Smart key system

I have the smart key on my Altima and Tacoma, never had any issues. Not sure what all of the confusion is about.

 

The truck will not shut off if the fob is not in the truck, ever. Toyota will not allow a truck to just shut off since they'd be held liable for any incidents.

 

It doesn't do any of that. The truck will stay running until you hit the button. I've driven around without it on purpose for 30 min, no issues.

I wish I could lock it from the outside while running though, that's a really stupid 'feature'. If I have the fob in my hand, obviously I can't lock it in the truck...

 

I've called Toyota about being able to drive the truck 100 miles without having the fob as long as I didn't shut it off, had a friend in a car behind me who had the fob. They pretty much said it is what it is. Pretty dumb how we can't lock our trucks running for safety, but you can drive without the fob once it's running. These are the same Einstein's that will be doing the programming for the self driving cars, that should be interesting.

 

simple remedy.....don't let the truck running if you aren't there!

 

Just a matter of overthinking things.

Yes, if you jump out of the truck with it running and go into the store someone can jump in and drive it off.

Same thing happens with a non-smartkey system when you leave the KEY in the ignition and leave the truck. Difference is now the thief can restart it with the key later on.

Sure, most of the time probably no big deal. Occasionally might result in someone hurt or dead.

Look at the response from the lawsuits by people mashing their floor mat up on the accelerator pedal. You think any car maker isn't going to be a bit gunshy?

Not everyone knows how or can easily handle loss of power steering or power brakes. There've been cases of little old ladies crashing when their land yacht stalled.

Either way, do you want your wife or daughter to be the one with your truck stalling while going uphill in the seventh lane on the freeway at 70+mph?

Take the metal key out of the fob, insert into the door lock, turn to lock the truck. Turn same way again to lock all doors. Put metal key back in fob. Done.

Or use the tailgate key if you have a 2017.

Or have a spare key made, doesn't have to be a transponder key of course.

Or get SmartStart and lock from your phone.

 

I get out of the truck with it running almost every day to get the mail. As soon as I shut the door without the fob inside the truck starts beeping. It's the same beep as when you lock/unlock the doors with the fob. Chirps maybe 3-5 times. I also have a full screen message in the info cluster screen that says the fob's not in the vehicle. You'd have to be deaf or just completely unaware to realize that the fob's not in the truck anymore. Can't speak for the Nissan, but maybe that setting is off in the Highlander?

 

Okay after re-reading things I'm unclear on what problem you're perceiving.

Could you spell out what problem you think exists so you can get solid answers? TW is good, but there's a lot of inaccurate bullshit that gets spewed here.

 

Thank you. I came here to post just this.
People getting upset about the smart key system and theft have gotta be some of the dumbest people I've ever heard of.

 

x2. I am so confused as to why people are confused about push to start. It's essentially the same damn thing.

Traditional Key: Unlock via remote, sit down, insert key, turn clockwise, truck starts, turn counterclockwise truck stops.

Keyless: Unlock via remote (or handle sensor), sit down, press button, truck starts, press button, truck stops.

If you want to leave your truck running, I do not see how having push to start vs. traditional key makes any difference at all. Am I missing something here?

 

I noticed this last night. Not sure how someone could drive off with that warning all over the center display.

 

I think the disconnect (literally) is having no key in the ignition - people don't know where to keep the disconnected key fob (not in ignition key hole), whether that be in their pocket at all times/purse, in cupholder, etc. This is probably what is confusing or "different" for people.

For my wife and I, it's we sit in the car while it warms up, fob and rest of keys in cupholder and if we walk out of the truck, we put them in our pockets. I don't see why it's THAT hard to figure out, but that's what I think is confusing to people.

 

Good reminder. I've had a smartkey equipped car for a few years and just got used to putting it in my pocket, or the "watch pocket" on my jeans. I don't need any house/door/office keys so have nothing attached to the smartkey for that car, and when I got my Tacoma I simply continued the same usage pattern.

Nowadays I have a much simpler solution; my smartkey lives in my wallet. Lexus Credit Card Key Working in Tacoma

 

Can't remember if the Nissan had a warning, but I'd guess it probably did.
The Highlander does have a warning. It's the first thing I asked her, "how didn't you hear it beeping at you?"
All I can guess is maybe a combination of her talking with her friends and it being a new vehicle? Maybe just too much commotion and she didn't notice. It even has a message right on the screen saying that the fob isn't present or something like that. I tried it out after she got home.

 

Murphy's Second Corollary: "It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious."

 

Yeah, the only thing that I would say about driving off without the fob is it should warn you so you don't do that. But I haven't tried it so I don't know if it does. I know that it beeps at me if I get out of the truck with the fob when it's on.

 

Use the key to lock a running truck...and maybe the door button, not sure on that one..!

 

Will door button lock it if it is running? My Silverado will not lock w door button if running or key Is In Ignition, you have to use fob.

 

When I said "door button", I mean the one inside, not the "touchy-feely" handle on the outside..!!

The key does work..!!

 

Nope. Just tried it. Even the manual lock button gets reset to unlocked. I also tried it standing outside the truck at arms length from the door lock.

Moot point, just close the door and lock with the metal key from inside the fob. That works.