when the key/truck light is flashing on the dashboard...

My oil is red........ WTF?

 

Skip is a dick

 

We are just breaking your balls because the last guy who asked question that had some issues. Think he is on truck #3 or 4 now

bah hahaha, looks like he got grilled alright- searched and never found topic


There is a transponder chip in the key that is "read" when the key is inserted in the ignition. The red key shaped light is an indicator that the starting system has been disabled because the receiver for that transponder chip is not "reading" the key. As soon as the key is inserted in the ignition the key is read and the truck will start. It's a security feature designed so that you have to not only have a key that is cut correctly but also have the transponder chip programmed for your truck so that it will start. It is also the reason that you don't want to lose your keys ( the replacements are expensive as f*ck! ).

thank you dude. someone mentioned that it couldn't be "hotwired" while in that mode- is that really true? anyone try it?
it looks like 05 and on has some techno computer stuff goin on- thats like 7 years ago from this post! wonder funky things they can do now?

heres a pic of it btw- it was parked there for a whole day and a half- looks like either dude high tilled out of town temp or legal ppls picked it up- damn I wonder what happened- the parking lot has had stolen trucks parked in it before. makes me carious cause its a taco

 

I have had my Truck for a couple of weeks, then just noticed this light flashing on a recent camping trip when it was dark out. I have not had a need to drive it at night until now so never noticed the light in the day light. I thought maybe something was wrong so I looked it up in the manual which didn't really state if it was an issue or not, all it said was that a key with the matching code needed to be inserted in the start switch to resync or something. I did notice that it went out when the key was inserted and the truck started no problem but I still didn't know if it was a problem or not, I was starting to think I needed to use the spare key, hehehe. Glad that F75gunslinger responded with a decent answer.

Now I know what it is and I especially like the fact it helps visually ward off thiefs or idiot teens searching for scratch.

 

That light is to make sure no one steals your Taco.. I honestly don't know.

Replacement keys are $135.00 at my local Toyota dealership. So don't lose your keys, or bend one like I did(cheap key maybe?).

 

$135 is very inexpensive. To replace the key in my other car is about $450.

 

Yup, $400 to replace a Kia key lost in the oce...lost.

 

I just attended a "New Owner" seminar where I bought my Tacoma. You don't want to lose one of those new "VOB" things that you need to swipe to start your vehicle...or get close to it to open the doors. I think they said it was closer to 8 bills (cdn) yikes.

 

^you mean those keyless "keys"?

 

Yup.

 

thanks