Hi Guys,
I posted this in the newbie section but I think the right guys to help me is in here somewhere :-). I've searching through yotatech for the past 2 days but can't find anything that has fixed my problem. I am posting here too to see if any of you guys (or girls) can help me out...

The factory alarm/keyless entry on my 97 4runner just stopped working out of the blues. I thought it was the key fob (remote) that needed battery but neither of the two works. Also, normally the doors would lock when you start the engine (if all doors are closed) and unlock when you turn the engine off. I have checked (voltage) all the fuses under the steering wheel and they all seem to be ok. I have also spot checked are few under the hood. I have also checked (visually) to make sure that were was no loose connectors on the black box beneath the driver's seat.

Anyone has any ideas what could be wrong or have seen this before?

Not sure if this will help, but the other day I left the window down with less than a half inch gap because of the heat. It rained and there was some water settled on the driver's door handle. Could this have caused it to eventually stop working? I spent all day yesterday searching for someone with the same problem but they all seem to be different.

Thanks.

 

unplug the alarm brain, disassemble, and check for moisture damage. repair/replace as necessary

 

86tuning,
thanks for the feedback. Are you referring to the box under the driver's seat?

 

Yup that's the one.

I've replaced a couple of those for water intrusion before. Doesn't take much water to kill them. Usually it's from spilled drinks though.

 

Update:
I took the alarm brains (ECU) out from under the driver's seat. Its a RS3000 model. I pulled it apart and I don't see any moisture or any dampness or any component that looked physically damaged. So I re-installed it and now my doors will lock when I put the key in the ignition and turn it to start (all doors closed). At the time of my original post this wasn't happening.
New problem: Now that it's back in, it's behaving weirdly...parks lights flash ON momentarily and red LED in center console flashes as if it is armed even though the remote is now not working. Could it be that the remote needs to be reprogrammed?

 

Here's a good link on the subject

http://4runners.org/writeups/rs3000/index.html

 

I was able to program my RS3000 with the info from the link. Thanks SC4Runner. I want to program my 2nd remote but had no luck. I did a search for programing remotes for a rs3000 but they all refer to a remote with 3 buttons...lock, unlock and panic. I have a '97 4runner and my remotes only have 2 buttons. It uses the top button only to lock and unlock the doors.

Anyone knows how to program a second remote?

 

For anyone who had the same issue and wanted to know

I figured it out...same method as doing the first one. You can have upto four remotes associated to the same alarm.