Lost your key fob or need to program a new one for your 1998 Toyota Corolla? Gaining keyless entry to your reliable Corolla doesn’t have to mean an expensive trip to the dealership. You can actually program your 1998 Toyota Corolla Key Fob yourself, right at home, with a simple procedure. This guide provides you with easy-to-follow steps to get your remote working again, saving you time and money.
Step-by-Step Programming Procedure for Your 1998 Toyota Corolla Key Fob
Before you begin, make sure you have all the key fobs you intend to program for your vehicle with you. The programming process needs to be completed for all remotes at the same time. Follow these steps carefully to successfully program your 1998 Toyota Corolla key fob:
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Preparation is Key: Begin with your key removed from the ignition. Ensure the driver’s side door is unlocked and open, and importantly, all other doors of your Toyota Corolla are completely closed.
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Ignition Key Dance: Within a quick 5-second window, insert your key into the ignition cylinder. Do not turn the key, simply insert and immediately remove it. Repeat this insert and remove action one more time, for a total of two insertions and removals.
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Door Cycling Sequence: Within 40 seconds of the previous step, you need to cycle the driver’s side door lock. Close the driver’s door, then open it. Repeat this close and open cycle once more. Following this, insert the key into the ignition again (do not turn it) and remove it one last time.
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Another Door Cycling and Ignition Step: Within another 40-second period, perform the door close and open cycle twice again. Close, then open, and then close and open again. After this, insert the key into the ignition and this time, leave it in the ignition cylinder. Close the driver’s door. Now, turn the ignition key to the “ON” position, and then immediately back to the “OFF” position. Do not start or crank the engine during this step. Finally, remove the key from the ignition.
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Confirmation of Programming Mode: If you have correctly followed the previous steps, within 3 seconds, you should observe the power door locks automatically locking and then unlocking. This lock-unlock cycle indicates that your 1998 Toyota Corolla has successfully entered the key fob programming mode. If you do not see this door lock cycle, return to step 1 and carefully repeat the procedure, or try the alternate procedure described below.
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Programming Your Remote: Within 40 seconds of entering programming mode, take your key fob remote and perform the following button sequence:
- A. Simultaneous Press: Press and hold both the “lock” and “unlock” buttons on the remote at the same time for approximately 1.5 seconds.
- B. Lock Button Hold: Immediately after releasing both buttons, press and hold only the “lock” button by itself. Within 10 seconds of this action, the door locks should cycle once (lock then unlock) to confirm successful programming of that remote. If the door locks cycle twice, it indicates the remote was not accepted. In this case, repeat steps A and B in step 6 for that specific remote. Repeat steps A and B for each additional 1998 Toyota Corolla key fob you need to program.
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Final Step: Open the driver’s door to conclude the programming process. Test all programmed key fobs to ensure they are working correctly with your 1998 Toyota Corolla’s keyless entry system.
Alternate Programming Procedure
If the standard procedure doesn’t work, or if you prefer an alternative method, try this procedure. Note that Toyota Avalon models from 1998 may require a slightly different button press in step 10.
- Doors Closed: Ensure all doors of your 1998 Toyota Corolla are closed.
- Open Driver’s Door: Open only the driver’s side door.
- Key Insertion and Removal: Insert your key into the ignition switch, and then immediately remove it.
- Door Lock Switch Cycle (5 Times): Locate the power door lock switch on your driver’s side door panel. Press and release the “LOCK” and “UNLOCK” buttons alternately at approximately 1-second intervals, repeating this cycle a total of 5 times.
- Close and Re-open Driver’s Door: Close the driver’s door and then re-open it.
- Door Lock Switch Cycle Again (5 Times): Repeat step 4, pressing and releasing the “LOCK” and “UNLOCK” buttons alternately at 1-second intervals, 5 times.
- Key into Ignition: Insert your key into the ignition switch.
- Ignition ON/OFF: Turn the ignition key to the “ON” position, and then immediately back to the “OFF” position. Do not start the engine.
- Remove Key: Remove the key from the ignition.
- Programming Mode Confirmation: The door locks should cycle automatically, confirming entry into programming mode.
- a. Toyota Avalon: For 1998 Toyota Avalon models, press and hold the “LOCK” button on the remote for a minimum of 1 second.
- b. All Other 1998 Toyota Corolla Models: For all other 1998 Toyota Corolla models and potentially other Toyota vehicles (verify compatibility), press and hold both the “LOCK” and “UNLOCK” buttons together for 1.5 seconds. Immediately after, press and hold only the “LOCK” button until the door locks cycle.
- Programming Confirmation: The door locks should cycle once to confirm successful programming of the remote. If they cycle twice, the programming procedure failed for that remote.
- Program Remaining Remotes: Repeat the button procedure from step 10 for any remaining key fobs you need to program.
- Final Step and Testing: Close the driver’s door. Thoroughly test all programmed remotes to ensure they are functioning correctly with your 1998 Toyota Corolla’s remote keyless entry system.
By following either of these procedures, you should be able to program your 1998 Toyota Corolla key fob and regain the convenience of keyless entry. If you encounter any difficulties, double-check each step and ensure you are within the specified time limits for each action.
