2024 ORP Locked Me Out with Keys Inside..

Hey everyone, I had a weird incident this weekend when camping.

When we woke up and I started packing the car I unlocked all the doors, since I was opening and closing everything.

I placed my keys (key fob) in the cup holder. At some point my wife called me over and I walked away. I closed the drivers door (now all doors are closed, but still unlocked).

As I got distracted, I sat down with my wife. I heard a thud/click sound (the sound you hear when your doors are already locked and you keep pressing the lock button).

The sound kept repeating over and over so I walked over to the car to see what’s going on. I then realized I was now locked out.

The car continued making that sound and eventually stopped. I called roadside assistance and within an hour they came and got the door unlocked.

I was talking to the tow truck driver and he thought the whole situation was weird. He said the car should not have locked itself with the key fob inside.

I’m positive that I didn’t accidentally lock the doors before walking away (I’ve done it before, and the car unlocks automatically).

What was the strangest was that lock engaging sound over and over.

Is it possible that something went wrong with the key fob?

Thanks for any help

 

I tried locking the doors with the fob inside and the doors only lock momentarily and then unlock. That’s definitely an unfortunate situation for you. I hope you find out what’s causing this.

 

Looks like it's something is wrong, probably worth visit to a dealership and fix it under warranty. On the side note you can unlock your truck from Toyota app.

 

Do all models let you do that? I have a 24 ORP and my app only shows the tire pressure. I don’t think I can unlock or lock the doors. Maybe I’m missing something?

 

Did you buy the 4R new or used?

 

aftermarket alarm system by any chance?

 

The 4Runner was purchased brand new. Only about 3k miles on it. No aftermarket alarms, no aftermarket electronics other than some Meso dual color hatch lights (they just replace the OEM bulbs; no messing around with wiring).

Other than that I only replaced tires, and had the windows tinted.

I went outside to try to recreate the issue and can’t do it. No signs of any rodent damage either.

One thing that I did notice just now is that the car doesn’t lock itself when left unlocked anymore.

 

My Toyota app has Lock in Unlock buttons on the bottom of the main page, left and right from bigger "start" button. This is screnshoot from Google Play, my screen looks the same but with 4Runner instead of Rav4 : )

 

If mine is locked, the doors then unlocked with the remote and no doors are opened within a period of time, the doors will re-lock automatically.

Any chance there was something pushing up against the button while the FOB was in the cupholder?

 

Not a suggestion for the problem, just a habit recommendation. I never leave my keys inside the car. In my pocket only, or else in my hand. If I do have it running and I want to be outside, I put two windows down. I had a 1984 Supra once, and one time i closed the door and both doors locked. Might have been moisture.

 

Hmmm, yeah mine doesn’t have those options. May see if there’s some subscription I’m missing.

 

4Running Pals,

FWIW, I always roll down a window if the keys are inside of any of my "smart key" cars. My wife missed a whole day of work once because she got locked out of her car right in our driveway!

Something I've considered is making a copy of the mechanical key and hiding it under the car. It won't start the car, but it would open the door......

Andrew

 

I'm a mechanic now, have worked in body shops and mechanic shops my whole life. I trust no vehicle with the keys inside and windows up. I'm either putting the key on the roof, in the door, in my pocket etc. Too many times have a vehicle lock itself with the keys inside. I don't take the chance.

 

So what do you do with your key at the car wash? That is the only time I ever leave it in the car, but of course the windows have to be up.

 

I wash my own cars.

 

Keep it in the pocket maybe?

 

At home, I always leave the key fob inside the car (2021 Limited). Never had a problem with it locking and if it did, I've got my spare inside the house.

 

I change the battery in my FOB's once a year. Your battery may be low and the FOB was harder to detect. A sign of a low battery is a lack of range when you lock/unlock with the FOB. CR2032's aren't expensive. Cheap insurance.