The days when hammering out the door lock and hot wiring a pickup truck was all it took to steal it are long gone. Modern vehicles have a lot more electronics that operate them and have become considerably more intricate. Anti-theft systems are related to that and can include devices like alarms, glass breakage sensors, and immobilizers.
These trucks can still be taken, though. It’s probable that particular Tacoma model years are more likely to be stolen than others. The optional anti-theft gear available on each Tacoma generation is listed in the following table:
In This Article...
Fake the key signal
Security systems and engine immobilizers on Tacomas can be “hacked simply like any home computer.” Thieves will arrive with a laptop and a program that enables them to deceive the security system into believing you are using the key fob and the appropriate key with the chip in it to unlock the door.
They can accomplish this in a matter of seconds, after which they can steal the vehicle just like any other.
Pick it up with a tow truck
Some auto burglars have incredible bravery, which may surprise you. Some of them are brave enough to steal your Tacoma in broad daylight while pretending it was parked improperly by arriving with a tow truck. There is nothing you can do to stop it in this situation. Your truck can be fitted with any alarm, immobilizer, or mechanical deterrent, but physical pickup is still feasible.
Get the keys
Taking the keys is another typical tactic used to steal Tacomas. It occurs more frequently than you might imagine. A very daring burglar may occasionally enter your home and take the keys from their hiding place. This is what happened at the Toyota dealership I previously described; the intruders knew where to look for the keys and forced their way inside.
However, this occurs more frequently when people forget to take their keys out of the ignition. In the winter, several Canadians enjoy letting their cars warm up by running them in the driveway. To enable us to accomplish this while keeping the doors secured and the alarm armed, many of us will install remote starters.
However, many people also simply start their car outside before returning inside to wait a few more minutes for it to warm up. The police remind us of all the car thefts that take place in this manner every winter.
Want to know more about the Toyota Tacoma of the second generation? Visit my buyers’ guide at this link:
Without a key, how can I start my truck?
Using a flat-head screwdriver as leverage to start a Ford F-150 without a key is the simplest method. Simply insert the screwdriver’s flat head into the ignition and crank it like you would a regular key.
Your truck will start using the screwdriver as a “key” if it is one of the aforementioned trucks and has a fractured ear or a starter that does not have the grooves and ear completely intact.
You will probably have a remote to start your car if this doesn’t work or if your truck is a later model that doesn’t need a physical key to start. You can always utilize equipment to capture the signal the remote would transmit to the car if you lose that one.
You can also break the steering pin in the steering wheel if you are unable to start the truck with a flat-head screwdriver or any other tool that aids in keyless entry.
Although it won’t turn on the ignition, doing this will free up the steering wheel and let you control the car. This is useful if your car’s battery is dead and the steering wheel is locked, making it impossible to move the car with the key.
How can a car be started without using the ignition switch?
To jumpstart your car, utilize a portable jump starter or a different vehicle. Using a jumper cable attached to another vehicle or a portable jump starter. Your car can be jumpstarted fairly easily. Connecting will instantly reveal the battery and ignition coil.
Connect the battery’s positive connection to the ignition coil’s positive side. Additionally, locate the starter solenoid and connect it to the positive battery terminal. Then, short the solenoid’s terminal to the location where the ignition switch connects by unplugging the ignition switch wire from the device. Can you hear the engine revving?
The ignition coil is connected in order to supply power to the dashboard so that the starting solenoid can be used to jump-start the vehicle. Quite simple to follow.
How do I use Remote Start with my Toyota Tacoma?
Verify that your Toyota car has remote start functionality before utilizing it. Simply press the Lock button three times if using a physical key fob for remote starting. The first two buttons must be pressed quickly one after the other, and the third button must be held down for around three seconds.
How do I Remote Start using the Remote Connect app?
A Toyota app can be downloaded for iOS or Android devices. Once you’ve logged in, tap and hold the “Engine Start” icon for a few seconds. If the remote start is successful, a circle should spin around the start button, and you’ll get a notification. The process is the same when turning off the engine remotely.
How long will the engine run after a Remote Start?
Your Tacoma engine will run for 10 minutes after you turn on Remote Start before shutting off. To add another 10 minutes to the timeout period, hit the lock button once more. Your Tacoma engine will automatically switch off after 20 minutes of idle time, and you will need to manually start it again.
Is it simple to steal a Toyota?
The NICB Hot Wheels list has featured the Toyota Camry before. 16,915 Toyota Camrys were stolen in 2020. It now ranks as the sixth most stolen car in the country. Additionally, that is an 8% rise from 2019.
Due to their outdated security and anti-theft features and older design, early Camrys are far more likely to be stolen. Late-model Camrys, however, are also targets of auto theft. The most frequently stolen Toyota Camry in 2020 was the model year 2019.
Can Toyota be easily stolen?
The Toyota Camry has appeared on the NICB Hot Wheels list before. Toyota Camrys totaling 16,915 were stolen in 2020. It is now the fifth most stolen vehicle in the country. Additionally, there has been an 8% rise since 2019.
Due to their outdated security and anti-theft technologies, early Camry models are far more prone to theft. However, auto theft also affects late-model Camrys. The most frequently stolen Camry in 2020 was a 2019 Toyota model.
Tools You’ll Need To Change An Ignition Key Lock Without A Key
You must ensure that you have the necessary tools in order to correctly remove an ignition lock cylinder without a key:
- energy drill
- drilling bit
- philips screwdriver
Step OneBattery Disconnection
Disconnecting the battery is the first step in removing or replacing an ignition lock cylinder without a key. This is a preventative measure to ensure that nothing in your automobile shorts out or that you receive an electric shock.
Step TwoSteering Wheel Removal
The next step is to remove the steering wheel from your car so you can fully access the lock cylinder. After removing the steering wheel’s upper and lower covers with all of the screws attached, push the wheel upward and pull at the central cover. The car horn’s wires are now free to be disconnected.
Pull the steering wheel entirely out of its shaft after ensuring that the nuts and washers are stored in a secure location.
Step FiveElectrics to Ignition Switch disconnection
In order to remove the ignition switch, locate and detach the mounting screws for it.
Make sure to carefully unplug each wire from its corresponding connector on the ignition switch’s bottom. To remove the switch, loosen the tabs.
Step SixMounting Bolts Removal
To remove the mounting bolts or screws from the ignition switch, use a socket wrench or screwdriver. The housing and switch assembly that houses the lock cylinder must be completely unbolted.
The majority of car models come with universal, replaceable lock cylinders. These are straightforward enough to remove utilizing a pin in the pinhole to actuate the release mechanism.
Step SevenCheck the Ignition Switch Housing Mounting Bolts
Depending on the manufacturer, some car models include snap-off safety bolt heads that are simple to remove. This part’s purpose is to stop burglars from breaking into your automobile and changing the ignition lock so they can start it without a key. For the ignition switch to be removed from the steering wheel column, you might need to utilize a power drill with extractors that are designed to loosen nuts.
Step EightKey Cylinder Locking
Take a paperclip that has been straightened and place it in the ignition lock cylinder’s slot before rotating it counterclockwise. As a result, the cylinder is locked and the ignition cannot turn on.
Step NineScrewdriver
Utilizing your screwdriver, access the ignition lock cylinder. As much as you can, rotate it in a clockwise motion. Then, yank the paperclip as far to the right as you can. The switch should then be simple to slide out after that.
This is truly all there is to it. If you have an older car and have never worked on the ignition lock cylinder before, it might not be the easiest thing to do. This is due to the fact that the cylinder will have a lot of accumulated dust and debris.
Step 10Replacing the Ignition Lock Cylinder
Whether or not an ignition lock cylinder without a key has to be cleaned and replaced will all rely on the various parts and how they are doing. If everything appears to be in order and to be functioning properly following a thorough cleaning and oiling, you can use the same keys to rebuild it. It might be necessary to purchase a new ignition switch, though.
You should keep in mind that it may be a good idea to contact with a manufacturer dealership for advice on how to get replacement keys unless you are certain that any generic ignition switch lock cylinder (or the individual components you need to replace) will work in your automobile. To ensure that you receive the correct item, be sure to include the exact model, year, and manufacturer of your car along with the VIN number.
Is hotwiring an automobile really that simple?
They cannot, though. Most criminals won’t be able to just hotwire a current automobile and drive off with it thanks to the advanced technologies featured in vehicles produced after the 1990s. According to Jalopnik, most new cars feature ignition immobilizers, which significantly increase the difficulty of hot wiring. It’s not impossible, though.
However, you can sleep a little easier at night knowing that your car will be there in the morning if you have a recent model with a push-button ignition that needs a remote key fob to start it. How Stuff Works asserts that vehicles with push-button ignitions function more like computers and lack an ignition lock cylinder that a key may be inserted into to bypass.
According to Frank Scafidi, the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s head of public affairs, “Hot wiring is a thing of the past in contemporary vehicles with keyless ignition. But there is no denying that hot wiring is still a useful technique in older vehicles.