Key fob issues.

I’ve searched for this and seen nothing quite like the issue I’m having. However, just wondering if anyone else has had this happen

recently, for the past couple of weeks, (only while parking my truck at work) when I go to leave at the end of the day my key fob will NOT want to unlock my truck… push button about 20 times and sometimes it will work. I’ve had to use the key in the door twice. But, once I do that or get the fob to unlock the truck, it works just fine… I’ve tested it from far away, close up, locked and unlocked several times in a row with zero issues.

its almost like the truck falls asleep and needs a reminder to look for the key fobs signal. I did buy a new battery for it but the truck is only 3 years old. And I wouldnt think it actually needs a battery due to the range it gets when it DOES work.

The fob is the regular fob on the key (non smart key) dues to the wild third pedal and shifter that goes front and back AND left to right.

Either way just looking to see if anyone else has had a similar issue, I saw one thread about a guy that couldn’t get his fob to lock right after he got out of his truck unless he pretty much touched the key to the truck. But there was no conclusion to his problem.

Thanks guys.

 

Have you tried using your other key fob.

 

Lmao… funny thing about that is. My wife and I BOTH remember me saying “this will be a good place for the spare key” but I for the life of me can not remember where it is… and I’ve NEVER lost a key in my life.

 

I would want to rule out a key fob issue first, some auto parts stores have a remote tester but it will really only tell you if it's putting out a signal not if it's the correct signal.

 

Yeah, I’ve seen those at auto part stores. And I get what you’re saying. The odd part to me is that it’s ONLy at work…. I work probably an average of a 9 hour shift, and then it won’t unlock to leave work. I can park all night at home and leave for work in the morning and never had this issue. It’s just an intermittent issue that is hard to track down. I WILL replace the fob battery. But I don’t think that’ll fix the problem.

 

Perhaps there's some sort of RF interference near where you park at work?

 

Possibly… there is a big metal scrapyard behind our building and they are constantly using torches and I would assume plasma cutters to cut thick chunks of metal. I could see plasma cutters putting off an interference. But this is a new problem and it has been parked at this shop over 2 years of its 3 year lifespan.

 

I mean unless your doing something different when you park it at work I can't think of any other reasons for it to work at your house and not at your work.

 

All I can add is: Are you parking in the exact same parking spot each day or does it possibly vary with the trouble? RF can be very directional. A shop door open that lets the waves out?

 

Nope, not the same spot per se…. We have a gravel parking lot with no lines. So it could be 1-20’ difference or so depending on who get the the office before me. I did replace the battery in the fob last night (2016 size) but checked both batteries with a tester… they both tested almost the same, started in the low side of the good range, and slowly dropped to the replace range. I wasn’t thrilled when a brand new $10 battery out of the package tested that way, but it’s also a really thin button cell battery so I wouldn’t expect it to hold too much on a current draw like that.

 

Does your MT OR 2021 have the "Place your hand on the door handle to unlock" feature? If so, how does it work?

 

Nope, that’s part of the smart key system and doesn’t come with the MT.

 

Out of ideas.

 

One more thing to try is take some steel wool to the contacts were the coin battery sits. Might be a poor connection even with a new battery.

 

does the key get hot or cold at work?

 

If your wife works (and can drive your truck), swap vehicles for the day to see if she has the same issue after work..??..

 

Nope, I drive a ford maverick for a work truck and my Toyota keys sit on the dash in the center cubby all day. Like I said it’s been pretty intermittent. We will see what a new battery in the fob does. I also put my truck in the shop this afternoon to do some sound deadening for some rattles with the 10”sub behind the passenger seat and noticed a little moisture behind the plastic cubby on the drivers side upon removal… I know there was a problem with the early trucks for the third brake light leaking, but thought that was fixed with the later third gen’s. Couldn’t tell if it was just some condensation or from some sort of leak. But from what I’ve seen (not too much) isn’t the door lock “module” back there?

 

In my 2021 AC the Key/TPMS receiver is at the roof level over the rear passenger's head. I would think well out of the way of the center stop light leak; the wiring to it maybe not so protected as I think it is routed down the driver's side rear corner IIRC and shares the harness. Another source for leaks is the cabin vents on the back wall. Good luck.

 

The Door Control Receiver and TPMS ECU/Receiver are the same unit, the illustration isn't too clear on where it is exactly but it's mounted to the roof under the headliner.

 

I know this sounds weird to ask, but do you happen to have leds in the map lights? My truck won't lock if the interior lights are on. Mine are from vleds.com I either turn the switch off or wait for them to go off then I can touch the handle to lock. I did have the no fob detected randomly twice but it was already running.