Lost your key fob or bought a replacement online for your 2006 Toyota 4Runner? Programming a new key fob yourself can save you a trip and expense to the dealership. While you might find various methods online, this guide provides a straightforward and effective procedure specifically tailored for your 2006 Toyota 4Runner. Forget about complicated instructions that don’t work – follow these steps carefully to program your key fob quickly and get back on the road with ease. Remember, the process requires you to move through the steps at a consistent pace, so be ready to follow along without delay.
Here’s how to program your 2006 Toyota 4Runner key fob:
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Start with the Driver’s Door Open and Key Removed: Ensure the driver’s side door is wide open and the key is completely removed from the ignition switch. This is the starting point for initiating the programming sequence.
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Insert and Remove the Key Twice (Within 5 Seconds): Take your key and smoothly insert it into the ignition switch, then immediately remove it. Repeat this action once more, ensuring both insertions and removals are completed within a 5-second timeframe. This quick action helps to prepare the vehicle’s system for programming mode.
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Close and Open the Driver’s Door Twice (Within 40 Seconds): Next, close the driver’s door completely and then reopen it. Repeat this close and open action once more, ensuring both cycles are completed within 40 seconds of the previous step. This step further signals to the vehicle that you are initiating the key fob programming sequence.
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Insert and Remove the Key Once (Within 40 Seconds): Take your key and insert it into the ignition switch one time, and then immediately remove it. This should be done within 40 seconds after completing the door closing and opening sequence in the previous step.
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Close and Open the Driver’s Door Twice Again (Within 40 Seconds): Similar to step 3, close the driver’s door completely and then reopen it. Repeat this close and open action one more time, ensuring both cycles are within 40 seconds of the previous key insertion/removal.
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Insert Key, Close Door, and Select Programming Mode: Insert the key into the ignition switch and then close the driver’s door. Now, you need to select the programming mode by turning the ignition ON and OFF. Here’s how to choose your desired mode:
- Once (ON then OFF): This option programs a new remote transmitter code while keeping any previously programmed key fob codes active. Use this if you’re adding a key fob and want to keep your old ones working.
- Twice (ON then OFF, then ON then OFF again): This option programs a new remote transmitter code and erases all previously stored codes. Choose this if you want to replace a lost key fob and ensure only the new fobs you program will work. This is also useful if you are unsure how many key fobs are currently programmed to your vehicle.
- Three Times (ON then OFF, ON then OFF, ON then OFF): This is a check mode. Turn the ignition ON and OFF three times to check how many remote transmitters are currently registered to your 4Runner. The system will respond by locking and unlocking the doors a certain number of times, indicating the number of programmed key fobs.
- Five Times (ON then OFF repeated five times): This option erases all registered remote transmitter codes. This is a reset option if you want to start fresh and reprogram all your key fobs.
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Remove Key and Observe System Response: Take the key out of the ignition switch. At this point, the system should respond by automatically locking and unlocking the vehicle doors. The number of lock/unlock cycles will depend on the mode you selected in the previous step (once, twice, or five times). If you selected the check mode (ignition ON/OFF three times), the doors will lock and unlock slowly one to four times to indicate the number of currently registered key fobs.
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Program the Key Fob Buttons (Within 40 Seconds): Within 40 seconds of the system’s lock/unlock response, take the key fob you want to program and press and hold both the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons simultaneously for about 1.5 seconds.
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Press the LOCK Button (Within 3 Seconds): Immediately after holding both buttons, release them and then press and release only the LOCK button.
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System Confirmation: The vehicle’s system should now respond again by locking and unlocking the doors once to confirm successful key fob registration. If the doors lock and unlock twice, it indicates that the registration process has failed. In case of failure, carefully repeat the entire procedure from step 1.
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Program Additional Key Fobs (Within 40 Seconds, if needed): If you have additional key fobs to program, repeat steps 8 and 9 for each additional key fob within 40 seconds of the last successful registration confirmation. You can program up to a maximum of 4 remote transmitters for your 2006 Toyota 4Runner.
Exiting Programming Mode:
To exit the programming mode at any time, simply open the driver’s door.
Important Notes:
- Timing is Crucial: The timing in these steps is quite important. Ensure you are performing the actions within the specified timeframes (5 seconds, 40 seconds, 3 seconds) for successful programming. If you are too slow, the system might time out, and you’ll need to start over.
- Maximum Key Fobs: Your 2006 Toyota 4Runner can be programmed to recognize a maximum of 4 key fobs.
- Battery Condition: Ensure the batteries in your new key fob are fresh and have sufficient charge for programming.
- Troubleshooting: If you encounter issues, double-check each step and the timing. If it consistently fails, you might need to try again from the beginning, ensuring you are following each step precisely. In some cases, if you continue to have issues, it might be necessary to consult with a professional locksmith or Toyota dealership.
By following these detailed instructions, you should be able to successfully program your 2006 Toyota 4Runner key fob and enjoy the convenience of remote locking and unlocking once again.
