So basically if you turn off key fob and put a lock on OBD port then thieves have no way to steal 4Runner? Or there might be some other ways?

how were you able to track the vehicle once it was stolen? did you have your own apple air tag in it as well?

hope everything gets fixed up. I've been using a faraday box but really I don't think anyone is coming after my 2012 lol.

Thank you for this. I will use this. I think my wife's Lexus CT does not have this feature. So I may need the box I just bought anyway. But even absent the threat of theft, it's nice to save the battery. I never unlock cars using the handle anyway.

I think with Toyota you have to turn the fob broadcasting off after every time you use it. If you remove the battery, then you can't open the doors with the lock/unlock button. It's kind of a shame you can't disable the proximity feature but leave the lock/unlock function working.

Some people are putting their keys in what is advertised as a faraday box or pouch. Some of these work and some do not.

There's a few problems with some of the cheaper mass produced units. Some aren't built that well and leak RF. Others may not prevent the leakage of RF for the specific frequencies used by the key.

The trick is to test it in close proximity to the car for the door unlock function and inside the car for push to start. Some negative reviews of boxes report that it does not block bluetooth or wifi although the key is not using those frequencies in the first place.

One problem with the RF blocking box is you're not likely to use it when you and the car is not home.

I am going to see how much of this can be disabled in the 4Runner itself so that the key won't matter.

Edit: disabling the Smart Key system is listed as a feature only the dealer can disable in my owner's manual. I am going to see what scan tools can do that.

Now I’m kinda glad my 2019 Pro still uses an old school key. Unless they break into my house for the key…..

Likewise. I like using an old school key in my 2016 TEP. That push button crap is just lazy sauce.

Normally I disable keyfob by holding lock button and pressing unlock 2 times. Keyfob stop broadcasting and I can't unlock by just pulling door handle. But keyfob will be activated and will start broadcasting again if you press any button. I tried to remove battery from second spare keybob and see if I can live without battery and don't worry about forgetting to deactivate key or push a button and activate it by mistake.
So I found out that if you unlock door with mechanical key alarm start going on and it's pretty loud. The only way to disable it is to push engine start button keeping keyfob close to that button. It works, but it's a hassle to have keyfob without battery. I wondering if disabling smart key system disables key broadcasting or truck listening?

Wow, good to know.

I disabled the Smart Key system on different 2016 Lexus and it prevented the car from listening. On that car, I could disable it from the Nav system's settings menu. I could open the doors with the fob button and had to hold the key near the start button before it would start. Essentially I had to follow the "dead battery" process to start the car.

I had the push to start break on a rental car and they had to deliver a new car to me and pick up the old one. That was back in 2011. Never again. Hate them things.

What could have been....

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That's a crazy story. Glad you got your truck back relatively in one piece. Hope insurance helps with getting it back just like new.

Just checked manual - Smart Key system can be turned off but it said that it can be changed only by Toyota dealer. I guess that if it turned off, the rear window can't be operated from outside at all? I wish Toyota kept a regular key I had in my 2010 T4R...

Just tried this with my 2021 ORP and it works! Thanks for this

WORKS on my 2020 Pro too!

OP here. Thanks for all your comments. As soon as I get back to the car I'm going to post pictures of the antenna sabotage they did, as it is quite a piece of work.

I noticed the mayday "phone home" button functionality (what some call DCM) seems disabled. What is usually the little green light is now red. I know some folks were previously looking for ways to disable this, and it seems the thieves have found a way without pulling the DCM fuse (which also kills the sound system). Besides chopping the antenna, perhaps they also did something programming via the ODB port as well?

Interestingly, the built-in GPS maps navigation still seems to work, at least when driving out in the open.

Some folks asked how I found the car. I didn't, it was the police. Perhaps they were onto these guys somehow...

For disabling smart keys, faraday cage is the easiest. The hold-lock-two-button-unlock is great, but forget once, regret forever.