I've heard that for these years/vehicles Toyota only made 15 different sets of keys (not sure if it's true, but I think it's believeable). Guess you got lucky, or unlucky, however you look at it.

I don't mean to turn the topic, but has anyone put different brand locks (like Ford, GM, etc.) in their toyota ignition and/or doors? I've heard of local gang rings going around with different toyota keys trying to get lucky. I'm hoping to take luck out of the equation. (I'm thinking stereo, cb etc., I've got kill switch's for the vehicle itself up the yin yang).

Yeah, I know of 8 seperate Yotas that I can start with my key, from '83-'89, I can't seem to get the doors open though, only the ignition. And yes, these are all owned by people I know!!

after mine got stolen twice in a month, with ignition screwdrivered and fuel door latch broken I asked the dealer what it would cost for both doors, ignition, tailgate and fuel door cylinders redone on the same key. $250 if I pulled em and installed em, $500-ish if they did it. I just leave the thing in the garage now.

take your key with you to the local junkyard... try it on all of the toyotas. I bought a truck that didn't have the lock in either door or the gas tank door. Tried my key on 5 different toyotas at the junk yard and it worked on 3 of them! There weren't very many key combinations made for these trucks... and the locks only run a few dollars each from the pick n pull...

Ken

I just went through this process on my '90 4Runner. The dealership can look up your key code based off the VIN number on newer vehicles, but mine was too old. I had copies of my worn out key made, but they were even worse than the original worn out key. So, the dealer told me to pull the passenger side door lock and bring it in to them. They said that Toyota stamped the keycode #'s on this lock (and only this lock as I found out). Knowing I could pull the rear tailgate lock assembly out faster, I did, and brought it to the dealer. Oops! I didn't listen well enough. Luckily I had tools with me and pulled the passenger side door lock out and sure enough, there was the code. He was able to make me a key within minutes, factory new! He wasn't sure why Toyota only put the code on the passenger door lock, but never-the-less, there it is.

Chances are that you could start those trucks with a screwdriver. The ignition cylinders seem to wear out long before the door locks. I can use several keys to start mine and then pull it out in the on position and it keeps running. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Mine does the exact same thing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />! Works out alright when you need to warm up the truck for a few minutes and don't want to leave the doors unlocked when you go back inside.

heh heh do that every day.

+1