Toyota Tacoma’s Smart Key Passive Unlocking Feature: One of My Favorite Features

Taco2983 · 2025-10-14T01:48:13+00:00

Upon doing a few digging online, a long phone call with Chris from Toyota and some help from a trusted friend. The door pin switch which works with the dome light, that communicate with BCM is apart of the door latch itself. My 4th Tacoma came with no bed light, so I’ve been trying to find a clean solution same as OEM. There is a purple wire that grounds the latch switch that tells the dome light to come on when it’s open.. if you connect led to a constant power and negative to purple wire to a tailgate pin switch. Lights works as a dome light..

h4ngman tacoma

Active Wheeler

Aug 5, 2025

#1

When I first got my truck, I noticed that with the key fob in your pocket, if you lock the doors and then pull the handle to check, you can verify that the door is locked. If you come back later and pull the handle, you would get an audible beep and the door would unlock instantly. It took me a little while before I was able to figure out what was happening.

What really happens is called passive unlocking. Passive unlocking is when you get close to your truck with your key fob inside your pocket; your truck automatically unlocks without you even having to bring out your key fob. A cool feature, right?

One thing to note, though, is that the distance between the key fob and the truck is crucial. The key fob works from a distance when you press the button, but for passive unlocking, you need to be right next to the truck.