I was thinking of stashing the valet ket on the outside of the vehicle somewhere. Just in case I lock myself out . Any of you do this , where is a good spot and type of holder ? Or is it not recommended ?

Oh yeah! Let us advertise where everyone hides their key. Good idea. I do not recommend it. Have a new key made, shave off the plastic or see if you can get one that is flat without all the plastic on it. keep it in your wallet. Have your wife, g/f, whomever keep a spare. I have only locked myself out of the car once some twenty plus years ago. since then, I just made it a habit that if I leave the vehicle with the key in the ignition for whatever reason, I roll down the drivers side window.

Regards!

I don't recommend it. It is especially hard to lock yourself out of the 4Runner. If the key is in the ignition and you to lock the doors, they won't lock. I don't even carry a spare key with me!

Be careful about shaving the plastic off the key, they have the computer anti-theft chip in them. These keys are very expensive and have to be programmed (more money).

Koz

One time I'll give props to Ford -- they offer an entry keypad on the driver's door on most vehicles.

When I purchased my 4Runner my Toyota dealer gave me a plastic credit card key which they cut for my 4Runner. After they cut it, I tried it to make sure it unlokced my driver side door. Ever since then I have kept that key in my wallet just in case somehow I locked the keys in my 4Runner.

This key will not start the 4Runner. It's only purpose is to assist the owner in a lock out situatiuon.

Didn't any of you other 4Runner owners get one of these credit card keys from your dealer when you made your purchase???

nope! didn't get one. i had some of those at one time for my gmc's. they do work.

I guess this key is one of those dealer freebies that some dealers give away and others do not.

I stashed a key under my Toy, but it requires you to get dirty in order to find it.
I did not get a credit card key !!
And yes the Ford thing is nice.

I have the same key charlier. It only works to open the driver door.

I didn't get the credit card key either. My mom's Lexus came with that key and I thought it was a smart idea. I wonder if it is a dealer thing or should all Toyota's come with this?

Saw this on EBAY, sorry it has FORD printed on it: .http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-...spagenameZWDVW

Mine is essentially the same though it says Toyota and is white plastic. I got this in the mail a few days after purchasing the truck.

Me too. Maybe it's a Mid-Atlantic regional thing.

I've had hide-a-keys on all my vehicles, trailers & house for probably the last 20 years. Has been useful several times. Things get going pretty crazy with a family & keys from time to time.

BTW - My wife did somehow manage to lock the 4Runner, keys in the ignition & running. God love her I have no idea how she did this!!! We were off camping in Colorado. It was said this wasn't possible, but she managed to do it. To this day, she doesn't trust the vehicle - especalliy after the VSC went cookoo & tried to pull us off the road. She doesn't think cars should have minds of their own!! (silly her)

Fortunately the trusty hide-a-key came to the rescue. (It's hidden so well - up under & out of line-of-sight - it takes me time to find it!)

I have the plastic key and so does a relative who bought a Camry from a different dealership. Ask your dealership about getting one. Even if it's not free, it can't be expensive. It's good to have.