Driver door lock is broken I think. What to do?

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mannydantyla

New member
My new 4Runner is flawless except for, it seems to me, I cannot unlock the driver door via the key. If I turn it clockwise, I feel resistance and it feels like I'm forcing it, then it makes a little click and I can turn it no further. Door stays locked. Turning it counterclockwise to lock the unlocked door does work, however. I can unlock the vehicle with the unlock button on the fab, and if that is missing I can also get into the vehicle by unlocking the rear lift gate, which unlocks all the doors at the same time.

I'm assuming I can't just order a new door lock cylinder from Amazon. You used to be able to do that.. GM vehicle even came with two types of keys, one to start the engine and one to unlock the doors. The new locks would just come with a new set of door keys! Ah, those where the days...

But these days you can't even get a duplicate key made from the hardware store. I mean, you can, but it won't start the engine! I know because I had to go to the dealership recently to get a 2nd key made and it cost over $100.

I'm not really a fan of giving dealerships my money. I'd much prefer to fix it myself.

What options do I have??
 
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not exactly sure on the door lock issue itself.

i just had a master key made for my truck, and i was quoted $130, $200, $200 from 3 dealerships around me. I caught wind of a guy in a local shit city that can make master keys programmed to my car with existing masterkey for $65. I did that yesterday and drove the car back to work with the new master. The dealerships are straight robbing people for $200 - told me an hour of programming cost etc. small local place programmed mine in a cool machine all done in 10 mins. I noticed the new master rough cut didnt want to open my drivers door but i just put it in a few times back and forth (kind of like w my gf) and it worked fine.

good luck with the door mechanism!
 
If you have a key, you can reprogram a key with your ignition. I had one cut by a locksmith that claimed it wouldn't work. I told him to just cut it and illdeal with it. Too about ten minutes to reprogram it and it now starts my truck.

It's probably you door lock actuator giving you hell.

Does unlocking via the lift gate unlock your driver door?

Edit: I misread something. Try spraying WD-40 in your lock, then rinsing with mineral spirits and lubing it with graphite, or maybe silicon spray. I'm not 100% sure what lube you should use.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
 
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cloud said:
If you have a key, you can reprogram a key with your ignition. I had one cut by a locksmith that claimed it wouldn't work. I told him to just cut it and illdeal with it. Too about ten minutes to reprogram it and it now starts my truck.

It's probably you door lock actuator giving you hell.

Does unlocking via the lift gate unlock your driver door?

Edit: I misread something. Try spraying WD-40 in your lock, then rinsing with mineral spirits and lubing it with graphite, or maybe silicon spray. I'm not 100% sure what lube you should use.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

oh yeah - this reminded me - OP, try turning on vehicle w original master key then turn it off a few seconds. then do the same with your new key and it could run it through a final program. i had a coworker telling me about that for new keys the other day before i got mine.
 
hinmo24t said:
oh yeah - this reminded me - OP, try turning on vehicle w original master key then turn it off a few seconds. then do the same with your new key and it could run it through a final program. i had a coworker telling me about that for new keys the other day before i got mine.
Click to expand...

WTF that's all it takes?? And they charged me $70 to do that?
 
mannydantyla said:
WTF that's all it takes?? And they charged me $70 to do that?
Click to expand...

no i think it is a process used for some vehicles or manufacturers.
for my $65 master key with programmed chip they put it in a device alongside my original key and for program to transfer over. the ignition process i mentioned is worth trying to see if it sorts out your door issue.
 
hinmo24t said:
oh yeah - this reminded me - OP, try turning on vehicle w original master key then turn it off a few seconds. then do the same with your new key and it could run it through a final program. i had a coworker telling me about that for new keys the other day before i got mine.
Click to expand...

This doesn’t help with his door lock problem , because the door lock is complelty mechanical. There’s no immobilizer in it. The pairing procedure is for the ignition only.

If the key starts the car and was cut from a master then it becomes a master key and should work in the door.

I think the door lock might just be gummed up from age and lack of use. Spray all kinds of penetrating lubricant into it and let it creep for a bit.


If that doesn’t work you’ll have to pull the lock assembly to investigate further.
It’s easy to get to. Only one rubber grommet to remove and a bolt to loosen.
 
When you open door you'll see a black body plug same height as the door handle, it's just a round plastic piece covering a hole. Pop that off and you'll see a torx screw. Unscrew it and key cylinder should come out.

I don't remember if the outside cover for key cylinder needs to come off, but if it does it just pops off. Pull assembly out and inspect.

Mine was just loose and didn't need to be serviced. But from what I remember it's a simple mechanism. If you need help I can try and get a write up done after this hurricane passes.
 
03sr5 said:
When you open door you'll see a black body plug same height as the door handle, it's just a round plastic piece covering a hole. Pop that off and you'll see a torx screw. Unscrew it and key cylinder should come out.

I don't remember if the outside cover for key cylinder needs to come off, but if it does it just pops off. Pull assembly out and inspect.

Mine was just loose and didn't need to be serviced. But from what I remember it's a simple mechanism. If you need help I can try and get a write up done after this hurricane passes.
Click to expand...
Good luck with Lane!

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
 
cloud said:
Good luck with Lane!

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks. It's been downgraded to a tropical storm. Hopefully the remaining winds aren't too strong. Mostly worried about flooding.

Hope my instructions can help anyone with a inoperable lock cylinder. I'll get pics or something up next week for those that need it.
 
I coincidentally just discovered the very same issue a couple of days ago with my '07 Sport - the driver's door lock only operates to the right, not left. Hosed down the inside of the lock with WD-40, no luck. Only because I've seen enough stuff that doesn't make any sense in my life, I tried my spare key, and what do you know? It worked. So did the valet key. But the key I've been using every day since I bought this truck almost 3 years ago won't work that lock.

One thing I noticed though in comparing the keys side-by-side is that there's an area toward the end of the key where you hold it that looks worn - it's kind of rounded where the keys that work have sharp angles. Wondering if that's it.

I have to go by Cherokee Toyota this week so I'm going to ask whether they haven't any ideas on why this is happening. In the meantime, try any other key(s) you have and see what happens.
 
lightfreak said:
This doesn’t help with his door lock problem , because the door lock is complelty mechanical. There’s no immobilizer in it. The pairing procedure is for the ignition only.

If the key starts the car and was cut from a master then it becomes a master key and should work in the door.

I think the door lock might just be gummed up from age and lack of use. Spray all kinds of penetrating lubricant into it and let it creep for a bit.


If that doesn’t work you’ll have to pull the lock assembly to investigate further.
It’s easy to get to. Only one rubber grommet to remove and a bolt to loosen.
Click to expand...

03sr5 said:
When you open door you'll see a black body plug same height as the door handle, it's just a round plastic piece covering a hole. Pop that off and you'll see a torx screw. Unscrew it and key cylinder should come out.

I don't remember if the outside cover for key cylinder needs to come off, but if it does it just pops off. Pull assembly out and inspect.

Mine was just loose and didn't need to be serviced. But from what I remember it's a simple mechanism. If you need help I can try and get a write up done after this hurricane passes.
Click to expand...

Bluesky 07 said:
I coincidentally just discovered the very same issue a couple of days ago with my '07 Sport - the driver's door lock only operates to the right, not left. Hosed down the inside of the lock with WD-40, no luck. Only because I've seen enough stuff that doesn't make any sense in my life, I tried my spare key, and what do you know? It worked. So did the valet key. But the key I've been using every day since I bought this truck almost 3 years ago won't work that lock.

One thing I noticed though in comparing the keys side-by-side is that there's an area toward the end of the key where you hold it that looks worn - it's kind of rounded where the keys that work have sharp angles. Wondering if that's it.

I have to go by Cherokee Toyota this week so I'm going to ask whether they haven't any ideas on why this is happening. In the meantime, try any other key(s) you have and see what happens.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys! I should be able to get the the cylinder now and maybe I can figure it out
 
I asked about this at Cherokee Toyota and their take was the same as mine - wear on the key I've used as the primary. I think this is also the same key the previous owner used because the other regular key (black) and valet (gray) were on a separate ring with the key ID plate. So it's likely been in daily use since the truck was delivered to the PO in November 2006.

My opinion is that a key should last pretty much forever in normal use but it's understandable that it wears like anything else.

In any case, they said all they could do was cut a new key for $105 ($40 for the key and $65 for programming it). No need for that as my spare works fine.

Do you have another key you can try?
 
mannydantyla said:
I have the brand new key they just cut. I don't know if they cut by duplicating the old key, or they did some dealer trick and got the key pattern from the car itself or something....
Click to expand...

They probably did it the lazy way and cut from the old worn out key which is why it still doesn't work.

Some auto lock specialists can cut using the key code. Its on a little metal tag attached to the key ring that is originally shipped with the vehicle.
This code can also be found stamped on the lock assembly itself.
 
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