(Solved…err, connected to power) 2001 python keyless entry help needed

(Solved, see post #19)

So I bought this 01 from the original owner, and I had forgotten that he said he had a keyless entry system on it until I found the remote in the glove compartment!

He had said that he thought the remotes battery was dead because it had stopped working but he hasn’t taken it in to get it fixed. And the green light on the remote is very dim, so that would seem to make sense.

my question is, where are the brains for these keyless entry usually installed in our trucks?And what do they look like?

This is my first truck with automatic locks, let alone an aftermarket keyless entry remote, so I just have no idea what I’m even looking for.
I need to locate it to figure out what system it is so I can figure out where to go from there.

Any info or pictures from anyone that might have a python system in their truck would be greatly appreciated!!

After I get the battery in the remote replaced, I want to try and program this again if it still doesn’t work.

 

Here is the remote, the thread was being weird with media for some odd reason I looked up the fcc iD on the remote but it can be used for a few different models so that wasn’t too helpful

 

All you should need is just new batteries,
Typically it’s installed under the dash on the left side and there might be a reset button, program button or valet button somewhere on the lower left of the dash or kick board on the left

 

I'm not exactly sure which model that key goes with from what I can find online as there are a few different looking boxes. It will probably be something like these though:



The factory location for the 1st gens is usually under the passengers side of the dash: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-do-you-determine-if-tacoma-came-with-keyless-entry.491446/

My past experience with aftermarket keyless entry was not good, and really they could install the box anywhere under the dash.

 

Thanks! I’m going to look a little closer for something like that, I know It has to be somewhere because he was the only owner, and he probably had the dealership he bought the truck from install it. Maybe I’ll pull out the old document folder he gave me and see if he has that documented. He even bought it locally very close to where I live

would it be possible that the python key was programmed to a factory keyless entry brain? Or would that be out of the question?

 

When the battery goes dead on the remote you don’t have to reprogram the remote.
If your getting a new remote then it has to be reprogrammed.
Just get a new battery 1st and your probably good to go.

 

That would be sweet if it just works.

 

I'm not sure if that's what happened but it's possible. There's a lot of cloned remotes out there but usually they look like the OEM one when this is done, the aftermarket kits with custom looking remotes usually only come with their own receiver box.

That's what I'm thinking too, a battery would be epic luck to fix it!

 

Well, no luck, the battery did not do it.
But I did find this mysterious button in my fuse areais this the valet/programming button that they ran to a convenient location? Guess I’ll find out

 

This is why I hate aftermarket alarms. I had a Viper on my '86 4Runner back in the day when they were considered the gold standard (unsure if they still are), and it was honestly more trouble than it's worth. Eventually malfunctioned and either the siren was constantly going off or it wouldn't work at all.

Ended up having a shop remove it completely.

If I were you I'd either take it to a shop and do just that, or depending on how handy you are, look up installation instructions for this alarm and do the reverse. Put that thing in the bin where it belongs.

Never even heard of python. Probably some cheap Viper knockoff.

 

Yeah that seems like a valet button, follow those wires!

Oh man in my old Civic I had one of these and it was nearly new. The unit went bad and it would literally shut my car off while on the freeway constantly. That was scary for me as a new driver, the shop that installed it didn't believe me when I was telling them it was the alarm shutting my car off but eventually took it back to look at it and just disconnected the engine cutoff function of the unit. Never again. I'm not sure why no one can make an aftermarket unit work as well as the OEM ones but someone really needs to figure it out.

 

Ya I’m pretty sure I don’t want to pay a shop to figure it out. This does not spark joy
Lol

 

It would be nice for the convenience but I’m not amped to try and figure it out. Might be awhile till I really try and get in there.

When looking online, it looked like python is what become viper? Or at least, to find the python key I ended up on a viper website at one point. Idfk honestly though.

 

Chase down the in-line fuse then for the alarm and see if it’s has power to the battery

 

Yes, valet button and resetting for a new remote for learning

 

Okay, I found the unit under the steering column, behind the air duct that goes to the left of the steering wheel.

Python 1000 ESP is the model, the remote is one of the originals that came with it, but it doesn't respond at all.

When following the transmitters learning instructions of the manual, I get zero response form the truck, there should be a chirping or the led light should blink after: opening the door, Turing ingintion on, then pressing the valet button the corresponding number of times and there holding to program. But nothing happens.

I am very unfamiliar with automatic locks/security systems, but if I understand correctly you are saying I need to find an in-line fuse for the alarm? or is it an in-line fuse that is feeding the power to the python unit?

I did notice one in-line fuse (circled in red below) while I had the dash removed, as well as two other standard fuses that are hooked up to the python system under the steering column, but neither of those are blown.

Could that be the in-line fuse of which you speak? all other fuses seem good.

 

Was referring to the main power to the unit,

Take your remote to an auto parts store that can test it to see if it's sending out a signal,
I think some places have these to see if your battery is not working

 

I did end up finding the unit and manual, python 1000esp, but, I get no response when I try to reprogram with the Valet button, the LED that is installed on the dash doesn't blink and there is no chirping to be heard.

Ya, this is already turned into a huge pain in my butt. But the keyless entry is nice. Damn.

 

When the solution it is something far more simple than you could’ve imagined, it’s nice,
but also frustrating. But mostly nice.

Turned out that at some point, someone disconnected the python 1000esp unit completely from the battery positive terminal, either the original owner or a mechanic maybe who kept having the alarm go off and forgot to put it back?

Either way it was super simple in the end, I just reconnected the wire to the positive battery terminal and now everything works like a charm.

I didn’t have to do anything else it just worked right away, despite not being connected to power for at least 2 years. A pleasant surprise.

 

The wire with the in line fuse going Infront of the fuse box was the culprit