Lost your car remote or need to program a new one for your 1997 Toyota Corolla? You might think a trip to the dealership is inevitable, but for many 1997 Toyota Corolla owners, programming a new or existing remote can be done right at home with a simple procedure. This guide, based on community experience, will walk you through the steps to program your car remote for your 1997 Toyota Corolla, potentially saving you time and money.
This method is reported to work specifically for Japanese-built 1997 Toyota Corolla models. You can verify if your vehicle is Japanese-built by checking the chassis number; it should begin with “JT”. Let’s get started!
Step-by-Step Guide to Program Your 1997 Toyota Corolla Remote
Follow these instructions carefully to program your remote. It’s crucial to adhere to the timing and sequence for successful programming.
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Get Ready in the Driver’s Seat: Enter your 1997 Toyota Corolla and sit in the driver’s seat. Ensure the driver’s side door is open and the key is NOT in the ignition.
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Key Insertion and Removal: Insert your key into the ignition and then immediately remove it. Do this just once.
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Initiate the Lock/Unlock Cycle (First Set): On your driver’s side door panel, locate the power door lock switch. Press the “lock” then “unlock” button a total of five times within approximately 40 seconds. Remember to alternate between lock and unlock for each count (lock-unlock, lock-unlock, lock-unlock, lock-unlock, lock-unlock).
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Door Open and Close: Close the driver’s side door and then immediately open it again.
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Initiate the Lock/Unlock Cycle (Second Set): Again, using the door panel switch, press the “lock” then “unlock” button five times in the same alternating fashion as step 3.
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Key in Ignition – ON Position: Insert the key into the ignition. Turn the ignition key from the ‘lock’ position to the ‘on’ position just ONCE. Do not turn it more than once, as this could potentially erase existing codes.
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Remove Key from Ignition: Take the key out of the ignition.
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Central Locking Auto Cycle: At this point, the central locking system should automatically begin to cycle, locking and unlocking on its own. This indicates that the system has entered programming mode.
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Remote Lock Button – First Transmitter: Within 20 seconds of the central locking system cycling, take the remote you wish to program. Press and HOLD the ‘lock’ button on the remote for more than one second.
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Confirmation Cycle: If the receiver successfully receives the signal from the remote, the door locks should start operating on their own again, cycling lock to unlock. This confirms the first remote is programmed.
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Door Open and Close (Again): Close the driver’s side door and then open it once more.
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Remote Lock Button – Second Transmitter (If Applicable): If you have another remote to program, repeat the process from step 9. Press and HOLD the ‘lock’ button on the second remote for more than one second.
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Final Confirmation Cycle: The door locks should cycle lock to unlock one last time, confirming the programming of the second remote (if applicable).
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Repeat for Additional Remotes: If you have more remotes to program, repeat steps 10-15 with each additional transmitter within the programming session.
Alt text: 1997 Toyota Corolla car remote key fob, a separate Denso unit, used for keyless entry and locking systems.
Important Notes:
- Japanese Built Model: This procedure is specifically noted for Japanese-built 1997 Toyota Corolla models (JT chassis number).
- Dome Light: Ensure your interior dome light is functioning correctly and is set to the “door” setting, not “off”. This can sometimes affect the programming process.
- Timing: Pay close attention to the timing and sequence of button presses and key turns for successful programming.
- Remote Type: This guide is presumed to be for 1997 Toyota Corolla models using a separate Denso remote fob, not a remote integrated into the key itself.
If you follow these steps carefully, you should be able to program your 1997 Toyota Corolla car remote yourself. If you encounter issues, double-check each step and ensure you are within the time limits. If problems persist, it might be necessary to consult your Toyota owner’s manual or seek assistance from a qualified automotive technician. However, for many owners, this DIY method has proven to be a successful solution for programming their 1997 Toyota Corolla remotes.
