Check your Key Function in Door Lock

[Asmara]

I didn't drive the 4runner for 6 or 7 weeks due to some local issues, repair work and vacation. When I went to finally drive it, the battery had died. Not a big deal, kind of expected. I used the key to unlock the door - or more accurately said - I tried to use the key to unlock the door. It didn't work!

What I believe has happened over time is that the key and the pins in the ignition lock have worn down giving the whole mechanism some slack. The door lock is never used because of the keyless entry system so the pins in that lock are still at factory tolerances. My worn key just doesn't align the pins properly on the shear line. I tried both sides of the key.

Fortunanly, this story has a happy ending because I had recently ordered replacement keys cut to the VIN number from Partznet and I programmed them using information from this thread on transponder key programming. Those keys work perfectly in the door and in the ignition.

The moral of the story is, you might want to see if you ignition key actually opens the driver and rear doors before you have a problem.

 

[kevinpt]

when i got my truck i had a hard time rolling up the rear window with the key. after 5 or 6 times it worked just fine. have not tried the door yet so i will have to try

 

[Kmvreter]

... you might want to see if you ignition key actually opens the driver and rear doors before you have a problem.

Thanks for the heads up. I can't remember the last time, if ever, that I tried the keys in the drivers and rear locks except on the day I bought it over 9 years ago.