Duffdog

I thought that it was a rumour that all 88 4runners had the same key until yesterday. I was coming to college yesterday in my truck and say another 4runner with the lights left on, so, being the nice guy, I wanted to test the theory and it worked. I thought you would have to jiggle the key or something, but no-- I just turned it like it was my own truck!!! opened right up on the first try, I turned off the lights and then locked the door and shut it again. I cant believe that rumour was true--well, if someone ever locks their keys out of their 1st gen, ill know how to get into it. By the way-- does anyone think there is something wrong with what I did yesterday, i know that i would want someone to do it for me, but that's just me. The girl that owns the 4runner is actually kinda cute,.....that would be a funny pick up line huh!
"so...I turned off your lights yesterday, didn't want you to get stranded with a dead battery"

WATRD

I don't seen anything wrong with what you did, especially if you tell her about it. Pick-up line or not, I would go up to her and let her know that you saw the rig with the lights on and decided to see if you could help. She probably won't beleive you on the key thing, so you might just have to go out to her truck and prove it. Besides, if a security camera caught your actions, it will be a lot easier to explain if you have already come clean to the owner.

Posting the suggestion on the internet for potential thieves would not have been my first thought 'though...

I wouldn't have done what you did. I know perfectly well how I would react if I were walking to my truck and saw the door open and someone reaching inside. I would be afraid that the other person might react the same way...

loosehead

Thats how I see it, too. Not to bust your chops or anything, duffdog, but I would delete your post and make this thread go a way...

FirstToy

I think you should tell her you turned the lights off but that the door was unlocked. You don't know who she will tell and then your 4Runner might be gone!
Yeah delete this thread so no one gets ideas! It's a fun factoid but dangerous info for bad guys

cvlighthouse

Don't worry about the thread... everyone will forget about it soon enough. But, that is good to know. Now I'm going to rip off a 88 runner! J/k
Duffdog- go for it man! throw down a line like "Hey, I've got the key to your heart" and then reach down, unlock her door and when she's like WTF? You tell her the story about all keys work and you just wanted to warn her. Tell her you turned her lights off once and maybe she should give you her number in case it happens again...

mt_goat

She might be worried about you being a stalker or something, that would be too scary for a girl, knowing you have the keys to her runner. Although maybe she should know about the lack of security and get an alarm for it or something.

FirstToy

I agree, I think if you opened her truck she would freak out and think you were a stalker. that's about like opening her front door and walking into the house and saying, "hey baby"
I think the key thing is a secret best left between you and the wall.

Shane

This is fairly common knowledge, especially around the car thief rings. No, they keys are NOT all the same. The keys wear down over time to the point that a certain key will work in 50-75% of the vehicles with the same lock cylinders. I see it as a good warning to spend the money and replace the locks when they wear out.

884runner

duffdog.. if she's cute go for it man. is her 4runner built up or anything. ain't nuttin better than a cute girl with a built rig.

Duffdog

----lol
I would never say "I've got the keys to your heart baby" or something like that. I guess you can never tell if someones up to no good or just doing something kind for you huh... maybe shell be locked out one day and Ill get a call ( I left my business card on her seat ) Her runner is pretty much stock--has some 31's on it though.

(by the way, i cant believe Im the only one who knows about the key thing...there have to be thousands of people who know that )

T

its2slo

my neighbors have two 88 runners, same deal. one time he locked himself out and a guy with an 87 pickup let him in
like shane said, replacing the locks/ignition seems to solve the problem.

RedRunner_87

My dad works for the California DMV investigations, and he sent me an e-mail 6month to a year ago. Just giving me a heads up. I am sure that the car theives all ready know about this.

OneTrickToy

Personally, I don't think I'd turn someone else's lights off, even if the door was unlocked. It would be too easy for them to blame lost or missing items on you. And I don't think I'd be happy if someone were reaching into my pickup either. But besides that point. I would tell you not to say anything about unlocking/turning her lights off, the whole stalker issue.... but since you left your business card on her seat.... you are kinda in a tight one. I figure opening someone's vehicle is like opening their wallet or purse. I just wouldn't do it. Since she's cute..... I would have just made sure I was in the right place at the right time and complimented her on the runner. And possibly had my jumper cables ready...

seafarinman

I have to agree. I was riding my bike past the trail here, and there was a couple guys locked out of their rig. I rode up and my key opened their door! I was shocked as they were, and chocked it up to the possibility that their door lock was worn out. Their truck was a 2nd gen pickup, and mine is a 3rd gen pickup.

cvlighthouse

would you say?


• Can I have your picture so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas?
• Are you Jamaican? ’Cause ja makin’ me crazy.
• Did you hear the latest health report? You need to up your daily intake of vitamin me.
• What’s a nice girl like you doing in a dirty mind like mine?
• Are you from Tennessee? ’Cause you’re the only ten-I-see.
• They say milk does the body good, but damn, how much have you been drinking?
• Your name must be Campbell ’cause you’re Mmm! Mmm! Good.
• Baby, you remind me of a parking ticket because you have "fine" written all over your face.
• Hi, my name’s Doug. That’s "God" spelled backwards with a little bit of "u" in it.
• Your father must be a weapons specialist because you are the bomb!
• Do you wash your pants in Windex? Because I can really see myself in them


Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that stalking?

cabbage

Hmm... never heard of that! Scary! I leave my laptop and camera equiptment in my truck all the time....... but I did notice my key works for my girlfriends 87 Corolla..... guess I better get new locks!

X-AWDriver

Ok,so they will unlock alot of Runners but will the keys start them?

cabbage

Starts my gfs corolla... well her ignition is funky.... she can pull the key out when the car is running without pressing the key unlock button! Which isnt that good because sometimes she runs in the house with the key with the car running, and remembers about the key when she gets where she needs to go....

midiwall

Now, the lighter side of this would come from unlocking her truck to turn her lights _on_ and causing the dead-battery situation.

You of course being at the ready with jumper cables...


I've turned off folk's lights for them before, but it's been probably 10+ years since the last time I was a situation where I could. (i.e., an unlocked vehicle) Times were different back then though - many fewer security cameras and people weren't so quick to assume the worst.

If I was in your spot, with the knowledge to try my key, then actually I would do it. I'd probably leave the owner a note though saying that I was in theor car. Of course, that's a double edged sword - they now have a contact point to blame for that "missing" $5000 digital Nikon.

Again... times have changed in the world.

HiLux_1990

Tell her you turned her lights off once and maybe she should give you her number in case it happens again...

cvlighthouse is one smooth guy

Sure ain't nothing like a cute girl in a fourby though...
especially a Toyota!