (I am in the heart of Silicon Valley (South Bay) right now, and there's probably someone around here that would be willing to help me, but I'm not sure how to find them...)

posted by pinochiette to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

It's hard to see from the video exactly what you're talking about, but if it's just on one side, you may be able to lift up the other side of the PCB (with a screwdriver or by pushing on the buttons) and then slide it out from under. Or you could destroy the plastic tab in any number of ways. An x-acto or similarly sharp knife could probably cut it away, though do be careful not to cut into the circuitboard. Or if you can just pry the tap away or twist it off with pliars or something, that would be fine, as long as you don't damage the surface of the circuitboard. It's not extremely fragile, but you could damage it if you're not kinda careful.

Can you post a picture of the plastic bit you're talking about?
posted by aubilenon at 12:17 PM on October 19, 2022

Response by poster: That's helpful, thanks! I'm going to try again later. Here's a photo- I think maybe it's glued down, and it definitely felt stuck the first time I tried to pry it up. There's just a little bit of plastic in the way on one side because it didn't break apart very cleanly.
posted by pinochiette at 3:38 PM on October 19, 2022

Best answer: oh yeah I think just pry it out, or push it through with the buttons. The biggest risk to the printed circuitboard is scratching through the layers and damaging some copper - it's not super fragile, but tools could mess it it up. It's mechanically fairly sturdy. If you use the amount of prying force you would feel comfortable applying to, say, a popsicle stick, you won't break it.
posted by aubilenon at 4:42 PM on October 19, 2022 [1 favorite]