Spare Tire "key"

Just had a set of tires put on my 2004 Taco 2.4L 2 wheel Dr, but they could not lower the spare tire because I didn't get a key when I bought the truck to lower It.

Just bought the truck a week ago and I didn't get any key. They said I could get one at toyota.

Anyway to lower it without the key?
What does the key look like?

Any Tips????
Thanks

 

Found this out on my truck as well when installing my OME kit the other day...Glad I found out before I needed to drop the spare on the side of the road.

 

Is this a real "Key" ? Mine just has a attachment on the end of the jack handle.

 

HUH? What did you find out?

 

That my spare is locked to the truck haha

 

this is the "key" and it fits into a cylinder covering the slotted gear on the box holding the cable for the spare. it was a dealer installed option but you can pry off the cylinder and have the basic lowering slotted gear.

 

So how did you get it unlocked? What tool or method did you use? I need to know this before I'm on the side of the road and need to put the spare on.

Guess I'm not making my self clear.
Went to Costco and they could not lower the spare tire to replace it.
They asked me if I had a "key" to lower it, told them I just bought the truck and didn't know anything about a "key" to lower the spare.
They said I could buy one at Toyota.
I was just wondering what this "key" looked like, maybe I could fabricate one.

Could someone post a picture of the "KEY"

Thanks

 

Use search as it was just gone over recently what was needed to drop it with no key. It's happened to lots of us.


There's a picture right up above.

 

The post right above yours has a few pictures of the key. It's not a house key type key, it is a metal cylinder with meshing splines.

 

take a big screwdriver and pry off the lock cylinder. when they replaced my spare tire cable I got it back minus the lock cylinder. I was a little upset until I heard from them and on here how easy it is to pry off. basically it's "snapped" over the slotted part.

 

look in the bag that holds the handle for the jack it should be in there

 

Thanks for understanding what I was trying to get across.

One big screw driver, and quick pry, and in 5 seconds the "lock" was off and in the garbage. Don't need no stinking key.

Couldn't see what I was doing as it was above the spare but just a little pry and it was off.

 

No bag of parts, the jack, crank and things are afixed to the cab behind the seat, no "key" there. Guess the previous owner thought it was too valuable to let it go with the truck.

But prying the Mickey Mouse lock off with a screw driver quickly elimated the "Mickey Mouse lock". Can't believe it was so easy to eliminate.

Thanks

 

If your like most, you may find it later.....stuck under the seat or it's possible (entirely) the last shop that put on tires.....lost it.

 

Thanks for the detailed information it made understanding the problem and finding the solution easier.