key FOB won't unlock doors

About 3 months ago the key FOB started not unlocking the doors on my 2009 pre-runner when the unlock button is pressed. It will lock all doors with no problem. I have replaced the batteries in both of my FOB's and they both do the same thing. Any ideas on how to resolve this problem? I'm getting tired of having to use the key to unlock.

 

Take the fob apart. Your contacts are dirty.

Use a quarter to separate the case. Use a Q tip with rubbing alcohol and clean the shmoo out.

You'll see what I'm talking about when you open it.

 

Strange that both remotes have the same exact problem.

Do the doors unlock using the door panel switch?

 

$5 says I'm right.

I just fixed 3 fobs in that manner and all 3 had a single questionable button, 2 unlock and 1 lock.

Both were full of shit and the contacts on both were filthy, but one was worse than the other and stopped working.

 

I'm not a betting man, so you are probably right.

 

Bet him a Pliny (the Elder, not that overhyped Younger shit)

 

Too expensive. Also they're both on the wrong coast.

Agree on Younger.

 

Thanks for the replies. Tomwil, you should have bet. Dirt was not the problem. One of the FOB's had never been used and both were very clean. What I did find on both of them was a failed solder on the - side of the battery holder. There are 3 solder connections and the center one had failed on both FOB's. Re-solder them both and all is good. Both working like new.

 

Damn.

But also yay. Good deal OP! I always open the cases before I buy batteries. After learning that batteries are seldom the actual issue, of course..

 

Good job!

 

I just bought a 2013 Tacoma from the first owner. He gave me two fobs saying "these don't work, but I cleaned them and put in new batteries and they still don't work". I determined that the batteries were good 3.08v and that the lock and panic buttons did work but the unlock button did not work --- curiously the same behavior out of both fobs. The center button (unlock) has 4 surface mount tabs. Only two of the tabs have traces. I verified that the button did work, but that it did not affect voltage on the traces. So I resoldered the two tabs on the unlock button and the fob works fine now. Same fix worked on the other fob. Thanks TigerTaco4!