Keys locked inside, 2nd set won't unlock it

Man I hate that automatic locking feature!! I was getting stuff out of the bed when my Tacoma decided to lock itself with the key and fob inside. I am at home so I grabbed the second set. The second fob does nothing. Even the second key won't go fully into the door so it has to be an insane Toyota "safety feature" not a case of my fob battery being dead. What's the trick? I can't refer to the owner's manual because, of course, that is locked inside. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

I would probably spend the 50 bucks for the locksmith and figure out why it happened and how to prevent it from happening a second time. Hopefully someone on here knows the trick and can help you out.

 

Did you look in the Owner's Manual?

Locksmith X2



Something is Off with the key. It should unlock the door.

 

I did something very similar recently. Unlocked the truck with a single fob click (which only unlocks the driver door), opened the door, realized I forgot to grab something, laid my keys on the drivers seat, closed the door, and heard the truck auto-lock as I started walking off. I thought the auto-lock sequence would get interrupted by opening the driver door so what happened made no sense to me.

Anyway, when I got my second fob out it unlocked the truck just fine, so I recommend replacing the battery even if you think it’s good, to rule that out.

As for not being able to unlock the door with the key...when’s the last time you used the key in the door? Does it insert all the way? You may have some corrosion inside the lock mechanism and you could spray some silicon lubricant inside and then try the key again. Kroil Penetrating Oil is really good for corroded locks, if that’s the problem.

 

I don't think I have the auto lock feature. I've got a manual transmission so maybe it's saved for the autos.

I would hate that feature

Good luck OP

 

Doesn't the Auto-Lock disable if the fob is in the cab???

 

Spray the door cylinder with a lubricant or penetrating oil or try the passenger side cylinder. If still no dice then change the spare fob battery

 

https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM35883U/pdf/OM35883U.pdf

Pages 32-35 (of the manual not the PDF).

-FOB battery depletes after 1-2 years whether you use it or not.
-Nothing about the manual door lock being disabled by the auto lock feature
-Your FOB and/or key on your second set should work fine. There’s no special security. The doors are just locked. Unless something aftermarket has been installed.

 

Nope

 

I'd have bet a nickel it does. Sure seems to on my Gen 1 and Gen 2 trucks and my Lexus RX350. Now you've got me nervous -- any idea what led this to happen, or if it can be repeated? I never quite trust those systems and often lower a window if for some reason I'm leaving the keys in the truck.

 

It’s perplexed me ever since. However, I’ve also had some issues lately where my headlight auto-off feature isn’t always working properly. Since, as I understand it, that feature is also tied into the door open/closed status, there’s got to be an intermittent issue with whatever circuit communicates if my driver door is open or has opened. I’m not skilled with automotive electronic circuits so I’ll probably never figure it out.

Edit: maybe I should just speak for myself given that it might be a one-off weirdo problem with just my truck. But I don’t know for sure. And now there are two data points not just one.

 

Thanks for your help guys! A little WD-40 did the trick. I've only had the truck about 6 months and I guess I have never used the key in the door. I was having the same issue with both sides. I do need a new battery in the second fob I think. It has enough juice to lock it, but not unlock it. Not sure why that would be the case. If a new battery doesn't do the trick, it might be a programming issue.

 

I believe it’s only active (disabled) with the keys in the ignition?

 

Nice!

If reprogramming is necessary you should be able to do it yourself. Try this thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2015-keyfob-programming.361834/

According to the 2009 manual the auto lock security feature is disabled by opening any door.

 

You are right. I was thinking of the wireless lock function

I don’t have Auto Lock.
Except when using the wireless fob to unlock the door.
If I don’t open the door with in so many seconds. It locks itself again.

.

 

I think we’re both referring to the same thing? Here’s what I was referencing from the ‘09 manual for the OP. Maybe Toyota just changed the name of the feature. Or is one feature for manual door unlock and the other for FOB unlock?

 

Toyota does differentiate the 2.

However, I don’t think it’s relevant in this case.
As I don’t know how OP’s truck Automatically locked itself.
I’m not saying that it didn’t, I just don’t know any other circumstances where the truck “locks itself”
Other than using the unlock on the wireless FOB and NOT opening the door?

No big deal. At least OP got the doors open.

 

Well, that sucks.

 

Yeah I think you’re right, it’s a FOB thing only.

 

Glad I don't have "auto locking!"

Won't help this time, but what I did after looking my keys in a vehicle a few decades ago was to never shut the door unless I was holding the keys in one hand. I hold my keys up where I can see them, then shut the door.

I would ensure both key fobs and the 2nd set of keys work in the future.