Hate this "key"...

[tsl90]

There is a regular key in your smart key!

Crazy I know more about your keys than you do, I don't even have a smart key, I drive an SR5

It's p 597 or so in my owners manual. You are correct that there is a small mechanical key inside the smart key. Originally I thought I might just carry that. I wish it were that simple. It unfortunately only opens the door. The mechanical key is not involved in starting the vehicle at all. There's a process where you touch the smart key to the engine start button and then press it. I'm guessing that even if the battery is dead there's a passive emitter of some type in the smart key that will work. Wish they'd have attached that to the mechanical key.

 

[Blackknight]

I'm missing something

Is it just me or it the smart key about the same size of almost all key fobs? It's not much larger that the VW key/alarm/key-less entry fob, or my past Saab integrated key fob, most aftermarket alarm controllers and GM/Ford fobs.

Don't know just me I guess. I have been keeping my house keys and car keys separated for years though. I hated having all those keys hanging down from steering column anyway.

What's on my smart key is a D-ring, Bike roof rack lock keys and my hitch lock key.

like capitol one...... what's on your smart key.........:jump:

 

[tsl90]

Is it just me or it the smart key about the same size of almost all key fobs? It's not much larger that the VW key/alarm/key-less entry fob, or my past Saab integrated key fob, most aftermarket alarm controllers and GM/Ford fobs.

:

It's bigger than my Tacoma or my 04 T4R fobs - but not by a lot. My complaint - and by now I feel we're beating a dead horse - is that I can't choose to just carry a key and NOT the fob. Carrying both the smartkey for the T4R and my Tacoma fob is what I want to avoid.

Separating all the keys in an option. Unfortunately I'd typically keep both the truck keys together - which means the smartkey and the Taco fob would still travel together.

Clearly I'm in the minority and it is more an issue with my own neurosis than it is with Toyota's missing the mark. I'm a little surprised this doesn't bother other people with 2 cars more, but I can accept when I'm the problem.

All suggestions are appreciated. I'm sure I'll survive.
:surfer:

 

[Yakman]

A deck of cards....get real. It's the same size of any other key fob without the need to carry the other keys. I love the Smart Key. The only key I carry when I leave the house now is the Smart Key.

 

[moonpath]

keys

I have not done this yet, but I think I may have a type of key solution for the SR5 large fob key. Presumably for Toyota, size matters. It may be possible to get entry flat keys made just to open the lock on a SR5. I was thinking of then just leaving my valet key hidden permanently inside the truck, and use it to start the engine. One could do the same with the fob key but I would probably not want it inside the truck all of the time. The valet key does not unlock the lock for the glove department, but I never lock my glove dept anyway. This way, I could carry a much lighter door key routinely, but would have to forgo the advantage of remote entry with the fob. This is a trade-off. I do find the main fob key unwieldy and generally not all that useful. Jerry G

 

[kingpin748]

All I carry is the fob now and I love it. I guess it could be thinner but I don't think I want anymore than that. I replaced the deadbolt on my condo with a keypad and use the vehicle to get in through the garage.

Zero keys.

 

[Quentin]

All I carry is the fob now and I love it. I guess it could be thinner but I don't think I want anymore than that. I replaced the deadbolt on my condo with a keypad and use the vehicle to get in through the garage.

Zero keys.

I've thought about going that route on the door from the garage to the kitchen. A deadbolted front and back door is preferred.

As far as the OP, when I had 3 cars, I had 6 different sets of keys (9 if you counted the valet keys). Trying to keep all the keys on one ring made a huge mass in my front pocket and that was bothersome. So, we had 3 primary sets at 1/vehicle and a secondary set for each vehicle that only had a house key on it. This method also reduces the risk of losing 2 or 3 expensive key fobs if you lose one set of keys.

 

[kingpin748]

I've thought about going that route on the door from the garage to the kitchen. A deadbolted front and back door is preferred.

It's still a deadbolt. Its just got a keypad on it.

Keypad Deadbolt

 

[Quentin]

It's still a deadbolt. Its just got a keypad on it.

Keypad Deadbolt

A key operated deadbolt is what I was implying. Totally mechanical.

 

[Mason]

I wonder if the credit card sized lexus smart card key could be programmed to a 4runner. My dad has a LS460 and has the smart card key. Oddly enough the regular key fobs for the LS460 have the same FCC ID that my 4runner key has which makes me wonder if the card would be compatible.

^ This... Link to Club Lexus and the GX460 key

Looks to be something pretty cool to have if you think the stock one is too bulky, but who knows if it is compatible with our 4runners?

 

[PlanetAlaska-]

Clearly I'm in the minority and it is more an issue with my own neurosis than it is with Toyota's missing the mark. I'm a little surprised this doesn't bother other people with 2 cars more, but I can accept when I'm the problem.
:surfer:

I also don't like the smart key:

-cheap plastic and bigger than the 4th gen fob.

-the mechanical key inside the smart key will trigger the alarm when your key battery is dead and you want to unlock the door.

-you can't start the truck without pushing the brakes, which means you have to climb into the driver's seat first. An inconvenience only when it's cold and just want to start the car to warm it up while you brush snow off. But when you live in Alaska, that happens often.

-I don't know if the smart key will work at 40 below zero.

 

[myk1013]

thaks for posting pics snow&surf.

When I read "the size of a deck of cards" I was like WTF?! exaggeration to say the least....

We're ordering a Limited and it's coming in next month. Haven't seen the key fob yet and I'm glad it's not a deck of cards. My Infiniti's key fob is about the size of a pack of gum sticks.

Shouldn't be a problem for the ladies because the whole point of having a key fob is to keep it in your purse and still unlock and start the car. For us guys, key fob size does matter . . "smaller is better" I guess. Unless of course, you're the man-purse carrying type.