Credit card key - 4th gen

It sounded like he shut the truck off on purpose. I sure hope so.

 

I've had a key card on my 3rd gen for like 5 years. I have replaced the battery twice. Both times the truck warned me the signal from the key was getting weak.

If the battery is only lasting 5 months, either the batteries were weak or the key card was sat on and is broken.

 

I didn't know my truck came with this when I bought it and had my dad pick it up, who also didn't know it had this. So it sat with the keycard in the truck for two weeks until I got home from work. Anyone could have just stolen my new truck hahaha. I questioned the dealer about it and apparently my salesman didn't even know it had that.

 

I like it, put it in my wallet push the start button and forget about it. Remember when key fobs were coming out many said dumb idea. Hell, I remember when electric widows came out everyone including myself thought it was pointless!

 

I have the keycard. It came with my new SR5, along with two regular key fobs. The Tacoma keycard is essentially identical to the keycard we have with my wife's 2021 Lexus NX300, which also came with two key fobs. I drove the Lexus for a few months when I was car-less and kept the keycard in my front pocket wallet. I had no issues locking/unlocking the car using the door handle touch sensors. I needed to be close to the car, but close enough to touch the door handle was close enough. We have found the battery in the keycard lasts about 15-18 months, and you get a dashboard warning in plenty of time to swap it out. I imagine the Tacoma has the same warning.

Here's a video on how to change the battery - no tools required and takes about 30 seconds. Easier than changing the battery in many key fobs.

https://youtu.be/ovStQK1rnJ0?si=uhGJXKQjXK8_28hW

I will say it's an odd coin-type battery size - CR2412. Easy to find on Amazon, but not locally. I bought a 10-pack online and keep them in the car. I don't have long term experience with the Tacoma fob yet, but the battery in the Lexus fob does last longer than the battery in the keycard, maybe by about 6 months. I don't see that as much of an issue.

I far prefer the keycard to the fob. It fits nicely in my minimal wallet. With this upgrade I've eliminated all keys/keychains from my pocket, lightening and simplifying my EDC. My wife carries the regular FOB - but it's in her purse so the size/shape doesn't matter as much to her.

Zig.

 

The 4th Gen Tacoma does do that...you just have to have them turn on the feature with TechStream at the dealership or whatever it is called that they are using these days.

 

Did that with Carista.

 

Just sunk 300 bucks plus on the card key for my 24 TRD off road, it didn’t come with it as it was a base model. Was pretty bummed to find out it doesn’t come with the emergency key so you can get into the truck if the battery dies, Parts man told me he could gladly order it in for around seventy bucks more and I didn’t even ask how much to cut the key. That being said It works good but now battery failure fear will stay with me

 

Look more closely at your key fob, and owners manual.

 

Who wants to be this guy????

 

I think he means that having the credit-card key without the door key means you can't get into the truck if the card battery dies. I think I'd spend the extra 70+ bucks to not worry about it.

 

My credit card key came with a cut key that slides into it.

 

soupy was correct, fobs have the emergency key so you can get in the truck when the battery dies.You buy the card key so you don't have to carry the fob. It's counterintuitive that the card is machined to have the emergency key but they make it an exra cost item in order to realize the cards full functionality.

 

My truck came with the card and emergency key. If you buy the card separately then the emergency key has to be cut to fit the truck. That's probably why it's a separate item.

 

Interesting, I got one with my truck as you describe with the cut key. I bought a second from the dealer for my spouse and it came complete with a cut key. Maybe depends on the dealer themselves or possibly they were being nice.

 

I got two electronic key fobs, each with mechanical backup keys and one card key with a mechanical back up key. I also have a virtual key on my phone. There is simply no way you could be shut out of your Tacoma because of a dead battery in the keys unless you have no idea how your own truck works.