Dx3

iTrader: (13)

Today I went to get an oil change in my new to me 01 LS430 at my local Toyota dealer. It has an aftermarket alarm with aftermarket key. I leave the keys/fob with the tech and leave. An hour or so later I get a call from the service tech asking me if there is a special way to open the doors because he can't get them open. The key won't unlock drivers door but it will unlock trunk. So, long story short we managed to get the doors open by entering through the trunk. They don't want to mess with the aftermarket alarm etc so I take the car back home and figure I'll troubleshoot it myself.

After playing around with it, I think the tech opened the drivers door, hit the lock button on the inside door master switch, and then closed the door (all without using key fob). Then when he tried to use the aftermarket key to open/unlock the door it didn't do anything when he put the key into the door. Further, the alarm wouldn't unlock the doors. When you hit lock, you could hear the locks making sure they were locked, but when you hit unlock nothing happened. I understand this is a safety feature.

So basically, this aftermarket key only works on the ignition and the trunk, but not the drivers door. Or else, the lock was changed and that's why the key doesn't work? However, I was under the assumption that the key was more of an electronic issue than physically working the locking tumbler?

I have never had an aftermarket key before so I am in new territory here. Is this something that is known to happen with aftermarket keys? Key brand is Ilco.

Any ideas?