Remote Key / Alarm Lock Out

August 25, 2006

Help! My key recently stopped unlocking my 2000 Avensis, its a 2.0 CDX. It sounded as if it was trying to lock the doors ok but they were already locked. I then used my wife's key and that was fine and I have used that until tonight when I tried to swap the batteries in wife's set to mine to try to resolve the problem and now neither key will unlock the car. To make matters worse the grey key without buttons does not disable the alarm when I use that to get in, what is the point of this key? Any help you can offer would be very welcome as I don't want to have to anoy the neighbours with the alarm every time I need to use it!

Cheers

August 25, 2006

Grey key is service key, it will not open the glove compartment. You can use it to give to garage if you don't want them to get at personnel items in glove box.

Don't take this as stupid question, did you put batteries in correct way round. Never had to change them in that model but I think there are 2 batteries which piggy back on one another but I could be wrong.

Only way to disable the alarm without keyfob is to use the key to switch it off altogether in the engine compartment. Do you have this key ?

Not much help I'm afraid. Good luck.

August 29, 2006

as reply to electric's problem.

when changing the batteries in a remote it will need to be resychnronised with the car alarm. check your handbook but it usually involves putting the key in the ignition (so it can read the chip) and then pressing the LOCK button several times.

August 31, 2006

Ok Guys,
I have been doing some research and found the following on the internet so I am going to buy a key from E-bay and try it out
Add Duplicate Key:
Requires one working Toyota/Lexus Master Key.
1. Make sure all doors and windows are closed.
2. Insert Master Key into the ignition cylinder.
3. Cycle the ignition cylinder from On to Off five times.
4. Open and close the "driver side" door 6 times.
5. TURN THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON.
6. New key will be registered after 60 seconds. The THEFT light on the dashboard will go out, indicating that programming has been completed.

I accept no responsibility for any damage or loss incurred as a result of above procedure. I have not yet tried this but will do as soon as I aquire a spare fob and will let you know.

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57908

September 2, 2006

Help! My key recently stopped unlocking my 2000 Avensis, its a 2.0 CDX. It sounded as if it was trying to lock the doors ok but they were already locked. I then used my wife's key and that was fine and I have used that until tonight when I tried to swap the batteries in wife's set to mine to try to resolve the problem and now neither key will unlock the car. To make matters worse the grey key without buttons does not disable the alarm when I use that to get in, what is the point of this key? Any help you can offer would be very welcome as I don't want to have to anoy the neighbours with the alarm every time I need to use it!
Cheers

As Penfold says, you may need to resynchronise the key, as it states in the manual. If you don't have the manual, it says this may be required if the lock works, but unlock doesn't. The procedure (for my 2000 Avensis 1.8 GS at least) is to open the drivers door, insert the key into the ignition and turn to On. Wait 10 seconds, then press either of the buttons (on the key) twice in succession. You should then here the central locking activate indicating it was successful.

I'd be interested to know if this works for you. I'm having a similar problem with one of my keys, and after re-synchronising it seems to work for a day or so, then stops. It has new batteries, but I'm wondering if the batteries are faulty so I will try another set. If anybody else has any ideas I'd certainly like to hear them; I don't want to give Toyota £160 for a new key!