When you make purchases through links on this site, The Track Ahead may earn an affiliate commission. Also, these posts are based off my own experiences. I am not responsible for any action you take as a result of reading this. Learn More
Programming Toyota Keyless Entry Remote
It’s easy to program and use a remote key for your 4th generation Toyota 4Runner (make sure to check online to see if a blank Toyota keyless entry remote will work for your particular vehicle). Aftermarket remote costs can vary, but are usually pretty cheap; quality can be mediocre. OEM remotes are of much higher quality, but they are also extremely pricey. Here are some links to blank remotes you may purchase for use with the instructions below.
Aftermarket Remotes: Amazon / Ebay
OEM Remote: Ebay
If purchasing OEM, make sure what you are getting is an OEM product. Ebay listings can be misleading, so just make sure to read the description. Prices for an OEM remote can be almost $100, used OEM ones are much cheaper.
Instructions:
While in car, ensure that:
- Key is out of ignition.
- Driver door open, all other doors closed.
- Driver door unlocked.
Perform the following within 5 seconds:
- Insert key into ignition, then pull out.
- Insert key into ignition, then pull out again.
Perform the following within 40 seconds:
- Close, then open driver door.
- Close, then open driver door again.
- Insert key into ignition, then pull out again.
Perform the following within 40 seconds:
- Close, then open driver door.
- Close, then open driver door again.
- Insert key into ignition, and leave it there.
- Close driver door.
Turn ignition to ON, then turn to OFF.
– Do this 1 time to program a new remote, while retaining any previously programmed remotes.
– Do this 2 times to program a new remote, while erasing any previously programmed remotes.
– Do this 3 times to check how many remotes are currently programmed with the car (door locks will cycle the number of times to indicate how many remotes are programmed)
– Do this 5 times to erase all remotes programmed with the vehicle, without programming a new remote.
Remove key from ignition.
Within 3 seconds, the power door locks will lock then unlock automatically on its own.
– It will cycle lock/unlock 1 time if you chose to program a new remote, while retaining previous remotes.
– It will cycle lock/unlock 2 times if you chose to program a new remote, while erasing previous remotes.
– It will cycle lock/unlock 1-4 times to indicate how many remotes are currently programmed to the vehicle, if you chose to check how many remotes are already programmed.
– It will cycle lock/unlock 5 times if you chose to erase all remotes programmed.
If you are programming a new remote, the cycling of the locks once or twice (for the first two programming modes) will indicate that the ECU has entered programming mode.
Perform the following within 40 seconds:
- Press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the remote at the same time for 2 seconds.
Within 3 seconds:
- Press the lock button.
The power door locks will lock then unlock once to indicate the ECU has successfully been programmed. It will cycle twice if the programming is unsuccessful. If you are unsuccessful (door locks cycle twice), just try again as it might take more than one time to get it programmed successfully.
If you were successful programming the remote, your remote should beginning working as soon as you open the driver side door.
If you need to program a key fob for a 4th gen Toyota 4Runner, check out the this post for instructions on how to do that.
6 Comments
Hi there,
I followed your instructions, repeated the process a few times and it did not work
Hi Jorge,
I’m totally happy to help, but I’ll need more information. Maybe you can run me through the steps that you took? You can also email me by contacting me through the contact form if that’s easier for you to communicate though.
I’m in the middle of trying to do this now and found these instructions else where that hans’t worked for me either. I’ve read that you may need to disconnect the battery for a few mins to reset the programming on the vehicle, whatever that means. I’ll let you know if it works.
That’s really strange. I know there are two sets of instructions for programming Toyota keys out there on the net and one of them works and the other does not. The one I’ve included here seems to work for me; in fact, I recently programmed some new keys a few months ago and it worked without any issues. Let me know what you end up finding out.
Update, Your instruction worked perfectly. Turns out that all the difference came down to 10A blown fuse that I had to replace before i could go about doing the programming. The 10A fuse is listed for the interior dome lights. Thank you very much again Scott.
(weird but im sure the owners manual I dont have explain more)
Great! Glad it worked out.