Removing the lock cylinder? 1990 4runner

[Deathcricket]

Keys were stolen. I talked to a locksmith and they said it's $25 each lock if I bring it in, $50 each lock if they come out. So I'm hoping to pop each door lock off and the ignition. I'm pretty sure I won't have any trouble with the doors, but has anyone done the ignition?

I tried googling the answer but every thread seems to indicate I need the keys and then have to turn it and pop a pin. Am I better off calling a locksmith for something like this or is it do-able you think? I'm a rookie on stuff like this, but the cheap bas**** in me wants to save $75.

I haven't even started on it yet, but will after work today. Was hoping to read up and get advice before I "got in there" Hehehe.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[DC runner]

Are you concerned the people who stole your keys know YOUR vehicle?

Because, if not.. and 99.9 percent of the time, when you lose keys or have them stolen, people HAVE 0 idea which car.

If this is the case, are you aware you can take your VIN number into a Toyota dealer and they can look up your key and cut you a new one?

Hell of a lot cheaper than what you are talking about.

I get that if you need new locks due to someone stealing your keys and KNOWING your vehicle, but this is an extreme rarity.

So. If you need new original keys, just pull your title and wander on down to your nearest Toyota dealer....

 

[Deathcricket]

Are you concerned the people who stole your keys know YOUR vehicle?

Because, if not.. and 99.9 percent of the time, when you lose keys or have them stolen, people HAVE 0 idea which car.

If this is the case, are you aware you can take your VIN number into a Toyota dealer and they can look up your key and cut you a new one?

Hell of a lot cheaper than what you are talking about.

I get that if you need new locks due to someone stealing your keys and KNOWING your vehicle, but this is an extreme rarity.

So. If you need new original keys, just pull your title and wander on down to your nearest Toyota dealer....

Very concerned. They went into my garage, stole my paintball guns, my carbon fiber mountain bike, and the keys to the 4runner parked in my driveway. I was actually able to roll it back from my driveway behind a secure gate, guarded by my 2 pitts and "disabled" in a couple places.

And yes, the garage was wide open, I was mowing the back yard at the time and left it open for ease to get tools, weed whacker, leave blower, etc. They only needed a second, hehe. So yes my concern is that they have my keys and will come back when I'm sleeping. I live in a nice family oriented neighborhood, kinda a shocker.

But yeah. it's gotta be a different key, although now you have me thinking, if I cheaply got the same keys from the dealership, and just put an alarm system on it, that might work I think and be about the same price. And i can be pretty studious about parking it behind the gate instead of just sitting in my driveway, hmmmm. I wasn't aware this was an option, thanks man!

 

[DC runner]

First, that is horrible. Sorry about that.. nothing worse than someone destroying a person's sense of space and security.


Well. You have a couple options. Do you have renters insurance? Homeowners? If so, they may pay for you to have the locks professionally redone at a dealer. Because the incident occurred at home, in your garage, the theft and the results of the theft can be covered by both car or homeowners. I am LESS sure about renters... and obviously, it depends on specific language in your homeowners.

I figure, since it is a 90', you probably do not have comp car insurance (makes sense) and only liability. Liability won't cover this... but if you have ANY form of home/renters, I suggest you call your agent and inquire.


Second. You COULD throw an engine kill switch on there, so even if they got in, they couldn't start it.. but that is not my personal opinion the way to go.

In this case, you are going about it the right way. You need to have it re-keyed.

My guess: Local teens.. punks that saw low hanging fruit. Had my very nice Mtn. bike rim stolen... and then, suddenly saw a very similar tire sitting in the garage next door.



If you DO grab all new locks/ignition set off a junker; make sure to grab the VIN from the truck it came from so the dealer can cut you keys. They usually require you to prove ownership via a title. A junk yard is required to have the title to take possesion, or get it... salvage. I have sold a few of my cars to yards and always signed my title to them.

If that isn't possible... Toyota "hides" the special key code on the truck. I had a 90' runner made in Canada, sold in Canada that someone brought to the US. I needed a new key made and Canada Toyota didn't keep records as long as US Toyota did, so they told me about the spot on the Truck where the unique KEY code is.

That CODE, when punched into ANY official Toyota key maker and ANY DEALER in the world... will tell the machine exactly how to cut the key. You do not NEED to prove ownership to do it this method. All they do is walk to the machine, type in the code and the cutter goes to work... the key worked perfectly.

On my 1990 4runner, the key code was stamped on the front passenger door key cylinder. Or a part connected to it.. I forget exactly, been a few years. Easy to get to.


Test on yours. Pull the door panel off your truck's front passenger door and pop the door lock cylinder off... it will be easily readable. Stamped code, 5 or 6 digits long. (Don't quote me on exact length, again, been a few years).

I have a sneaking suspicion that models print them in the same spot.. it would be prohibitively expensive to do EACH vehicle differently. Instead, I bet they pick a spot for each model and model year and set up a machine to give each car a code as it goes through production.

I could be wrong.. but I am willing to be your 1990 4runner, and one at a junk yard will have the code stamped in the same spot.

If that is the case, you can go to a pick and pull junk yard and pop the ignition and door lock cylinders and then take that code to the dealer and have them cut you keys to it.


This method would take a bit more time, but would probably be the cheaper route...l..

 

[Tom P.]

I don't know if this is helpful, or even is true, but when I was searching for info about reprogramming my key fob and keys I seem to remember directions for reprogramming the entire system. Presumably, your old keys won't work if the thieves return. Anyone know if that's true?

Btw, one ebay keys are about $15 and used fobs are about $40, and you can have a new key cut at Home Depot and programmed if you have the master key with you. There are directions on this site, too, for programming fobs. Good luck!

 

[DC runner]

He appears to have a 1990, so while he posted in the wrong forum, it also means a much simpler system. Also, on the 4th gens, while you can reprogram the KEY FOB part... the keys would still work. Even with an engine immobilizer, losing the keys (or having them stolen) means that the entire system has to be replaced because the original keys would continue to work.