Help needed: truck acting like key in ignition.

Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster. Thanks in advance for any help, it's much appreciated and I apologize if this ha already been answered, but my search didn't reveal anything.

My truck has recently started acting up: Often when I park and take my keys out of the ignition my truck beeps and my central locking/fob won't work. I doesn't happen all the time and the fob does work when there's no beeping. As far as I can tell the truck seems to think that the keys are still in the ignition or that a door is ajar. I've tried re-initializing the key fob, I replaced my battery with a new OEM recently and nothing has changed.

I'm guessing it's the ignition or an electrical fault? Has anyone dealt with something similar? Any tests I can run?

Cheers

 

What do you call a guy who hangs out with 3 musicians all the time?

A drummer

No one responded and I wanted to say and Welcome! Thanks for joining and not just being a stalker, ya creep.

Sure sounds like an ignition issue. Is there any way, when it thinks it's still in there, that a jiggle on the key, before taking it out again, makes it go away? Some more testing on what causes it, what fixes it and other minute details would surely go a long ways.

 

Sounds like the cylinder to me.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

When it does this check to see if you have a door ajar lamp illuminated in the dash.



It could be as simple as a defective door switch. I've not seen too many ignition switches go bad, but I have seen many defective door switches.

 

Thanks for the welcome and the replies guys.

So I’ve tried wiggling the key, and reinserting it multiple times on numerous occasions with no effect, so that doesn’t seem to be the culprit.

Yes, the door ajar symbol is on, but that’s because it only happens when the door is open. If the door is closed and my key is in the ignition the truck doesn’t care. As soon as I go to get out it beeps at me as if the key is still in. If it’s beeping and I close the door the fob won’t work.

 

So If I understand you:

The key is out of the ignition.
The Doors are closed and the door ajar light is off.
When you open the door the truck beeps like the key is in the ignition.
And the doors will not lock.

That does sound like an ignition switch issue.

 

This may help:

Key reminder circuit:

http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old...toyewd/06toypdf/ewd/2006/tacoma/h/em01d16.pdf

Door Lock Control:

http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old...toyewd/06toypdf/ewd/2006/tacoma/h/em01d26.pdf

The switch that is part of the ignition switch is labeled " U1 Unlock Warning Switch " it is used for both circuits.

 

That’s correct, the doors will not lock with the fob or lock button on door, just with a key in the door. But it’s intermittent and I can’t identify anything that triggers it.

 

Thank you, I’ll check that out.

 

The switch that tells the truck that the key is in the ignition is that yellowish white piece in this pic. As a temporary fix, just unplug the connector from it. This should make the truck think there is no key in the ignition lock. BEWARE, defeating this switch will allow you to lock the keys in the car.

To remove this switch, there are 2 plastic barbs that you squeeze together and then the switch slides off sideways.

I don't know if you can buy that little switch separately, but if you can't, then buy a complete Camry ignition lock assembly off ebay and also swap over the illuminated ignition ring. Make sure you get one with the pigtail for the illuminated ignition ring. There are 2 extra wires to hook up.

It's also possible that the lock cylinder is just all gummed up and activating the switch with the key out.

 

Wow. I wonder what they used to do before they had these switches .................................

Good info!

 

Thanks, that’s awesome. That’ll at least help me narrow down what the problem is if nothing else. I assume when you buy a new ignition assembly it comes with keys? Does it also come with door locks? Or do you have to order those separately and have them re-keyed?

Cheers guys

 

If your ignition lock cylinder is otherwise functioning properly, there is no reason to replace it. If unplugging that switch solves your problem, you either have a gummed up lock cylinder or a bad switch.

If the lock cylinder is gummed up, a locksmith can repair it.

If the switch is bad, and IF it's not sold separately, buying a used Camry lock cylinder get's you the added benefit of getting an illuminated ignition ring. You're not going to use the Camry lock cylinder. You're only going to use the switch, ring, and pigtail.

Also, if you need to remove that switch, I think there is a pin that pushes on the switch. I can't remember if putting the key in makes the pin extend, or if the pin extends when the key is removed. Regardless, make sure you don't ham fist the switch and break off the pin.

 

Thanks for the clarification Muddinfun

 

The local locksmith I went to last year suggested using Triflo Superior Lubricant. Spray a bit into the lock cylinder, insert the key a few times wiping away any crud on the key each time it is removed. Repeat the process until the key comes out clean. I cleaned the grime/lint out the lock cylinder on my wife’s Pilot using this method.

 

Thanks, I tried this out today and it seemed to help a tiny bit. But more importantly it confirmed that it is the ignition.

 

This response is suuuuuuper late, but I figured I'd post it in case someone has the same issue. In the end the spring in the ignition switch was broken. So when you removed the key, the spring wasn't pushing the contacts apart which will tell the truck the key is no longer in the ignition. I removed the switch and replaced the spring with one from a BIC mechanical pencil or maybe it was a click pen. Either way it was a quick and easy fix that saved me $120 (what Toyota wanted for a new switch) and a whole lot of headache. I know my thanks are real late, but thanks again to all those that helped with info.

 

So, are you saying that it was the spring inside that yellowish white switch that I posted the pic of? If so, that switch is $46 from Camelback Toyota. The part number is 84052-71010. If your Toyota dealer wanted $120 for that switch, that's robbery. I need to order 1 for my truck, as the electrical contacts are worn and it doesn't always register that the key is in the ignition. This could allow the keys to get locked inside the truck.

 

Do you literally just welcome everyone and not answer their question no matter what it is?