Toyota Corolla: Before driving / Smart key system

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.

• Locks and unlocks the doors (®P.117)
• Opens the trunk (®P.123)
• Starts the engine

■Antenna location

A -Antennas outside the cabin

B - Antennas inside the cabin

C - Antenna inside the trunk

D - Antenna outside the trunk

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

A - When locking or unlocking the doors

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

B - When starting the engine or changing engine switch modes

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

C - When opening the trunk

The system can be operated when the electronic key is within about 2.3 ft. (0.7 m) of the trunk release button.

■Alarms and warning messages

A combination of exterior and interior buzzers as well as warning messages shown on the multi-information display are used to prevent theft of the vehicle and accidents resulting from erroneous operation. Take appropriate measures based on the displayed message. (®P.521)

When only an alarm sounds, circumstances and correction procedures are as follows.

• Exterior buzzer sounds once for 5 seconds

• Interior buzzer sounds continuously

■Battery-saving function

The battery-saving function will be activated in order to prevent the electronic key battery and the vehicle battery from being discharged while the vehicle is not operated for a long time.

• In the following situations, the smart key system may take some time to unlock the doors.
  • The electronic key has been left within approximately 11 ft. (3.5 m) of the outside of the vehicle for 2 minutes or longer.
  • The smart key system has not been used for 5 days or longer.
• If the smart key system has not been used for 14 days or longer, the doors cannot be unlocked from any door except the driver’s door. In this case, hold the driver’s door handle, or use the wireless remote control or mechanical key to unlock the doors.

■Electronic key battery-saving function

When battery-saving mode is set, battery depletion is minimized by stopping the electronic key from receiving radio waves.

Press twice while pressing and holding . Confirm that the electronic key indicator flashes 4 times.

While the battery-saving mode is set, the smart key system cannot be used. To cancel the function, press any of the electronic key buttons.

■Conditions affecting operation

The smart key system uses weak radio waves. In the following situations, the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle may be affected, preventing the smart key system, wireless remote control and engine immobilizer system from operating properly.

• When the electronic key battery is depleted
• Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large display, airport or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electrical noise
• When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless communication device
• When the electronic key is in contact with, or is covered by the following metallic objects
  • Cards to which aluminum foil is attached
  • Cigarette boxes that have aluminum foil inside
  • Metallic wallets or bags
  • Coins
  • Hand warmers made of metal
  • Media such as CDs and DVDs
• When other wireless keys (that emit radio waves) are being used nearby
• When carrying the electronic key together with the following devices that emit radio waves
  • Another vehicle’s electronic key or a wireless key that emits radio waves
  • Personal computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs)
  • Digital audio players
  • Portable game systems
• If window tint with a metallic content or metallic objects are attached to the rear window
• When the electronic key is placed near a battery charger or electronic devices
• When the vehicle is parked in a pay parking spot where radio waves are emitted

If the doors cannot be locked/unlocked using the smart key system, lock/unlock the doors by performing any of the following:

• Bring the electronic key close to either front door handle and operate the entry function.
• Operate the wireless remote control.

If the doors cannot be locked/unlocked using the above methods, use the mechanical key. (®P.544)

If the engine cannot be started using the smart key system.

■Note for the entry function

• Even when the electronic key is within the effective range (detection areas), the system may not operate properly in the following cases:
  • The electronic key is too close to the window or outside door handle, near the ground, or in a high place when the doors are locked or unlocked.
  • The electronic key is near the ground or in a high place, or too close to the center of the rear bumper when the trunk is opened.
  • The electronic key is on the instrument panel, rear package tray or floor, or in the door pockets or glove box when the engine is started or engine switch modes are changed.
• Do not leave the electronic key on top of the instrument panel or near the door pockets when exiting the vehicle. Depending on the radio wave reception conditions, it may be detected by the antenna outside the cabin and the door will become lockable from the outside, possibly trapping the electronic key inside the vehicle.
• As long as the electronic key is within the effective range, the doors may be locked or unlocked by anyone. However, only the doors detecting the electronic key can be used to unlock the vehicle.
• Even if the electronic key is not inside the vehicle, it may be possible to start the engine if the electronic key is near the window.
• The doors may unlock or lock if a large amount of water splashes on the door handle, such as in the rain or in a car wash when the electronic key is within the effective range. (The doors will automatically be locked after approximately 60 seconds if the doors are not opened and closed.)
• If the wireless remote control is used to lock the doors when the electronic key is near the vehicle, there is a possibility that the door may not be unlocked by the entry function. (Use the wireless remote control to unlock the doors.)
• If the doors have been locked from outside of the vehicle and are then not unlocked using the wireless remote control or smart key system, the engine cannot be started using the smart key system. (However, if the doors have been locked from inside the vehicle, the engine can be started using the smart key system.) If it is necessary to start the engine, it can be started using the procedure in “If the electronic key dose not operate properly” (®P.545).
• Touching the door lock or unlock sensor while wearing gloves may prevent lock or unlock operation.
• When the lock operation is performed using the lock sensor, recognition signals will be shown up to two consecutive times. After this, no recognition signals will be given.
• If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the following correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
  • Place the electronic key in a location 6 ft. (2 m) or more away from the vehicle. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
  • Set the electronic key to battery- saving mode to disable the smart key system. (®P.127)
• If the electronic key is inside the vehicle and a door handle becomes wet during a car wash, a message may be shown on the multi-information display and a buzzer will sound outside the vehicle. To turn off the alarm, lock all the doors.
• The lock sensor may not work properly if it comes into contact with ice, snow, mud, etc. Clean the lock sensor and attempt to operate it again.
• A sudden handle operation or a handle operation immediately after entering the effective range may prevent the doors from being unlocked. Touch the door unlock sensor and check that the doors are unlocked before pulling the door handle again.
• If there is another electronic key in the detection area, it may take slightly longer to unlock the doors after the door handle is gripped.

■When the vehicle is not driven for extended periods

• To prevent theft of the vehicle, do not leave the electronic key within 6 ft. (2 m) of the vehicle.
• The smart key system can be deactivated in advance. (®P.581)
• Setting the electronic key to battery- saving mode helps to reduce key battery depletion.

■To operate the system properly

• Make sure to carry the electronic key when operating the system. Do not get the electronic key too close to the vehicle when operating the system from the outside of the vehicle.

Depending on the position and holding condition of the electronic key, the key may not be detected correctly and the system may not operate properly. (The alarm may go off accidentally, or the door lock prevention function may not operate.)

• Do not leave the electronic key inside the trunk.

The key confinement prevention function may not operate, depending on the location of the key (the inside edge of the trunk), conditions (inside a metal bag, close to metallic objects) and the radio waves in the surrounding area.

■If the smart key system does not operate properly

• Locking and unlocking the doors
• Starting the engine

■Customization

Some functions can be customized.

■If the smart key system has been deactivated in a customized setting

• Locking and unlocking the doors: Use the wireless remote control or mechanical key.
• Starting the engine and changing engine switch modes
• Stopping the engine

WARNING

■Caution regarding interference with electronic devices

• People with implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardiac resynchronization therapy- pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators should keep away from the smart key system antennas. (®P.125) The radio waves may affect the operation of such devices. If necessary, the entry function can be disabled. Ask your Toyota dealer for details, such as the frequency of radio waves and timing of the emitted radio waves. Then, consult your doctor to see if you should disable the entry function.
• Users of any electrical medical device other than implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardiac resynchronization therapy- pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators should consult the manufacturer of the device for information about its operation under the influence of radio waves. Radio waves could have unexpected effects on the operation of such medical devices.

Ask your Toyota dealer for details on disabling the entry function.