Locked out. Key FOB(s) ignored by truck

Headed out of town and planning some off road activity today. I stopped to get gas and locked the vehicle with the FOB before going inside. Came out, truck is unresponsive to FOB. Red light on FOB flashes, but truck is oblivious to any button I push. Try the electronic door open on the handle of the driver's side door. No joy. I think maybe the battery is dead or dying. Try pushing all the buttons like a crazy person, and suddenly truck wakes up and unlocks. It starts right up, no issues. Decide to backtrack to the house to get the spare FOB.

At this point I'm irritated by the delay and confused by what transpired. Light on FOB is flashing... hope that doesn't mean the truck is the issue?!

Collect the spare FOB. Never been used. Push the lock and unlock buttons a couple of times, truck responds accordingly. Grab a soda for the road, push unlock.... WTF?! Nothing. Truck just sits there locked and unresponsive. Lights on both FOB are working, truck isn't.

I did a couple of scans on the search function and came up with limited similarities, but didn't find any solutions / findings.

I've stood up for this truck in the past, but I've about had it.

 

I think you can use the hidden key in the fob to unlock your door if you need to

 

check and reseat fuses , could be a loose wire as well

 

Don't you have a manual unlock option?

And a warranty for the other bits?

 

Yes... but, at what point does it ignore me when I want to start the vehicle? In fairness , my thread title should read less locked out and more unresponsive to FOBs.

 

Dunno. Don't have one, hope to never have to have one. Manual keys/ignition suit me just fine.

Sounds like it's time to exercise your warranty?

 

I experience the same thing with my wife's Venza sometimes. Looking forward to seeing what the fix is as it happens with the spare fob that I use when taking her car (she has too many keychains on her keys ).

 

Battery issue or a signal issue. Where is the antenna and receiver located? Do you have it covered with some piece of gear that is killing your signal? Do you get the same results if you stand at different locations around your truck?

You have to do a bit of logical troubleshooting before you can identify the problem here.

 

Battery as in the FOB then? Otherwise, it'd be weird that one fob would have no issues and one would.

 

The FOB battery is good for about 1 year. According to manual, if you put the Toyota insignia up to push start button, you can push it and it will start.

 

I've always experienced the fob battery to last multi years. Maybe it's best to just change it once a year for good measures.

 

I agree. The battery costs just a few bucks. Cheap insurance. I'll replace mine on the anniversary of the purchase.

 

Just something I don't think about. Will have to put reminders on my calendar or change every oil change if I want to be proactive.

 

This has happened to me a few times. Used the key inside the key fob.

 

all these issues start to add up, I dont blame the OP for being fed up

 

what the heck is a fob? Is that the little un-lock / lock remote attached to my key or do MT's not have a fob? I can simply stick my key into the door to lock or unlock, what am I missing?

EDIT - corrected my terrible english

 

Any time any one has a problem they can't figure out is frustrating. Do you have any troubleshooting tips?
Right now it could be a battery. It could be his receiver is covered up. Neither is a Toyota issue.
Or, it could be an electronics problem that is a Toyota issue. Nobody knows right now.
C'mon man.

 

Change the battery.
If the battery is dead use the hidden key inside the fob to open door. Then hold fob next to the start/stop button and start the vehicle.
I also found this on the net.

Conditions affecting operation



The smart key system uses weak radio waves. In the following situations, the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle may be affected, preventing the smart key system, wireless remote control and engine immobilizer system from operating properly. (Ways of coping: )

• When the electronic key battery is depleted
• near a tv tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large display, airport or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electrical noise
• when carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless communication device
• when the electronic key is in contact with, or is covered by the following metallic objects

• cards to which aluminum foil is attached
• cigarette boxes that have aluminum foil inside
• metallic wallets or bags
• coins
• hand warmers made of metal
• media such as cds and dvds

• When other wireless keys (that emit radio waves) are being used nearby
• When carrying the electronic key together with the following devices that emit radio waves

• another vehicle's electronic key or a wireless key that emits radio waves
• personal computers or personal digital assistants (pdas)
• digital audio players
• portable game systems

• if window tint with a metallic content or metallic objects are attached to the rear window
• when the electronic key is placed near a battery charger or electronic devices

 

I can see it now - A nice day touring back roads and even a bit off road perhaps and then you walk away from your parked truck for a short hike, and upon returning to your vehicle this happens!

I'm buying a couple spare batteries and am glueing them into my wheel wells with black silicone glue. That way, I can dig them back out easily for use if I ever need them. I also used to do this with a spare key.

 

Thanks folks -- changed my batteries just now. FOB #2 hasn't been used since the day I bought it since my wife won't drive my truck.