door key alarm

[theschnauzer]

i just bough a 99 4runner, my first toyota. so far it's pretty nice. my problem: the key fob enables and disables the alarm. the door key doesn't disable the alarm but unlocks the door. so if i open the door with the key, the alarm goes off. is that supposed to happen? if not, how do i fix it?

 

[theschnauzer]

upon further reading, i should have provided the alarm type and if it's factory or aftermarket. supposedly the system should be under the drivers seat (it's not) so i can't find out what kind it is. is it below the carpet? it's a toyota key fob with 3 buttons on the front and a panic button on the back. there is a toyota security light on the dash to the left of the steering column. can i disable the alarm and still have the keyless entry?

 

[mjweber96]

You alarm system is probally tied into the contacts for the interior lights, so whenever the alarm is armed and the doors open it breaks the contact and sets off the alarm, so this is normal and is supposed to happen. You will have to get used to using the fob to lock and unlock the doors. Is there a reason that you are not doing this anyways? Just curious. My sister a has a 01 with the same setup so you probally have a factory security system, where it is located I can't tell you but I am sure that someone else with a 3rd. gen can help you out.

 

[toto]

Toyota has two factory alarm systems - the VIP RS3000 and the VIP RS3200. The remote you're describing sounds like the RS3200 remote, but a 99 4Runner would have to have an RS3000 installed. Maybe the newer remote works with the old system... I don't know. The RS3200 didn't work with the 4Runner until 2000.

The RS3000 has the limitation you're describing - if you arm it, you must disarm it with the remote. Normally that's OK as long as you have power door locks, as the system is effectively just like keyless entry - disarming it unlocks the doors.

The RS3200 can be disarmed by either using the remote or unlocking the door with a key.

The 4th Gen 4Runner (2003) got away from the VIP alarm systems and went to what we'd consider to be a normal keyless entry system.

Normally, if you lock the doors with the remote, you will arm the system. It also has a mode called "passive arming" which can be enabled or disabled; passive arming will also arm the alarm 15 seconds after you turn the key off if the doors are closed. That's disabled by default.

However, the system also has what's called "Valet Mode", which disables the alarm functions and merely acts like keyless entry. Interestingly, I don't see a way to get out of Valet Mode in the manual - there's only a sequence of steps to turn on Valet Mode:

1. Turn the ignition key to "ON" (not ACC)
2. Using a remote, press and hold both buttons for 2 seconds until the status monitor LED turns on.
-- You have 30 seconds to complete the remaining steps, or the operation is cancelled! --
3. Press and release the top remote control button 3 times. The system should chirp and the exterior lights flash.
4. Turn the ignition key to "LOCK". The system should chirp 3 times and flash the lights 3 times.

Maybe the same steps would turn off Valet Mode?

Here's a link on TundraSolutions with this info and the manual in PDF format:
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/691437-post3/

As for location of the ECU, on a Tacoma the RS3000 ECU would be behind the left kick panel on the driver's side. That's one possible place yours might be installed.

 

[theschnauzer]

that's what i wanted to know. thanks. i only got one fob but two keys. the car was going back and forth between my girlfriend and me and only one fob was kinda irritating. i see a new fob in my future.

 

[SF180A]

99 limited alarm issues

Is there any way to deactivate the factory alarm?

The alarm on my 99Limited 4runner goes off anytime I try to unlock the door with the key fob. this happens regardless of if I use the fob to lock the doors or if I do it manually.

 

[SF180A]

Toyota has two factory alarm systems - the VIP RS3000 and the VIP RS3200. The remote you're describing sounds like the RS3200 remote, but a 99 4Runner would have to have an RS3000 installed. Maybe the newer remote works with the old system... I don't know. The RS3200 didn't work with the 4Runner until 2000.

The RS3000 has the limitation you're describing - if you arm it, you must disarm it with the remote. Normally that's OK as long as you have power door locks, as the system is effectively just like keyless entry - disarming it unlocks the doors.

The RS3200 can be disarmed by either using the remote or unlocking the door with a key.

The 4th Gen 4Runner (2003) got away from the VIP alarm systems and went to what we'd consider to be a normal keyless entry system.

Normally, if you lock the doors with the remote, you will arm the system. It also has a mode called "passive arming" which can be enabled or disabled; passive arming will also arm the alarm 15 seconds after you turn the key off if the doors are closed. That's disabled by default.

However, the system also has what's called "Valet Mode", which disables the alarm functions and merely acts like keyless entry. Interestingly, I don't see a way to get out of Valet Mode in the manual - there's only a sequence of steps to turn on Valet Mode:

1. Turn the ignition key to "ON" (not ACC)
2. Using a remote, press and hold both buttons for 2 seconds until the status monitor LED turns on.
-- You have 30 seconds to complete the remaining steps, or the operation is cancelled! --
3. Press and release the top remote control button 3 times. The system should chirp and the exterior lights flash.
4. Turn the ignition key to "LOCK". The system should chirp 3 times and flash the lights 3 times.

Maybe the same steps would turn off Valet Mode?

Here's a link on TundraSolutions with this info and the manual in PDF format:
Will I have issues? | Toyota Tundra Forums

As for location of the ECU, on a Tacoma the RS3000 ECU would be behind the left kick panel on the driver's side. That's one possible place yours might be installed.

Toto are you still active?