How to program Toyota/Lexus Remotes
Hello, today we will be explaining how to program keyless entry remotes to most Toyota and Lexus cars. There are 2 different procedures depending on the year/make/model of your vehicle, both procedures will be detailed in this article. We will start with the newer and most common procedure.
1. Key must be out of the ignition with the driver’s door open and unlocked, all other doors closed.
2. Insert the key into the ignition (DO NOT TURN) and take it out. Do this 2 times (in/out in/out) 3. Close and open the driver’s door twice, ending in open
4. Insert the key into the ignition and take it out, do this once
5. Close and open the driver’s door twice, ending in open 6. Insert the key into the ignition, leave it in the off position 7. Close the driver’s door
8. Turn the ignition to the on position, then back to the off position, then remove the key The door locks should now cycle automatically, indicating the car is in programming mode and ready to accept your new remotes! If your locks did not cycle then go back to step 1 and try again, or you need to use the other procedure which will be listed after this. Once your car is in programming mode, with the remote you are trying to program press the unlock and lock buttons simultaneously for about 2 seconds then release and press just the lock button for 1 second. The locks should cycle once to verify that the car has accepted your remote. If the locks cycle twice, the car did NOT accept your remote, try again or you may have the wrong remote. Open the driver’s door to exit programming mode. Remove your key from the ignition and test your remote.
*NOTE* The remote will not lock or unlock the doors if any door is open, so make sure to close all doors to test your remote. Now for the less common procedure for programming remotes to Toyota/Lexus vehicles.
1. Key must be out of the ignition
2. Make sure the driver’s side door is open and unlocked, all other doors closed.
3. Insert the key into the ignition and pull it out
4. With the power lock switch, LOCK and then UNLOCK the door 5 times, ending in unlock.
5. Close and open the driver’s door once
6. With the power lock switch, LOCK then UNLOCK the door 5 times, once again ending in unlock. 7. Insert the key into the ignition and turn it from off to on TWICE
8. Remove the key from the ignition The door locks should now cycle to indicate that the car is in programming mode. If the locks did not cycle, start over from step 1. Press and hold the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons simultaneously for about 2 seconds, then release and press the LOCK button for about 1 second and release. The locks should cycle once to indicate that the car has accepted the remote. If the locks cycle more than once, then the car has not accepted your remote, if this is the case, you do not need to go back to step one, simply try adding the remote again, if it is still not accepted, you may have the wrong remote. CLOSE the driver’s door to end the procedure. Take the key out of the ignition and test your remotes. *tip* Sometimes the actuators on these older models do not work properly and wont fully lock or unlock the doors with the power lock switch, or it “loses steam” as you are getting to the 5th cycle on steps 4 and
6. If this is the case for your car, it will not enter programming mode. One trick that I use is to manually lock and unlock with one hand as I am using the switch to lock and unlock with the other. This can be tricky to time correctly, but if you do time it correctly you can get the car into programming mode. Good luck and enjoy!