Keys And Security

[JordanWhibley]

Hey everbody.. so im new to all this. I brought my first car and it was a yaris. First day and i love it.
HOWEVER I have a small problem. When I start the car and open a door the hazards come on for around 10 seconds.

There is a small round alarm or at least I think it is that always flashes just to the right of the steering wheel (its the size of a 10p piece). When I brought the car all I got given was a black key (the master I believe?) and I hear a lot of talk about a two button key. Now I don't know if this will stop the red light flashing?

Anyway any help would be amazing! and if someone can explain the whole key scenario and where I can get one that would be amazing..

Jordan

Edit: This is a 1998 T reg car and I cant seem to figure out if this would have central locking or how I can get the flashing red light off.

Thanks again!

[Cyker]

If it has central locking, there should be a switch on the driver-side arm rest which allows you to open and lock all the doors.

If it has remote central locking, you should have the 'key with 2 buttons' :)

A lot of Yarissusiesis, esp. older ones, seem to be sold without the master remote key but a cut'n'cloned key so just because it is a black doesn't mean it is a proper key.

If it looks like

http://images.bidorbuy.co.za/user_images/121/153121_090707174522_Toyota_2_button.jpg

then it is probably a proper key tho'.

I'm not sure what the alarm thingy is tho'; My one has an immobilizer light which is on the centre console, but no 10p-sized alarm flashing thing. Can you take a picture and attach it?

It may be an aftermarket part as I don't recall Yarisususesis having an alarm as an option!

[JordanWhibley]

Hey Cyker..

Nope im afraid it doesnt.. There is a security light on the main console that goes off as soon as I put the key in.. so im thinking its not a factory fitted one. Ill take a look tonight and send a picture..

The key is completely different. Its black with 2 toyota logos on either side and just the key (I have two of these)

In regards to all this do you know WHY it would make the hazards come on for the short period of time it does?

[Cyker]

The security light is part of the immobilizer system, all Yarisusses have that so that's okay; It was the 10p-sized thing to the right of the wheel that you talked about that I was wondering about.

Not all of these cars come with remote keys but I've not seen one so I don't know what the non-remote key looks! It may just be yours has the original keys and just doesn't have remote central locking! If the Toyota logos are stuck on then that's a dead giveaway they aren't original as all Toyota keys have the logo embossed into the plastic.

I have no idea about the hazard flashing; None of the Yari I've owned or seen did that which is why I'm wondering if a third-party alarm system has been added...?

Do the hazards start flashing if you start the car or only if you start the car, then open the door like you said? It's a weird sequence if that's the case!

[JordanWhibley]

Hey Cyker,

Please see attached the photo of both the key and also the 10p sized thing in the car.

The process in which the Hazards work are this:

Unlock the door by the key --> As soon as I open the door the hazards start flashing for around 15 - 20 seconds --> open a new door as another is shut and same thing again.

I believe as the 10p thing looks built in it is part of the car's alarm or central locking? Like i said im new to this and I am no mechanic either so it would be nice if someone could shed some light on what I need and not have to goto Toyota and pay through the nose!

[Cyker]

The key looks alright but the alarm looks out of place; I might be wrong but I'm sure that rectangle is where the traction control switch goes if the car has the traction control option (I've yet to see a Yaris IRL with that option tho'! ).

I've never seen an alarm indicator, certainly not a round one, in that position!

I reckon they've just mounted the alarm indicator there as it's quite convenient, but I could be wrong - Any of you other Yarisen seen such a thing??

I wonder how it's being armed/disarmed...

[JordanWhibley]

Hmm thats what I thought. I dont know if its almost worth taking it to the toyota garrage to get them to check. Its not to much of a problem but however if there is a key security flaw i would like to get that sorted asap!

I would love to hear from other Yaris owners if there is any around what there thoughts are!

[Cyker]

How many previous owners? If only one, may be worth checking with them?

Might be worth poking around to see if there are any weird-looking boxes; If you can find a part/model number to go on it'd make thing easier!

It does seem the Yaris forums have been quiet lately I was hoping for more responses on my brake query! There were a lot more for related queries only a year or 2 ago!

[Dougie150]

As Cyker has suggested, I'm pretty sure it's an aftermarket alarm. Don't recall my old T-sport having an alarm, just an immobilizer, and definitely not something that looked as out of place as that.

[FROSTYBALLS]

The key looks similar to the Toyota keys I had with my 1996 Corolla - that came with two black keys and one grey key (none of which had any buttons). The alarm is definitely not Toyota.

[JordanWhibley]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I know my dad is a mechanic and said there is something unplugged that runs to it, he believed that someone previous has routed the new alarm to the hazards.

It was a 2 owner car and the owner I got it from said it had been there from when she brought it.

I am beginning to think what I may do is just cut it out and remove it all together, hopefully that will stop the hazards problem.

In regards to an immobilizer how does that work? I have a security light on the main console that turns off when I put the keys in the car other then that I don't believe the car has any security

[Cyker]

Just note that you need to find the security module and disconnect it, not just cut the wires to the little light

Normally these after-market alarms are connected directly to the Battery, and also to the horn and hazard lights so when you start the car, if you don't have the disarming thing (Often a fob of some sort) it does the honk honk flash flash dance. Disconnecting it from the Battery will usually disable it. (Partly why cheap aftermarket alarms are pretty useless except against the most useless of car thieves!).

If it isn't connected to the Battery, that's a lot trickier and you're sliding into specialist territory! (Plus I'd be a bit wary of posting even if I did know how to disable a complex system, this ToC, not the car thievery school! )

Sometimes there is a manual switch enable/disable the system completely but smeg only knows where it might be hidden if there is!

(The alarm on my dad's ancient Ford Escort was hilariously primitive - You unlocked the car and had 20 seconds to get into the glove box to flick the switch or the alarm would go off! When locking the car, you had to flick the switch then you had 20 seconds to close and lock the doors or the alarm would go off! )

It's a bit weird that it doesn't honk but only flashes for 10 seconds and then stops tho'.

As for the immobilizer, you're right, the security light indicates whether it is activated or not.

Your key has a little RFID transceiver chip embedded in it and when you plug it into the ignition, the ECU pings it. If it gets the right response, the security light goes out and the immobilizer is disarmed. If it doesn't, you can still crank the car but the pistons won't fire (The car also shakes quite alarmingly! ).

Works pretty well and the whole thing is wired through the ECU so it's much harder to disable. (Also, if you lose all the keys, Toyota will tell you you need a whole new ECU for round about a grand! )