News (to me) about our power door locks....

On Thursday, I locked my keys in my truck. Obviously not in the ignition (I wish...the double click would have tipped me right off to what I'd done). For info, I don't use the FOBs I just use the key in the keyhole...don't matter why, I just always have.

I parked and instead of getting out and going, I sat there dicking around for a minute or 2 and I guess I hadn't decided on said dicking around until I had taken the keys out of the ignition, so I layed them in the seat.........well I guess no more needs to be said about HOW this happened.

Anyway, the point of all this is that as we were trying to "break in" the typical way....shove something between the door and body and trying to push the unlock button on one door or the other (tried both). We were both getting pissed off because there were a few "good solid pushes" that we KNEW should have done the trick....and it didn't. Also, someone had a slim jim (I didn't ask why...didn't care at the time ), and there is a security bar, I guess you'd call it, covering all the useful mechanisms inside the door that would operate the lock.

Eventually gave it up and called a tow truck, which I should have done in the first place, and he used his tools to operate the actual lock switch...the finger button, which worked of course.

So the next day I tried this out from inside the truck. I parked, shut down, keys out, opened the door and locked it and shut it while I was in the truck. I pushed the electric unlock button so there was no guessing of if it "should have worked"....it should have, but it didn't do anything.

Now, even with the $112 it cost me to figure this out, I'm glad toyota saw fit to make it this way, even though in my case, this time...it was ME trying to break in, that may not always be the case.

Just in case someone didn't know. If you're ever in the same situation, don't waste your time on the electric unlock button....go for the finger switch.

PS - A few times we did hit the LOCK button with our coat hanger-ish type tools....that worked every time lol, naturally.

 

My tacoma is new to me so please excuse my ignorance.

Does the Tacooma "self lock" after a timed out period? Can it be turned off?
Can you clarify the characteristics of the unlock button and finger. Different buttons right?

 

If you unlock it with the FOB and don't open a door for.............XXX seconds (someone knows the number, I'm sure) it will relock. If you unlock it with the key, it doesn't do that. And I have no idea if you can turn it off or not.....probably, but a toyota tech may have to do it OR you can get the software who's name escapes me and it might let you do it yourself.

Someone will be along to fill in the gaps. If not start another thread in a day or 2.

The unlock button, as far as what I'm meaning in the original post, is the electric unlock button on the door. The "finger" button, for lack of a better term, is the switch that actually moves the linkage to lock or unlock the door. It is red when unlocked and the red is hidden when locked....that button/switch/thing

 

It's 2 seconds shorter than you need, every time. They also have a rain sensor that shortens that time by 30 seconds.

 

Pretty hard to lock your keys in the car if you always use your fob to lock it.

 

true my kids love to not open my doors after the unlock, and then hearing my doors relock as they are hanging off the running board yanking for all they are worth, "dad you didn't unlock my door!

 

The lock/unlock mechanical lever is in the door handle you can see it illuminated in this image below. He could have also grabbed the pull lever to open the door and that will unlock the door also. That is probably what the wrecker driver did rather than the other lever which doesn't have any bits to grab hold of.

 

Indeed. However......

If it matters, I don't use the FOBs because they get broke in my pocket...usually at work, but sometimes not. I broke the 2 I started with, and never replaced them so......

 

So say its parked in the garage and you like to have it accessible your out of luck?

 

If you lock the door with your fob it is possible for thieves to steal the signal and clone another fob to open your door. You might lose a gun. Ask me how I know.

Since then, I manually lock the doors with the button and only use the fob to unlock.

Better yet. I had 2 more spare keys made for my truck when I bought it. One is chipped and it cost around $50. The 2nd key isn't chipped. It will unlock doors but will not start the engine. Cost me about $2 for that one. The spare chipped key is hidden inside the truck, the unchipped key hidden outside.

If I were to get locked out I can use the unchipped key to get inside. If I were to lose my keys I could use the unchipped key to get to the chipped key and still drive. If a thief were to find the unchipped key he may get into my truck. But most likely give up when the truck won't start.

I've done the same with all of my vehicles.

 

I reach in my open windows and unlock my doors with the power unlock button on both the drivers and passenger side all the time

 

Not following.

Are you asking if it's impossible to leave the truck unlocked....at all. No it's not, just don't lock it. It won't auto-lock unless you use the FOB to unlock it, then get distracted and don't open a door.

 

Damn, this is actually real good to know. Never even considered it

 

I have a hidden key which works ONLY to unlock the door. Not chipped so it will not start the engine. At least I have a shelter if I really loose my keys. Spare chipped keys at home.

 

You've copied my keyless entry mod.