Locks and Keys

[Don Jorgensen]

So I drive to my favorite grocery store to get my weekly allocation of libation and as I coast that last 172 feet, feathering the brakes just enough to get me into the shade of the rare parking lot tree that keeps my interior cool while I shop so I don't have to run the A/C when I leave and coast down Academy a mile and quarter almost to my drive way...I see another Tercel SR5 wagon. So I go into the store at a brisk walk to burn those calories I'm going to replace over the weekend and on my way back I notice a couple of young ladies at the drivers side door of my car. They have the door open and as I approach they say ....."Is this YOUR car?" Well it seems they were playing a little prank on what they thought was one of the gals boyfriends car and were loading up the front seat with gravel. They apologized and cleaned up the mess then proceeded over to the other Tercel wagon...they used a key to get in...WHAT! My car was locked as well and the key they had worked on my door also.
Now several weeks ago I was out to my favorite shopping center U-Pull-It-Parts and I found a Tercel wagon with pretty dang good seats and another one with a nice rear hatch. My hatch has deep dents about 2/3rds up the hatch window where someone had backed out a garage door that wasn't fully open. Well I got the seats and hatch removed and as I was loading the wheel borrow I decided just to try the key on the hatch lock. YES it worked so didn't have to change out the locks.
I just wonder how many Tercels have keys compatible with my locks...but then ...no worry....can't be very many Tercel keys still on previous owners key rings and we that still drive them are either playing pranks on someone who has a Tercel or just confused.

[hberdan]

None of the keys on my 84 86 or 87 would work with the other cars, but my neighbor's 84 key worked on my 86!
May be that the normal wear of usage on locks of your door enabled their key to work, did you compare the two keys?

[terkill]

No, its "Toyota Innovation" my friend has a 88 Toyota base model pickup he starts with anything from a dime to a chopstick and can probably open the doors with a cat. I can open my passenger door with anything also- they mass produced probably like 6 different key combos I guess. Either that or its internals are broken.

[Neu]

Actually what's funny, is most toyota keys in the 80's will work with most other toyota locks/ignitions. My toyota key starts my buddy's toyota truck, but his doesn't start mine.

We used to bring out toyota keys to school and steal our friends cars at lunch, or just move the.

I assume it's a wear issue after a while.

[keith]

Actually all Toyota's of the 80's had a reputation for being the easiest to get a "Joy ride" in. The locks would wear out to the point that they would take just about any key. Camry's were the most popular among the "just borrowed it for awhile" set.

[jetswim]

Wow, I currently have 2 87's on the road and had 4 parts cars and none of the keys worked in the other cars. I tried them over time and I was hoping for some spares

[Neu]

Wow, I currently have 2 87's on the road and had 4 parts cars and none of the keys worked in the other cars. I tried them over time and I was hoping for some spares

That's just unlucky.

[Don Jorgensen]

Smith lot tercels.jpg

The shade sharing Tercels

[Neu]

Smith lot tercels.jpg

The shade sharing Tercels

what the flip?

[Typrus]

Lol...
Depends on the day, moment, and car-to-key. Sometimes mine would start others, sometimes no. Just kept playing with them.

One day I had everyone pointing and laughing at me, but this day, unlike the others, was out of confusion (lol).
Finally asked what the big deal was. Turned out a silver Tercel rear-ended a bus and shaved it's hood off. I then proceeded to point at the closest spot to the school and my happy rig, hood unscathed. Turns out some kid from the rival school was the one who did it lol. Sad for the car, hilarious for him.

[My84terc]

I had an automatic 87 that the tranny broke, so I kept it as a parts car for a while after I found my 84. The keys worked both cars, all locks and the ignition. Thought this was strange, but apparently not....