1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Smart Key doesn’t work when it’s below freezing outside

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Cfrank07, Jan 13, 2022.

  1. Jan 13, 2022 at 3:31 PM
    #1
    Cfrank07

    Cfrank07 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Member:
    #387182
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Caleb
    Vehicle:
    2017 White TRD OR
    3 inch lift and 33in tires
    Alright guys…when I go out to my truck and it’s below freezing, the truck won’t unlock by putting your hand inside the handle. It also won’t respond to the key fob. When you unlock the door with the key inside of the smart fob the truck doesn’t respond when you press the brake and the PTS button. As soon as it warms up to around 40 degrees, it’s right back to normal. The key itself is also kept in the house, and both fobs are doing the same thing. I have replaced the main battery with a lifetime battery from a Toyota dealership, I have replaced both fob batteries. I have replaced the interior led lights back to factory because I saw on another thread that there was someone with similar issues.I have attached two videos in order to show what is going on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Jan 13, 2022 at 3:32 PM
    #2
    Cfrank07

    Cfrank07 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Member:
    #387182
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Caleb
    Vehicle:
    2017 White TRD OR
    3 inch lift and 33in tires
    Unfortunately the videos will not load
     
  3. Jan 13, 2022 at 3:40 PM
    #3
    Cudgel

    Cudgel “Tonka”

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2017
    Member:
    #214640
    Messages:
    4,296
    Gender:
    Male
    Live in: An Ocean of Plastic Trash
    Vehicle:
    2017 OR DCLB
    ICON8 Lift -285s. upTOPoverland rack.
    Test the battery with a volt meter.
     
    NuckTrutz and Cfrank07[OP] like this.
  4. Jan 13, 2022 at 3:50 PM
    #4
    Cfrank07

    Cfrank07 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Member:
    #387182
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Caleb
    Vehicle:
    2017 White TRD OR
    3 inch lift and 33in tires
    This is actually the 2nd battery, and it’s a couple of days old from a Toyota dealership.
     
  5. Jan 13, 2022 at 4:34 PM
    #5
    No Shoes Nation

    No Shoes Nation Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2019
    Member:
    #305845
    Messages:
    867
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2008 Taco SR5 Access Cab 4.0 4x4
    Hmm . . . none as yet, that's why i'm here . . .
    Now that’s a smart key, it don’t want to be out in those freezing cold temps
     
    44-16 Taco and Cfrank07[OP] like this.
  6. Jan 13, 2022 at 5:48 PM
    #6
    eurowner

    eurowner Duke Sky

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2017
    Member:
    #211429
    Messages:
    6,209
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scoty
    The Syncro Ranch, Salida ColoRADo
    Vehicle:
    '17 TRDOR DCLB FTMFWBBQ Silver Sky Met
    Bilstein 8112+650lb coils, 8100+Deaver Stage II leaf pack, SPC UCA, DuroBumps, Mobtown 0* sliders W/fill plates, Mobtown Recovery Bar, Radium PVC & CCV Dual Oil Separator Catch Can System, Snugtop Hiliner Sport, ATH bed Stiffeners (cuz bottle openers!) and front corner tie down, Badger plates for Firestone airbag + Relentless U-bolt flip + Daystar cradles, TRD Pro shift knob, TRD Exhaust, HPS Silicone intake tube, Green Filter, TRD Intake Air Accelerator, 265-70-17 Toyo Open Country ATIII on TRD 17"Rockwarrior Cold Forged wheels, TRD alloy front skid, RCI Aluminum transmission & transfer case skids. Much Meso awesomeness, FreshMexicanTaco TacoGarage Camera Controller + DDM, WarFab Sheridan hitch skid, Rago LCA steel skids + lower rear shock guards, ScanGauge II, FN Koning Countersteer 16" spare, OEM T4R 90105-14104 coilover lower mounting eye bolts
    I live in the high elevations of Colorados Rocky Mountains and see double digit negative temps during the winters and never experienced that.
     
    Scotty61, Tacospike and MR E30 like this.
  7. Jan 13, 2022 at 6:39 PM
    #7
    splitbolt

    splitbolt Voodoo Witch Doctor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2010
    Member:
    #32761
    Messages:
    7,873
    Gender:
    Male
    NW Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD OFFROAD DCSB MGM
  8. Jan 14, 2022 at 12:26 PM
    #8
    Cfrank07

    Cfrank07 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Member:
    #387182
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Caleb
    Vehicle:
    2017 White TRD OR
    3 inch lift and 33in tires
    I’ve replaced all of the interior led lights back to factory
     
  9. Jan 14, 2022 at 1:11 PM
    #9
    splitbolt

    splitbolt Voodoo Witch Doctor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2010
    Member:
    #32761
    Messages:
    7,873
    Gender:
    Male
    NW Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD OFFROAD DCSB MGM
    Have you had the opportunity to see if that was cause?
     
  10. Jan 14, 2022 at 1:13 PM
    #10
    Cfrank07

    Cfrank07 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Member:
    #387182
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Caleb
    Vehicle:
    2017 White TRD OR
    3 inch lift and 33in tires
    I have, it unfortunately didn’t solve it!
     
  11. Jan 14, 2022 at 1:14 PM
    #11
    MidCitiesMildMan

    MidCitiesMildMan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2016
    Member:
    #205391
    Messages:
    1,154
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2017 Toyota Tacoma Limited
    Stock and staying that way
    Mine started right up when it was below zero last year.
     
  12. Jan 14, 2022 at 1:29 PM
    #12
    woodsy

    woodsy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2020
    Member:
    #349445
    Messages:
    948
    Gender:
    Male
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2021 Tacoma TRD Sport Premium
    Gloves? I had to take my glove off for it to work.
     
  13. Jan 14, 2022 at 2:29 PM
    #13
    eurowner

    eurowner Duke Sky

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2017
    Member:
    #211429
    Messages:
    6,209
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scoty
    The Syncro Ranch, Salida ColoRADo
    Vehicle:
    '17 TRDOR DCLB FTMFWBBQ Silver Sky Met
    Bilstein 8112+650lb coils, 8100+Deaver Stage II leaf pack, SPC UCA, DuroBumps, Mobtown 0* sliders W/fill plates, Mobtown Recovery Bar, Radium PVC & CCV Dual Oil Separator Catch Can System, Snugtop Hiliner Sport, ATH bed Stiffeners (cuz bottle openers!) and front corner tie down, Badger plates for Firestone airbag + Relentless U-bolt flip + Daystar cradles, TRD Pro shift knob, TRD Exhaust, HPS Silicone intake tube, Green Filter, TRD Intake Air Accelerator, 265-70-17 Toyo Open Country ATIII on TRD 17"Rockwarrior Cold Forged wheels, TRD alloy front skid, RCI Aluminum transmission & transfer case skids. Much Meso awesomeness, FreshMexicanTaco TacoGarage Camera Controller + DDM, WarFab Sheridan hitch skid, Rago LCA steel skids + lower rear shock guards, ScanGauge II, FN Koning Countersteer 16" spare, OEM T4R 90105-14104 coilover lower mounting eye bolts
    Disconnect the battery negative for 10-15 minutes
     
  14. Jan 14, 2022 at 2:37 PM
    #14
    landphil

    landphil Fish are FOOD, not friends!

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2011
    Member:
    #52290
    Messages:
    3,179
    Gender:
    Male
    BC, Canada
    Vehicle:
    RIP 2006 Tacoma DCSB
    Tundra 5.7 mod
    What about LED cargo light bulbs?
     
  15. Jan 15, 2022 at 7:28 AM
    #15
    Nirango kid

    Nirango kid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2021
    Member:
    #368856
    Messages:
    1,421
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gilles
    Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2021 Tacoma TRD Sport Premium in Barcelona Red
    well it has been -18 F ( - 27 C ) here in the north last couple of days and a few weeks ago and had no problems with the key FOD or sensors on the outside door etc etc.
     
  16. Jan 18, 2022 at 6:05 AM
    #16
    Cfrank07

    Cfrank07 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Member:
    #387182
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Caleb
    Vehicle:
    2017 White TRD OR
    3 inch lift and 33in tires
    i haven’t checked the cargo light bulb!
     
  17. Jan 18, 2022 at 8:11 AM
    #17
    Cfrank07

    Cfrank07 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Member:
    #387182
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Caleb
    Vehicle:
    2017 White TRD OR
    3 inch lift and 33in tires
    I’ve tried the battery disconnect, still happens below freezing
     
    eurowner[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Jan 18, 2022 at 8:16 AM
    #18
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,251
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    I have LED interior lights (VLED's) and have no issue starting below 0°F with the iPhone app or the key FOB. Door handle sensors work just fine.
     
  19. Jan 18, 2022 at 10:06 AM
    #19
    Chucky888_2021_TRD_OR

    Chucky888_2021_TRD_OR Live free and drive Taco

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2020
    Member:
    #350372
    Messages:
    165
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ching
    Osseo, MN
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD OR DCSB
    I live in MN, most days here in winter is below 32°F. I am NOT having this problem, all my interior bulbs are switched to LEDs too.
    I can lock/unlock the door with or without gloves on, freeze temp or not, we have a few days of double digit - temp too.
    This is not normal.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top