Issues with Keys and Locking the Doors

I only have two copy keys for my Tacoma. I bought it used and the original keys are lost to the sands of time.

Both copies turn the ignition just fine. Locking/Unlocking the doors is a different story.

Both copies unlock the driver door every time, but only one copy unlocks the passenger every time. The other has to be inserted in a particular way.

Neither copy can lock either door. The previous owner informed me that he just got in the habit of hitting the door lock button and ensuring the keys were not in the car when he closed the door.

What are my options? Do I have to go get the thing rekeyed at the dealership?

 

The door lock pins in the cylinders themselves may be worn out to the point where the keys won't work on them. Work on the locking issue and if you decide to go with using the inside lock button to get around it: hide the extra key outside on the truck somewhere.

Using the lock button is a very hard habit to break once you start doing it and very it's likely you'll lock yourself out miles from nowhere. I'm lucky: I have a 2014 that will not allow a door button lock if the key is in the ignition. The button just pops up again on it's own. It's only a partial safeguard though. I also discovered after having it for a while where the truck will also lock itself again in about 30 seconds if you unlock with the remote but then don't open the door. I think there is a work-around sequence where you can intentionally lock yourself out with the key in the ignition, but I'm not experimenting to confirm. Sorry!

 

Thanks. I just solved it today. Called a locksmith and he suggested I pull the cylinders out to take a look. They were covered in crud. Cleaned them up and now it’s working just fine.

Point well made about bad habits. Good idea on having a spare somewhere if needed.

For anyone who’s reading with a similar issue I put the play by play in my build thread.

 

Have the locksmith make you 1-2 more unchipped copies that only unlock the doors. Maybe one more chipped key. An unchipped key is under $5. A locksmith can make and program a chipped key. Last one I had done cost me about $65, but that's been a few years.

I keep a chipped key hidden inside the truck and an unchipped key hidden somewhere on the outside. If I get locked out, or lose my keys while hunting, fishing, biking etc. I can use the unchipped key to get in the door. If a thief finds it they can get in the truck, but that key won't start the engine and hopefully they won't also find the chipped key.

$5 for an unchipped key hidden outside the truck is a lot better than paying a locksmith $200 to come out and unlock your doors.