Remote Keyless Entry System - not sure if present

[riteshjain]

Hello,

I bought a used 1998 Camry LE (L4, 2.2L) yesterday. When the dealer gave me the keys, I asked for the remote and he said he didn't have one. This car is fully loaded, i.e., everything is power, so I am assuming that it must have come with a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) system, but I am not sure. I was wondering whether just buying the remote would solve my problem.
So, whats the best way to find out if it is equipped with an RKE system? Also, in case, it doesn't have one and I need to get it installed, how much cost am I looking at? Is it something that I can do on my own or would I need a technician to do the job?

Thanks.

[Knailgun]

Originally Posted by riteshjain

Hello,

I bought a used 1998 Camry LE (L4, 2.2L) yesterday. When the dealer gave me the keys, I asked for the remote and he said he didn't have one. This car is fully loaded, i.e., everything is power, so I am assuming that it must have come with a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) system, but I am not sure. I was wondering whether just buying the remote would solve my problem.
So, whats the best way to find out if it is equipped with an RKE system? Also, in case, it doesn't have one and I need to get it installed, how much cost am I looking at? Is it something that I can do on my own or would I need a technician to do the job?

Thanks.

actually it was a dealer option for those, and you'll want a shop to do it...if for nothing else, do it for the warranty...get a Viper

[skewe]

do you have a red led on the dash board, next to the side mirror control?

i believe that if u have it, then u might have a toyota keyless entry.

[laksh99]

"do you have a red led on the dash board, next to the side mirror control?

i believe that if u have it, then u might have a toyota keyless entry."

NOOOOOO ... Red led doesn't mean anything. It could just be an alarm as it turned out to be in my case. I bought a remote assuming mine had a keyless entry and now it is lying around for waste. If it is installed, u should find a small black box underneath either of the front seats or behind the dash. If it is not under the seats, take it to a car stereo guy, he will probably remove the dash board and let u know for free.

Laks

[skewe]

Originally Posted by laksh99

"do you have a red led on the dash board, next to the side mirror control?

i believe that if u have it, then u might have a toyota keyless entry."

NOOOOOO ... Red led doesn't mean anything. It could just be an alarm as it turned out to be in my case. I bought a remote assuming mine had a keyless entry and now it is lying around for waste. If it is installed, u should find a small black box underneath either of the front seats or behind the dash. If it is not under the seats, take it to a car stereo guy, he will probably remove the dash board and let u know for free.

Laks

In response to the "Red light does not mean anything"
In order to arm the car's alarm, you would need a remote. I have not see any other way that makes sense to arm/disarm a car's alarm w/o a remote.

Alarm boxes would be in the dash. The box under the seat is usually the airbag controller or something else.

Originally Posted by laksh99

I bought a remote assuming mine had a keyless entry and now it is lying around for waste.

Laks

Try reprogramming the remote again or maybe the wires are not connected properly, that might be the reason it is not working

[Ranger X]

I have one of those LEDs that you're referring to...well actually, it's a push button that lights up. That said, it's not a sensor, it has to do with the alarm. I believe the sensor is located on top of the dash on the passenger side. I'm pretty sure that in my case, this particular alarm is a dealer installed option, mainly for cars sold along the gulf coast. It's called securikey, and boy was it hard to figure out how to program the thing. Buying a remote might work, but since different cars often have different systems, it's hard to tell what kind of remote you need. Then again, as knailgun said, it was a dealer option (i.e. keyless didn't come factory on most LEs; dealer installed aftermarket keyless), so if the dealer didn't have the remote it probably doesn't have one.

[articledon]

go to a website that list the specifications for a 98 camry. it will let you know all what options your car has. then if your car does have it installed then find ount the fccid #, go to ebay and search for keyfob camry(do not spend more than 20 including s+h), search the net for the programming instructions(its easy for something the dealer would charge you 50$ for) and your good to go. thats what I did for my 03 camry. good luck

[Cyorke]

If the car has the VIP RS3000 security system from Toyota it could ahve been either a port installed or dealer installed item. It should have the the red light that everyone speaks of but will also have the glass breakage sensor built into it. Looks like a small microphone next to the light, I believe it also says security on it. If it is a dealer installed option the control box will be under hte drivers seat. That is where we used to mount them anyway. As far as airbag controller those are usually going to be located under the center console. THat is somethign you want to have sorta hidden so people dont go playing with them. Used to have to replace those all the time also from people spilling their drinks on them. Something about electronics and liquids dont seem to mix very well. This is jsut my two cents worth from the experience I have working in service for a Toyota dealer. Granted it has been about 8 years since I did it but I dont think my memory is that bad.

[skewe]

Originally Posted by Cyorke

If the car has the VIP RS3000 security system from Toyota it could ahve been either a port installed or dealer installed item. It should have the the red light that everyone speaks of but will also have the glass breakage sensor built into it. Looks like a small microphone next to the light, I believe it also says security on it. If it is a dealer installed option the control box will be under hte drivers seat. That is where we used to mount them anyway. As far as airbag controller those are usually going to be located under the center console. THat is somethign you want to have sorta hidden so people dont go playing with them. Used to have to replace those all the time also from people spilling their drinks on them. Something about electronics and liquids dont seem to mix very well. This is jsut my two cents worth from the experience I have working in service for a Toyota dealer. Granted it has been about 8 years since I did it but I dont think my memory is that bad.

I thought the glass breakage sensor unit is under the steering column? (see picture in posting #6 on this page http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t68970.html)
I think my car comes with it but i have been unsuccessful in activating it. I bought it used w/o instructions. That being said, i do not have a microphone next to my red blinker on the dash. I have been reading some toyota alarms RS3200 and RS3000, and usually th microphone is set under the driver's dash board.

But as you worked at Toyota before, i think you know more than me.

[skewe]

if you want to get a original RS3200 toyota alarm, there is one guy who used to sell it on eBay for 99$. the only prob is the installation which can be a b1tch.

[riteshjain]

After going through all the posts and inspecting my car, it seems like its not equipped with an RKE system. Thanks guys for all the insight.

[Knailgun]

glad to help noob

[Cyorke]

Originally Posted by skewe

But as you worked at Toyota before, i think you know more than me.

I am not claiming to be the expert by any means. I did quit working for Toyota in Nov of 97 so there could have been some changes after that, that I am not aware of. I don't rememebr mounting anything under the steering column of any of the cars I installed the security system on. everything was pretty much plug and play type setup. There very well coud have been changes to the system after i left them. I know looking at my SIenna it does not have the small microphone thing I was talking about earlier in the post. If you notice on Gen3 Camry's the light and all is mounted in the center console of the car, the reason being so it was centrally located. ON Gen4 it is very possible they changed the setup, nad I did not install very many of those so cant rememebr all of the details.

[laksh99]

Originally Posted by skewe

Try reprogramming the remote again or maybe the wires are not connected properly, that might be the reason it is not working

I have to find the reciever to program it and cannot find the reciever for the keyless entry system.

Here's the whole story. I was told by the dealer who sold me this 94 Camry LE, that it had a keyless entry which was lost. So, I bought a keyless entry from ebay which said it will work with all 94 Camry LE models. It came with programming instructions. The instructions said that I have to find the keyless entry reciever and press it and that it is usually under either of the front seats or behind the red LED in dash. Unfortunately, there was none in my case. The LED was only connected to an alarm system.

So, I guess the dealer just fooled me into believeing that it did have keyless entry.

[skewe]

it is not that easy to reprog the receiver. i think you need the key in the ignition, use the power locks to open/close like 5 times within 5 seconds or somethign like that.

i reprog myy receiver and it took me 4 times to get it right