Emergency access. Proposed magnetic unlock switch mod.

I do enough camping, river floating/tubing, hiking, working out at the park, that I want a reliable way to lock my keys in my 2010 and still have access. I've settled on the following mod:

I've purchased a magnetic reed switch. (

White Door Window Contacts Magnetic Reed Switch Sensor

http://amzn.com/B0056K5ZC2) and some magnets. My plan is to wire the switch in parallel around my drivers side door unlock switch (wiring diagram: ) so that I can unlock the door with some magnets from outside. Just some basic tests, using my multimeter and the magnets I bought (http://amzn.com/B001KV38ES), it's clear that the metal in the vehicle body prevents the magnets from actuating the reed switch. As a result, my plan is to install the reed switch inside the side mirror (plastic), and keep a handful of magnets attached to my chassis (and in the cab)

With this, I have an emergency access point, and when I want to lock my keys in the truck, I just verify my magnets are still present and that the secret unlock function is still working. Lock keys in and voila.

So, has anybody tinkered with something similar? Any advice?
So far, I've popped off the driver's side door control panel and shoved some jumper wires into the harness to test the unlock function. This confirmed the wire colors shown in the above linked wiring diagram (gray unlock and white/black ground) to trigger the unlock signal.

I'm struggling with the decision to cut the factory wire and/or tap it rather than wire directly around the unlock switch (preferable b/c less 'permanent') which isn't obviously accessible in the panel.

Anyway, this is my basic plan and I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts or advice.

Thanks!

 

I'm liking the idea, but If anyone knows you have it they now have simple access to your truck.

 

$5.00, less than 30 seconds install.

 

Yeah, I thought about that. But generally speaking, anybody that would be familiar enough with me/my truck to know that I've installed that, is a close enough friend not to worry me. Anybody else, well, they're only ever a brick's throw away from accessing it...

 

You could just hide a switch somewhere on the truck to trigger the door unlock. Common with guys that have hot rods/modified vehicles with shaved door handles.

or just get a non chipped key cut to unlock the doors and hide it on the truck. this will always get you in, even with a dead battery where your other method will not work.

 

I just use a black plastic magnetic key holder box and put a single key in it. It sticks well to the top of the frame- forward of the driver's side rear wheel. Saved my butt more than once when I either can't find my keys or lock em up inside!

 

They make a switch that can work thru 3/8" plastic. Put it in line with your drivers door with an activation switch then walk up touch a spot on your truck and click they unlock

 

You should go with the 21st century and install a biometric scanner to unlock your doors.

 

Magnets are SO... last century.

 

One thing I've noticed is that the interior unlock switch goes dead with the truck locked. Don't tap that one. Perhaps the switch in the door lock assembly that activate the power locks when you use your key in the door? Should be the same idea as wiring an aftermarket alarm. That info shouldn't be hard to locate.

I know that emergency vehicles usually have a hidden button somewhere. The only reason I know that is I have a friend who works on ambulances. No thief is going to look for a switch, magnetic or otherwise. A quick look for a hide a key maybe, then moving to the brick. As long as they don't watch you lock the keys in the truck, you should be fine. But if they do see you lock them in, they are only a brick away from driving off with your truck, using your keys you locked inside.

I used to repair handicap accessable vans for a living. A lot of them have magnetic switches inside the tail lights to operate the lifts. I don't know where you would buy such an item, but they were just inserted into the light housing through a drilled hole in the back of it. Place a magnet onto the lens, and the switch activated the relays inside the van to operate the power door and lift.

 

I'm with AaronArf, non-chipped key is (relatively) cheap.

Or use a HitchSafe

also, does the magnetic reed switch use power? might drain battery

 

Not all Tacoma's use chipped keys for the ignition. Mine doesn't, nor would I want one.

 

okaaay, but the OP's truck is a 2010... pretty sure it's chipped

 

I have a HitchSafe, it works great and has gotten me out of a bind a couple of times.
I keep a spare key, CC with $500 limit and $100 in it incase I am somewhere and lose my wallet.

Shawn.

 

That's pretty cool right there, never seen those. But my problem is I use my hitch pretty often to pull trailers.

 

Soooooo, they quit making base model or SR5's with no pwr locks & keyless entry in 2010?

 

With one of these you could buy from a metal shop just the hitch tube and weld it to the frame anywhere you want on the truck.

 

That's a good idea.
The odd time I tow a trailer, I usually just take it off, lock it, and throw it into one of the bedside cubbies.

Shawn.

 

Mines a 2012... and doesn't. So?

 

You're simply over complicating things. A simple magnet keyholder does the trick.

What if one of those components fail? What would you do now?