Is it possible to lose the programming of your key?

[Texas05SE]

Okay, so I had something happen today that I haven't figured out quite yet, but when I called the dealer and talked to a service adviser it scared me.

My wife drives the T4R more than I do and this afternoon it wouldn't start for her. Today was likely the hottest day of the year and in all probability it is the battery going (still on the original Panasonic!), but the truck turned over great and when I tried to jump start it I tried everything I knew to get it started. No success so I went home to arrange a tow and service and when I described it to the dealer they said it sounds like I lost programming in the key.

Naturally I grabbed the spare keys and went to try again. This time it started. When we got her home I tried again with the original set and it started again so as far as I can tell both sets of keys work and it's probably still the battery. I will figure that out in the next couple days, but now I am wondering if losing programming is common.

Could I really be hundreds of miles away from civilization and my key could "lose programming" and I'm stranded? Really?

I know technology isn't fail safe (I have enough computer problems!), but if I ever get to take my dream trip across the country I am taking every T4R key with me if this is even remotely possible!

 

[DC runner]

I want to say like 99.9 that it is not the key... the key is a passive, non-energized device. It should last the life of the car.


The chip inside the key, if you have the immobilizer, is a near field RFD chip. Those things are practically indestructible. I put my money on the battery or the car side. The "scanner" is in your dash by where the ignition is... and those go out.

 

[Texas05SE]

I'm pretty sure it is the battery. Going to have that checked and replaced anyway since I know it's on borrowed time.

I just couldn't believe the way the adviser knew what it was right away. Almost making it sound common which would leave a lot of people stranded.

Thanks for your feedback. I certainly appreciate it. Tried to start it once more and it started.:zoom:

 

[boondoggle]

I'm inclined to agree with DC but then I googled around a bit and it sounds like a vague possibility. I'd think you'd have to have some serious electromagnetic source near the transponder to erase it or screw with it though. And if it started working again without being re-programmed it seems even less likely.

I'd think f the chip in the key were to go bad it would stay bad.

Did you happen to notice the anti theft light change it's blink pattern or anything when you turned the key?

 

[Texas05SE]

Around 8 months ago we replaced the Gulf States Toyota port installed alarm system with a clifford remote start/alarm. The truck (and new alarm) has worked flawlessly up until yesterday. It appears now that both keys work, but I didn't try it again this morning.

I do know that something triggered the alarm around noon yesterday (which my wife didn't hear, but another guy who works with her did) and then in the late afternoon it wouldn't start. As stated before it started about about an hour later with the spare keys.

My plan is to get a new battery and see if the starting problem repeats itself. I know with remote start they had to put a duplicate key behind the dash so it can remote start. Maybe the extreme heat yesterday was a part of the problem.

 

[Texas05SE]

So I think the problem has been figured out/solved. Yesterday I replaced the battery and it was time. I had been putting it off, cause that Panasonic battery is just so good, but after 7 years I was pushing my luck.

Today I decided that I would run some errands in the truck and had no problems till the first time I shut it off. Would not restart. Cranked hard, but no bueno. As I sat there and considered my options I noticed that the red light on the dash to the right of the clock flashed and never went off. It's the light with the outline of a car and has a key inset in it. Whether or not the key was in the ignition the light was always flashing. I had all of my keys with me including the clifford alarm remotes and the factory remotes. Nothing would make that light go away which led me to believe some part of the factory alarm was shutting things down and not letting me start the truck.

As luck would have it I was withing walking distance of Cartoys who installed the alarm. One of their techs drove over to my truck and unplugged the alarm/truck interface. One he did that and plugged it back in the light went out and the truck started right up. The culprit was a little black box about the size of a pack of gum that interfaces between the factory alarm harness and the clifford alarm. The thing also acts as the "dummy" key to allow remote start. He did a reflash of it with a firmware update and for now all is good. If it happens again at least I know what to do to fix it and will have to get a replacement.

For now crisis averted and I got a new battery to combat our consistent 100+ degree temperatures. One more reason to never change anything electronic that came from the factory I guess, but that remote start sure is nice (when it works)....