Toyota Smart Entry and Start System Malfunction (Explain)  

Toyota Smart Entry and Start System Malfunction: You will see this warning on your dashboard. It means your car won’t start with the key.  

Don’t worry, in this guide we will explain the causes of this warning, how to properly fix it, and how to prevent it, so stay with us.  

Toyota Smart Entry and Start System Malfunction What does this warning mean?  

You are probably wondering what the smart key malfunction is, how to handle this problem, and how it will affect my vehicle.  

This error means something is wrong with your smart key system, and your car will not start normally with the key, or you can’t use other features with the key as well.  

How will you see this message, and when? When you start the car, this message flashes. Check out the image below.  

What are the possible causes?  

There are many possible reasons, but one main scenario is when someone parks their SUV in the garage for more than 2 days. When attempting to start their car, they will see the smart key malfunction error.  

Sometimes the cause of that smart key malfunction is a dead battery, and the reason behind the dead battery could be  

• You will leave behind all electronic interiors open such as lights and radios.  
• The old battery, which can’t hold a charge, especially in cold weather,  
• If there is an electronic issue, it means the car running out of power and draining the battery.  

If there is no dead battery issue, then something less common issue will be there, like  

• The replacement of the smart key battery  
• Computer malfunction  

Now let’s try to fix these issues.  

Fix the issues.  

1 Jump to Start Your Car  

When a car battery is dead, the best method is to jump to start the vehicle. This means you will connect your dead battery terminals with some new car battery terminals.  

If you are interested in learning more about this recommended Toyota RAV4 dead battery guide,  

2 If jumping to start your vehicle is not working 

Driving Without the Smart Key  

If you used this jump to start your vehicle method correctly and still your car won’t start, then maybe your car key fob is dead or their is a connectivity issue.  

Yes, you can drive without the smart key; it is possible, but it will not fix your problem. If you want to unlock the door without the smart key, just use the physical key that is hidden within the fob.  

If your Toyota is less than 15 years old, then hold the key fob in the Toyota logo up to the engine and stop the button.  

If your Toyota car is older than 15 years, just use the delete button on the dashboard below the steering wheel.  

Preventing future problems  

As we mentioned above, there could be many possible reasons now for how to prevent this from happening. Here are some tips.  

• There should be jumper cables on your hand in case your battery dies.  
• Before parking your SUV in a garage or somewhere safe, make sure all electronics in the interior are off, like lights and radios.  
• You should have an extra pair of key fob batteries.  

Conclusion  

A smart key system is very important and essential for your car; without it, your car will not start.  

There could be several reasons for a smart key malfunction, like an old battery or an electronic glitch.  

You can start your car if your battery is dead with the jump-to-start method, but it is not a permanent solution; you will have to replace the battery eventually.  

You should prevent this problem in the future by having an extra pair of key fob batteries and jumper cables in hand.  

I hope at the end of the article you will be pro. If you still have questions, feel free to ask.  

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