Center Panel: Immobilizer Light appears today

First of all, I've had my 2010 Tacoma 6cyl for 2 full weeks now. Love it very much. When I got the truck, I noticed that the center panel was not working. I tried the Emergency Light button, no go. then, sometime towards the beginning of this week, I noticed the passenger airbag light came on. I looked at it and pressed the Emergency Flasher button and it worked! Then, I realized the clock was working so I set it, after about an hour of driving and stopping , it stopped working. This same thing has happened on and off since then. Sometimes, when I gently push on the center panel it will work for a second...However, today we have something new.

I went to our post office, turned off the car and pulled it out a little quicker than usual...suddenly I saw a flashing red car with a key. I had no idea what it meant, so I went into the post office and came back out. I got in the car and started it and drove 40 miles round trip (at least) with about 5 stops (and starts). Tonight, I looked up the flashing red car with key online ( because I couldn't find it in the manual ) and learned that it was the immobilizer. I found a youtube that suggested to start and stop the car. I did that numerous times, and each time it starts without an issue as it has before, however, the flashing red car with key continues ONLY after I turn off the truck and take the key out. I even reversed the key (turned it over) and used it thinking I had used the wrong side of the key. Same thing happened. So, I locked the car with the fob - a joke because I live in the forest closest human neighbor 1 mile away, and it was still flashing, at a steady pace.

Last bit of info - I believe the previous owner switched out the radio and replaced it with a similar one ( stock radio). That's all I know - I have one key and one fob. The fellow I bought it from says he has another fob * I also hope there's another key* ANY and ALL help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much, Thomas

 

IIRC, mine behaves the same. It blinks until it senses the correct transponder.

 

It wasn't doing it for the first two weeks...it starts and runs...but it's disconcerting, what do I do now?

 

It wasn't blinking the first two weeks because you said the center panel wasn't working. Check the connector. Maybe it's not fully seated.

 

Your truck is operating normally.
The immobilizer light SHOULD flash with the key OUT of the ignition.

You also have a connection issue to the center control panel if the lights work, then don't work. Since pressing on the panel can "make them work", you have an issue.

But the immobilizer light is NOT an issue.

 

As per previous responses: you might just have a sketchy/intermittent connection to the center bar. The keys are chipped and they "talk" to the immobilizer before allowing a start. The blinking key in the center when the truck is shut down is a good thing as previous poster advised. It sounds like perhaps things are coming back to life after a long sleep.

See how it goes before you tear into it. I wouldn't stress too much unless the truck refuses to start.

The passenger airbag lamp has two indicators: Generally: "On" when it thinks someone is sitting in the seat, and "Off" when it thinks it is empty. Fine tuned: sensors also can determine occupant weight, posture and seat back recline. I think it may have some child-seat intelligence as well but can't confirm that.

Not too bad for the ancient times of the 2nd generation.

 

Tin Shooter,
Thank yoU! Ok, I didn't realize that that was normal, so thank you. As far as the center control panel, I am very interested in fixing it, however, I don't know how at the moment. But, I will research and get to it. Thanks again...