hot key

Today I had a hand full of very hot key when I removed it from the ignition. That's the first time that I had ever noticed that. Does anyone have any ideas? The vehicle is an 07 Tacoma v6 auto trans 4x4 Connecticut truck ( lots of rust on underside) frame and many other parts have been replaced due to the crud they use here to deice etc during the Winter months.
Thanks in advance, Skipper T (member)

 

Only thing I can think of is maybe a failing ignition switch that is getting hot.

 

Warm or HOT.
Mine gets warm. But I can still hold it in my hand. Definitely warm to where yo notice it. But it doesn’t always happen.

Here is a post I made on it way back in 2016. So far, it hasn’t gotten worse. Therefore I’m going to stop talking about it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/warm-ignition-key.442853/

 

Take the column covers off and get access to the electrical portion of the ignition switch, see of its melted or heat damaged

 

Did you have your headlights on, or perhaps heated steering wheel?

 

It is summertime.

 

2nd this. I haven't had a failure on the Tacoma, but my Audi has had several ignition switch failures where it regularly got too hot and left me with a warm key. Eventually it destroyed itself from the heat.

Take that with a grain of salt though, German cars aren't exactly known for the reliability of their electrical systems...

Of course the fault wasn't the switch itself, but something down the line drawing too much current, aka a bad relay.

 

I’ve changed hundreds of failed forklift key switches due to high resistance but never had one heat up the key. Start position powers the starter and ignition, on position powers ignition. Sometimes start won’t power ignition so it’ll crank and crank but not start until you let go so it springs to on, then it starts.

I think the chip key has a battery in it. You could try a different key to at least eliminate it as the cause.

If you need a new key switch, it may need to be replaced by a dealership, I don’t know.

 

No battery in the chipped key. I'm willing to bet truck was sitting in the heat, I've found that on multiple vehicles that if you start the vehicle and it's very hot inside, the steering column never cools down even after a few minutes with the AC on.

 

Thank You for your responses. I'm not going to take apart much, I'm trying to get it back together. I'll keep my thoughts on it. and yours too, and monitor it. Thank you all again. Skipper T.

 

You are both correct. There are some cheap knockoff keys from Auto Parts Stores that actually do have a battery in the key.

The OEM Keys do not have a chip and operate using RFID, no battery power required. Works just like a chipped credit card.

 

Yes Sir, you are correct.
There is a transponder amplifier that “energizes” the OEM key.
And relays the signal to the transponder ECU.