Doors Automatically Lock Back!
 

I used to have a '00 ES300 and never had this problem, but I just recently purchased a '98 ES300 and if you unlock the doors with the remote, the doors automatically lock back within about 30 seconds - EVEN if you opened the door (I know as a safety feature that it will lock back within a short amount of time if you do not open the door, in case you hit the button by accident) - in fact I had the door open one time, put something in the trunk, the doors locked (while the passenger door was OPEN) and I did not know it and then I started the car (through the passenger side by leaning over) and went inside to get something and when I came back the car was locked with it running in my driveway!

This is very annoying and causes me now to remove the keys every time I step out of the vehicle because I am afraid that it might lock the doors automatically with my keys in the ignition.

It never fails, I unlock the door every morning and open the passenger door, place some of my stuff in the car, go back inside to get something else, and when I come back all the doors are locked!

Please help if anyone has a solution to this! Thanks.

Do you have an aftermarket alarm/remote starter installed? If so, that might be causing this. If not, it might be a 'custom' setting that the dealer can change for you (I don't have a 00 ES, so don't know for sure. On my earlier 05 ES, I don't think the car would auto lock if it was in park and the key was inside the car - regardless of the customization - same as what you are expecting)

I do not have an aftermarket alarm. I didn't have any problem with my '00 ES300 just my '98 ES300.

Has anyone had this happen to them before and have a suggestion?

My '98 will do it if I don't open one of the doors (can be any door so far as I've seen, at least on the driver side). Have never had it re-lock itself once I've opened a door. It only seems to give me about 20 seconds tho.

Do you have a copy of the owner's manual? Check that?

there is obviously something wrong with the central lock system. it thinks that the doors are always closed, hence it auto locks. i say loose connection where it gets the signal back from the doors. take it to the professional alarm installers they'll figure out it.