Imagine driving your Toyota on a stranded highway with no car repair shop. Suddenly, you discover that your key fob battery is dead! In some cases, there is even a possibility that you forget to bring your Toyota key fob.
Toyota manufacturers used to include a mechanical key system in their early car models.
Hence, driving a keyless-featured Toyota, like the latest model of Corolla, will be troublesome in such scenarios. So, can you drive Toyota without key fob?
In this article, we will discuss the working principle of the key fob, the guideline to change the key fob batteries, alternate ways, and the minimum stopping distance to drive your Toyota without the key fob.
Stay tuned!
How Does the Key Fob Work?
The Toyota car fob uses the RFID communication system to unlock and lock your car safely. It can also function in other features inside the vehicle, such as turning on the air conditioner, radio, and so on.
Once you press the button in the key fob, the transmitter sends a signal to the car’s IDM module, where the signal is received and analyzed to perform the specific command. This two-way communication road enables the vehicle to recognize the particular car fob.
Furthermore, one keyless car responds to one fob only. This feature increases the car’s security, leading to different programming for different fobs. With key fobs present in your Toyota model, you won’t have to touch your ignition switch anymore.
Therefore, it is now time to find out some of the advantages and disadvantages of your Toyota key fob.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Key Fob in Toyota
Advantages of Key Fob in Your Toyota
The advantages of a key fob are as follows:
- It gives you the simplicity of locking and unlocking your car from a specific distance, even initiating a remote start
- As each key fob is programmed uniquely for specific car models, there is less probability of a mug or theft attack in your car
- If you have a car without the key, do not worry because you have your key fob to back you up
- You can also control other electronic devices in your car
Disadvantages of Key Fob in Your Toyota
The disadvantages of a key fob are as follows:
- Losing the key fob will make unlocking and locking the car’s doors difficult. Eventually, you’d have to use your key, which will be problematic for keyless cars
- Having a key fob feature in the car makes it more expensive than traditional cars
- The signal strength of the key fob is minimal, and the device has to remain inside the car to function with all the electronic devices efficiently
- If there’s a dead fob battery, stopping the car will be a hassle for keyless entry or keyless ignition, and you’ll have to control the other electronic devices manually
Can You Drive Toyota Without Key Fob
Let’s come to the main question! Is it possible to drive a Toyota without a key fob? There might be two potential problems- either you have lost your key fob after igniting the engine, or the key fob battery is dead.
As we have mentioned before, the signal of the key ignition lock is weak. Once you have crossed the threshold distance, you’ll have no control over the electronic devices, and the car without the key will be impossible to shut down.
Luckily, the driving distance without the key knob is limitless for Toyota. The exact miles are dependent upon the fuel storage of your vehicle.
Furthermore, if you have an ignition switch, it will be easier to stop your car even with no key fobs.
As for keyless cars, unfortunately, you need to drive your Toyota vehicle until the fuel stored inside the engine runs to zero, and you reach a distance to empty situation.
Otherwise, you can park your Toyota, but there is no way to shut the engine manually unless cutting down the wires.
Therefore, if you know your key fob is malfunctioning, we suggest calling for distress help from a family member or friend.
Alternative Ways to Drive a Toyota Without the Key Fob
So, what to do when your key fob battery dies or you have lost such a device? Some vehicle models stop after a certain driving distance, and a push start keeping the gear on might do the trick.
If not, follow this article section to discover the other processes of driving a Toyota without any key fob.
Using Mobile App to Access the Start Button
A recent Toyota Camry and Corolla model has another fantastic feature that enables you to drive your vehicle without a key fob.
The manufacturers of Toyota include a mobile app that requires advanced setting options and lets your control engine shut, lock, unlock the doors, and much more control of electronic devices.
Of course, you need to connect your smartphone to suitable mobile data and connect to the GPS of your Toyota to enable such a feature.
But, the point to be noted, this is not a permanent solution as the response time of the mobile remote control is not much reliable.
Hotwiring the Vehicle
If you are already inside the car without the key fob or the fob’s battery is dead, then hotwiring the vehicle might get it to start driving.
Hotwiring means bypassing the ignition lock without a key fob and directly connecting it to the switching system.
Hotwiring a Toyota vehicle is a complex process; in most cases, drivers cannot perform such shortcut methods. Therefore, replace the key fob as soon as possible to avoid such future hassle.
Install a New Engine Control Unit (ECU) Module
Finding the exact model might be difficult if you have lost your key fob battery or completely lost the whole key fob model. Hence, you can install a new Engine Control Unit module inside your car that comes with a new model of key fob.
The only problem with this alternative is that you’ll require a mechanic to perform the installation, which will charge some service money from your pocket.
Initiating Push Start Driving
Initiating a push start means pushing your Toyota some distance while keeping the gear on. The engine will fire up, and you can drive without a key fob.
Though this process is cheap, it requires enough mechanical support to push the vehicle, which will be a hassle.
Changing the Key Fob Battery
This process is only valid if you have not lost your key fob but dead batteries are inside it. If you already have pair of fresh batteries inside the glove compartment of your Toyota, replace them immediately and take control of your vehicle.
Do you know how to change the key fob batteries? Do not worry! We have included such a guideline in the later section for your better knowledge.
How to Change the Batteries ofa Key Fob?
If your Toyota lacks a fresh key fob battery, it requires replacement. You must learn how to open the key fob case to insert new batteries.
First, there is a small button at the side of the key fob. Once you have pressed it, a key-like structure will come out, and you will hook the key fob open.
You’ll notice the circuit of the key fob and the module that sends and receives the signal from the car.
Besides the module, you’ll see the batteries of the Toyota key fob. Mainly; the manufacturers use CR2032 batteries that provide good longevity.
Replace the old batteries with fresh ones and carefully close the module and the upper case of the key fob. After that, test your key fob to check whether it works perfectly.
If you have noticed any kind of malfunctioning, then the problem might be the signal transmission behind the key fob module. We suggest giving it a check for assurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is It Possible to Drive a Toyota Without the Help of a Key Fob?
Yes! It is possible to drive a Toyota without a key fob. But the thing is, you will not be able to shut it down completely. Therefore, you must keep the engine running while you enjoy quality time with others.
Moreover, a key fob is also used to control other car features, such as the air conditioner, radio, door lock unlock option and many more. Maintaining such features without the key fob will be challenging using a keyless ignition car.
- What is the Driving Distance of Toyota with Any Key Fob?
Toyota has no limited driving distance without the help of a key fob. You can drive your car without any hassle if you have sufficient fuel inside the engine.
But the problem is that you cannot completely shut down without your key fob, so you must keep it running until the fuel runs out. Therefore, if you ever lose the key fob or have worn key fob batteries, replace them with new ones immediately.
- What are the Ways to Start a Toyota without a Key Fob?
If you are in a hurry and need to start your car but don’t have a key fob, there are two ways to establish the engine run- hotwiring and push start. Earlier models of Toyota have a key ignition start system; therefore, losing the key fob does not create a problem.
Conclusion
Once you have lost a specific key fob or there are dead batteries inside the key fob, driving will be troublesome, not to mention starting the car.
So, can you drive Toyota without key fob? We have found Toyota’s driving distance without the key fob is limitless, and you cannot shut down the vehicle.
You must keep it running while the fuel deficiency will automatically shut down your vehicle. In case of emergencies where you are not able to manage a key fob, there are some alternatives we’d like you to follow.
In the meantime, get a new key fob or change the old batteries with new ones.
Have fun driving!
About the author
Marcus Brown is editor-in-chief of The FatMech and is a mechanic with ten years' experience based in London, UK. Having worked for major dealerships for many years, Marcus now works for a local independent garage and has experience working on nearly every make and model of car. Marcus also has a passion for writing and teaching, which is where the idea for The FatMech came from. In his spare time, Marcus enjoys playing golf, doing home renovations and gardening. He lives just outside London with his wife and son.