Keys dont work anymore

My 2002 Tacoma is having its first issue in 140,000 miles. My key will no longer unlock my drivers side door. (all manual) And its almost impossible to get the key to work in the ignition. I called my mechanic friend, who called toyota. He priced changing it, and parts are about 450 for both doors, the ignition, and two keys.

Interestingly enough, he said if my truck was a stepside, then the parts were only a few hundred bucks.

First question...why the hell is it cheaper to get it for a stepside?

second question...anyone else having/had this issue? What did it run you, and what are my options.

Thanks Guys/gals

 

My first advice would be for your mechanic to figure out if it was your keys or your ignition/door? I see no reason you should replace all of them right?

 

i had the same issue and they finally broke off this winter while snowboarding.. i went to a junk yard and bought two new cylinders for 100 and a key. a lock smith around here wants to charge me around 400 to make my ignition and doors have the same key.. but thats too expensive for me so i just have three different keys for my truck.. one for the ignition, one for the doors, and one for my gas door.. i kept mine going by lubing them and using wd40 on them. you have to get into your door panel to spray them though and that might fix the entire problem.. wish i would have done it from the back the first time they might have lasted a lot longer, i only sprayed into the hole.. good luck

 

I would try getting a new key cut at a toyota dealership using your vin and see if that works before you spend all that money on new locks and ignition.

 

I thought about this, but its not just the doors giving me problems. Its the ignition too.

 

i had the same problem with my drivers side door... the dealership wanted to charge me 98 bucks for a new door handle, i found one on Amazon for 20 bucks shipped. Then the dealership wanted to charge me 120 dollars for an hour and a half of labor, it took me about 20 minutes and havent had any trouble since. So id say do it yourself and save some cash

 

This. I've seen this issue on several different cars and it has always been a worn out key.

 

There's your answer right there. Key, not doors and ignition.

 

get a key cut, the dealership cost me 15 bucks just by using the vin #

 

ok then id go with a new key cut, either dealership or somewhere cheaper..

 

The problem with new keys is that they have a new chip. It won't start the car, unless you have the base model with no immobilizer.
You don't need new locks/ign yet anyway. get a cheap new key cut at the dealership for 10 bucks(with no chip). If it works, buy a new chipped key and use the other as a spare.

 

My key I old school. No chip.

Te only thing that makes me think it is the locks and not the key is that the passenger door works as good as the day I bought the truck. It's the drivers door and ignition giving me trouble

Would graphite spray help?