Won’t Start

2018 Tacoma with 46k miles - automatic
Has a brand new battery

I purchased this truck about 3 months ago and since I bought it I constantly get warning signals on my dash saying “key not detected.” I can only lock the truck with my fob about 25% of the time, but unlock always works. I have replaced the battery in my fob 3 times thinking maybe that was the issue, but it didn’t fix it.

Now, the truck seemed to have died in a parking lot and wouldn’t start. Tried jumping it, but nothing. Accessory mode works, and there’s no other warning messages other than “key not detected” and “brake override malfunction” pops up if I try to start it too many times. It also says “check charging system,” but the battery is brand new (replaced it when I thought it had died) and the starter and alternator shouldn’t be out yet. It's not giving any codes on the OBD reader.

Originally thought it could be just bad luck with a starter or alternator, but wondering why I’m having the key fob issues as well. I saw another forum where someone said LED dome lights were causing an interference with their key as well, so maybe that’s the issue here? I do have LED lights all around the vehicle.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

UPDATE: Read a post on here about remote start causing issues so we removed that module but that didn't change anything. Checked all the fuses in the engine bay and internal panel but none are blown. Both key fobs do not work even when held up to the button to overrride the connection issue. Battery is testing normally. Still getting a brake override message.

 

Not sure of your issue, but since you mentioned LED Bulbs l can recall a few Threads where people had weird symptoms after. If you are a wits end it couldn't hurt to try to swap out the bulbs for regular ones just to see.

 

The 'Check Charging System' is a message that comes up when the truck's in accessory mode; you can ignore that. Have you replaced the battery in the key fob? Failing that, hold the fob to the ring around the start button and try starting the engine.

 

I hate the key fob concept. That warning says that communication with the fob is "messed up". Could be the fob...could be the truck. Do you not have the second fob?