Toyota 4Runner (2020 year). Manual - part 7

104

3-1. Key information

4RUNNER (U)

To  take  out  the  mechanical  key,
push the release button and take
the key out.

The  mechanical  key  can  only  be
inserted  in  one  direction,  as  the
key only has grooves on one side.
If  the  key  cannot  be  inserted  in  a
lock  cylinder,  turn  it  over  and  re-
attempt to insert it.
After  using  the  mechanical  key,  store  it  in  the  electronic  key.  Carry  the
mechanical key together with the electronic key. If the electronic key bat-
tery  is  depleted  or  the  entry  function  does  not  operate  properly,  you  will
need the mechanical key. (



P. 510)

■

Panic mode



Vehicles without a smart key system



Vehicles with a smart key system

■

When required to leave the vehicle’s key with a parking attendant

Lock the glove box as circumstances demand. (



P. 359)



Vehicles without a smart key system

Carry  the  master  key  for  your  own  use  and  provide  the  attendant  with  the
valet key.



Vehicles with a smart key system

Remove the mechanical key for your own use and provide the attendant with
the electronic key only.

Using the mechanical key (vehicles with a smart key system)

When 

  is  pressed  for  longer  than

about  one  second,  an  alarm  will  sound
intermittently  and  the  vehicle  lights  will
flash  to  deter  any  person  from  trying  to
break into or damage your vehicle.
To stop the alarm, press any button on the
wireless remote control.

When 

  is  pressed  for  longer  than

about  one  second,  an  alarm  will  sound
intermittently  and  the  vehicle  lights  will
flash  to  deter  any  person  from  trying  to
break into or damage your vehicle.
To stop the alarm, press any button on the
electronic key.

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If you lose your keys

New genuine keys can be made by your Toyota dealer using the other key
(vehicles  without  a  smart  key  system)  or  mechanical  key  (vehicles  with  a
smart key system) and the key number stamped on your key number plate.
Keep the plate in a safe place such as your wallet, not in the vehicle. 

■

When riding in an aircraft

When  bringing  a  key  with  wireless  remote  control  function  onto  an  aircraft,
make sure you do not press any buttons on the key while inside the aircraft
cabin. If you are carrying the key in your bag etc., ensure that the buttons are
not likely to be pressed accidentally. Pressing a button may cause the key to
emit radio waves that could interfere with the operation of the aircraft. 

■

Conditions affecting operation



Vehicles without a smart key system

The wireless remote control function may not operate normally in the follow-
ing situations:

●

When the wireless key battery is depleted

●

Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large dis-
play, airport or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electrical
noise

●

When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone or other wireless communi-
cation device

●

When the wireless key is in contact with, or is covered by a metallic object

●

When other wireless keys (that emits radio waves) are being used nearby

●

If window tint with a metallic content or metallic objects are attached to the
rear window



Vehicles with a smart key system



P. 122

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3-1. Key information

4RUNNER (U)

■

Key battery depletion



Vehicles with a smart key system

●

The standard battery life is 1 to 2 years. 

●

If the battery becomes low, an alarm will sound in the cabin when the engine
stops.

●

As the electronic key always receives radio waves, the battery will become
depleted even if the electronic key is not used. The following symptoms indi-
cate  that  the  electronic  key  battery  may  be  depleted.  Replace  the  battery
when necessary. (



P. 442)

• The smart key system or the wireless remote control does not operate.
• The detection area becomes smaller.
• The LED indicator on the key surface does not turn on.

●

To avoid serious deterioration, do not leave the electronic key within 3 ft. (1
m) of the following electrical appliances that produce a magnetic field:
• TVs
• Personal computers
• Cellular phones, cordless phones and battery chargers
• Recharging cellular phones or cordless phones
• Table lamps
• Induction cookers



Vehicles without a smart key system

If the wireless remote control function does not operate, the battery may be
depleted. Replace the battery when necessary. (



P. 442)

■

Precautions when disconnecting the battery (vehicles with a smart key
system)

●

In some cases, it may not be possible to unlock the doors using the smart
key system immediately after the battery has been disconnected. Use the
wireless remote control or the mechanical key to lock or unlock the doors.

●

The engine may not start on the first attempt after reconnecting the battery
but will start normally after the second attempt. This is not a malfunction.

●

The engine switch mode is memorized by the vehicle. When the battery is
reconnected, the system will return to the mode it was in before the battery
was disconnected. Before disconnecting the battery, turn the engine switch
off.

If you are unsure what mode the engine switch was in when the battery was
disconnected, be especially careful when reconnecting the battery.

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Replacing the battery



P. 442

■

Confirmation of the registered key number

The number of keys already registered to the vehicle can be confirmed. Ask
your Toyota dealer for details.

■

If a wrong key is used (vehicles with a smart key system)

The key cylinder rotates freely to isolate inside mechanism.

■

Certification for wireless remote control



For vehicles sold in the U.S.A.

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3-1. Key information

4RUNNER (U)



For vehicles sold in Canada

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NOTICE

■

To prevent key damage

●

Do not drop the keys, subject them to strong shocks or bend them.

●

Do not expose the keys to high temperatures for long periods of time.

●

Do not get the keys wet or wash them in an ultrasonic washer etc.

●

Do not attach metallic or magnetic materials to the keys or place the keys
close to such materials.

●

Do not disassemble the keys.

●

Do not attach a sticker or anything else to the surface of the electronic key
and key (with a wireless remote control function).

●

Vehicles with a smart key system: Do not place the keys near objects that
produce magnetic fields, such as TVs, audio systems and induction cook-
ers, or medical electrical equipment, such as low-frequency therapy equip-
ment.

■

Carrying the electronic key on your person (vehicles with a smart key
system)

Carry the electronic key 3.9 in. (10 cm) or more away from electric appli-
ances  that  are  turned  on.  Radio  waves  emitted  from  electric  appliances
within 3.9 in. (10 cm) of the electronic key may interfere with the key, caus-
ing the key to not function properly.

■

In case of a smart key system malfunction or other key-related prob-
lems (vehicles with a smart key system)

Take your vehicle with all the electronic keys provided with your vehicle to
your Toyota dealer.

■

When an electronic key is lost (vehicles with a smart key system)

If the electronic key remains lost, the risk of vehicle theft increases signifi-
cantly.  Visit  your  Toyota  dealer  immediately  with  all  remaining  electronic
keys that was provided with your vehicle.

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3-1. Key information

4RUNNER (U)

◆

Smart key system (if equipped)

Carry the electronic key to enable this function.

Grip the driver’s door handle
to  unlock  the  door.  Grip  the
passenger’s  door  handle  to
unlock all the doors. 

Make  sure  to  touch  the  sensor
on the back of the handle.
The  doors  cannot  be  unlocked
for 3 seconds after the doors are
locked.

Touch the lock sensor (the indentation on the upper part of the
door handle) to lock the doors.

Check that the door is securely locked.

◆

Wireless remote control



Vehicles without a smart key system

Locks all the doors

Check  that  the  door  is  securely
locked.

Unlocks all the doors

Pressing the button unlocks the
driver's  door.  Pressing  the  but-
ton  again  within  3  seconds
unlocks the other doors.
Press and hold to open the win-
dows and moon roof.

*

 

(



P. 164, 172)

*

: This setting must be customized at your Toyota dealer.

Side doors

Unlocking and locking the doors from the outside

1

2

1

2

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

Vehicles with a smart key system

Locks all the doors

Check  that  the  door  is  securely
locked.

Unlocks all the doors

Pressing the button unlocks the
driver's  door.  Pressing  the  but-
ton  again  within  3  seconds
unlocks the other doors.
Press and hold to open the win-
dows and moon roof.

*

 

(



P. 164, 172)

*

: This setting must be customized at your Toyota dealer.

◆

Key

Turning the key operates the doors as follows:



Vehicles without a smart key system

Locks all the doors

Turn  and  hold  to  close  the  win-
dows and moon roof.

*

 

(



P. 164, 172)

Unlocks all the doors

Driver’s  side  only:  Turning  the
key  unlocks  the  driver’s  door.
Turning  the  key  again  unlocks
the other doors.
Turn and hold to open the windows and moon roof.

*

 (



P. 164, 172)

*

: This setting must be customized at your Toyota dealer.



Vehicles with a smart key system

The  doors  can  also  be  locked  and  unlocked  with  the  mechanical
key. (



P. 510)

1

2

1

2

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3-1. Key information

4RUNNER (U)

■

Operation signals



Vehicles without a smart key system

The  emergency  flashers  flash  to  indicate  that  the  doors  have  been  locked/
unlocked. (Locked: once; Unlocked: twice)



Vehicles with a smart key system

A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate that the doors
have been locked/unlocked. (Locked: once; Unlocked: twice)

■

Security feature



Vehicles without a smart key system

If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after the vehicle is
unlocked, the security feature automatically locks the vehicle again.



Vehicles with a smart key system

If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after the vehicle is
unlocked,  the  security  feature  automatically  locks  the  vehicle  again.  (How-
ever,  depending  on  the  location  of  the  electronic  key,  the  key  may  be
detected as being in the vehicle. In this case, vehicle may be unlocked.)

■

When the door cannot be locked by the lock sensor on the upper part of
the door handle (vehicles with a smart key system)

■

Door lock buzzer

If  an  attempt  to  lock  the  doors  is  made  when  a  door  is  not  fully  closed,  a
buzzer sounds continuously. Fully close the door to stop the buzzer, and lock
the vehicle once more.

■

Alarm (if equipped)

Locking the doors will set the alarm system. (



P. 79)

■

If the smart key system or the wireless remote control does not operate
properly

Vehicles with a smart key system: Use the mechanical key to lock and unlock
the doors. (



P. 510)

Replace the battery with a new one if it is depleted. (



P. 442)

If the door will not lock even when the top-
side sensor area is touched, try touching
both  the  topside  and  underside  sensor
areas at the same time.

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◆

Door lock switches

Locks all the doors
Unlocks all the doors

◆

Inside lock buttons

Locks the door
Unlocks the door

The  front  doors  can  be  opened
by  pulling  the  inside  handle
even  if  the  lock  buttons  are  in
the lock position.

Unlocking and locking the doors from the inside

1

2

1

2

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3-1. Key information

4RUNNER (U)

Move the inside lock button to the lock position.
Close the door.



Vehicles without a smart key system
The door cannot be locked if either of the front doors is open and
the key is in the engine switch.



Vehicles with a smart key system
The door cannot be locked if the engine switch is in ACCESSORY
or IGNITION ON mode, or the electronic key is left inside the vehi-
cle. However, the key may not be detected correctly and the door
may be locked.

The door cannot be opened from
inside the vehicle when the lock is
set.

Unlock
Lock

These locks can be set to prevent
children  from  opening  the  rear
doors.  Push  down  on  each  rear
door switch to lock both rear doors.

Locking the doors from the outside without a key

Rear door child-protector lock

1

2

1

2

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The following functions can be set or canceled:

For instructions on customizing, refer to P. 547.

■

Setting and canceling the functions

To  switch  between  setting  and  canceling,  follow  the  procedure
below:

Vehicles without a smart key system: Close all the doors and turn
the engine switch to the “ON” position. (Perform step 2 within 20
seconds.)
Vehicles with a smart key system: Close all the doors and turn
the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode. (Perform step 2 within
20 seconds.)

Automatic door locking and unlocking systems

Function

Operation

Speed linked door locking function

All  doors  are  automatically  locked
when  vehicle  speed  is  approxi-
mately 12 mph (20 km/h) or higher.

Shift  position  linked  door  locking
function

All  doors  are  automatically  locked
when shifting the shift lever to posi-
tion other than P.

Shift  position  linked  door  unlocking
function

All doors are automatically unlocked
when shifting the shift lever to P.

Driver's  door  linked  door  unlocking
function
(vehicles  without  a  smart  key  sys-
tem)

All doors are automatically unlocked
when driver's door is opened within
10 seconds after turning the engine
switch to “ACC” or “LOCK”.

Driver's  door  linked  door  unlocking
function
(vehicles with a smart key system)

All doors are automatically unlocked
when driver's door is opened within
10 seconds after turning the engine
switch off.

1

116

3-1. Key information

4RUNNER (U)

Shift the shift lever to P or N,
and  press  and  hold  the
driver's  door  lock  switch
(

or

) 

for 

approxi-

mately  5  seconds  and  then
release.

The  shift  lever  and  switch  posi-
tions  corresponding  to  the
desired  function  to  be  set  are
shown in the following table.
Use the same procedure to can-
cel the function.

When the setting or canceling operation is complete, all the doors are
locked and then unlocked.

2

Function

Shift lever 

position

Driver’s door lock switch 

position

Shift  position  linked
door locking function

P

Shift  position  linked
door unlocking function

Speed linked door lock-
ing function

N

Driver's  door  linked
door unlocking function

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Switching the door unlock function (vehicles with a smart key system)

It is possible to set which doors the entry function unlocks using the wireless
remote control. 

Turn the power switch off.

When the indicator light on the key surface is not on, press and hold 
or 

 for about 5 seconds while pressing and holding 

. 

The setting changes each time an operation is performed, as shown below.
(When changing the setting continuously, release the buttons, wait for at least
5 seconds, and repeat step 2.)

■

Customization

Settings (e.g. unlocking function using a key) can be changed. 
(Customizable features: 



P. 547)

1

2

WARNING

■

To prevent an accident

Observe the following precautions while driving the vehicle.
Failure to do so may result in a door opening and an occupant throwing out
of the vehicle, resulting in death or serious injury.

●

Ensure that all doors are properly closed and locked.

●

Do not pull the inside handle of the doors while driving. 
Be especially careful for the front doors, as the doors may be opened even
if the inside lock buttons are in locked position.

●

Set the rear door child-protector locks when children are seated in the rear
seats.

Unlocking doors

Beep

Holding  the  driver's  door  handle
unlocks only the driver's door. 

Exterior: Beeps 3 times
Interior: Beeps once

Holding  the  front  passenger’s  door
handle unlocks all the doors.

Holding  either  front  door  handle
unlocks all the doors.

Exterior: Beeps twice
Interior: Beeps once

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4RUNNER (U)

3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors

●

Locks and unlocks the doors (



P. 110)

●

Starts the engine (



P. 212)

■

Antenna location

Antennas outside the cabin
Antennas inside the cabin
Antenna outside the luggage
compartment

Smart key system





: If equipped

Function summary

The  following  operations  can  be  performed  simply  by  carrying
the electronic key on your person, for example in your pocket.
(The driver should always carry the electronic key.)

1

2

3

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Effective  range  (areas  within  which  the  electronic  key  is
detected)

When  locking  or  unlocking
the doors

The  system  can  be  operated
when the electronic key is within
about 2.3 ft. (0.7 m) either of the
outside  front  door  handles  and
back  door.  (Only  the  doors
detecting  the  key  can  be  oper-
ated.)

When  starting  the  engine  or
changing 

engine 

switch

modes

The  system  can  be  operated
when the electronic key is inside
the vehicle.