Considering buying a 100 but Key Issue?

[tcb76cruzr]

After owning 8 FJ40's, 2 BJ42's, a 55 and a sweet 60, I'm considering a 100 for the wife. The Trailblazer has to go, I hate that thing. Found a cherry bronze 1999 with 96k for $14k. The salesman who is one of my best friends says there is only 1 key/alarm pad and the alarm button does not work. I hope it is just a battery and may have to reset at the dealer, and as far as a spare just have one made at Lowes. Am I wrong?

[LonghornCruiser]

The key has a transponder in it, so you can't get one at Lowes or anywhere like that. You can get one at the dealer, but they charge an arm and a leg. What I did was get a blank transponder key for the Cruiser on Ebay, had the dealer cut it for me and programmed it myself. There are programming instructions that you will need your old key for. Since it has an alarm button on the key, it sounds like it has a master key already which you have to have to make spare master keys. Make sure that the key he has for it is indeed a master key. If it actually isn't then that is a whole different can of worms. You should be able to find this out by looking.....

In the FAQ
http://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-c...tml#post372915

[e9999]

yup, good question to ask, extreme caution is needed. Possibilities of having to replace a $2000 ECU are there...

[spressomon]

Has the 90K been done (t-belt, water pump, idlers, etc.). Starter contacts can start at about this mileage...not much for parts expense but its labor getting to the starter.

IMO this is on the high price side given gas prices now. Toyota has in many cases replaced 1-ECU/transponder at no charge parts per VIN; not a guarantee but you might ask about it.

[Jim_Chow]

Nope, can't get a key at Lowe's...$200 at the dealer + $50 programming. Make sure the one existing key is a master key (has 3 buttons built into it), not a valet key (otherwise you have to replace the ECU...like $1.5K but comes w/ 2 new keys [there's a one time replacement by Toyota where you pay the $600 labor and Mr. T provides the parts]). Have the seller provide TWO MASTER KEYS that work or bid $400 less. Don't assume the existing key's problem is just the battery. A number of us on this board including myself have gotten burned on the key thing when buying a used vehicle.

[Topmounter]

I'd definitely think you could do a bit better on the price for a '99. I hate to even mention it, but I'd look into the service history and definitely use the "2-pinion" issue as a big negotiating point, not to mention the 90k service.

[Turbo G]

I can confirm as well that the extra keys are expensive. I had both of my keys replaced under the Platinum warranty (due to the housing coming apart). The keys would have been over $500 bucks at the dealer!

[OursSauvage]

I didn't know the keys thing when I bought my LC.
He came with 2 keys... a valet and a remote.
As I lost the valet key few weeks ago, I ordered one from ebay I just received today.
After being cut (using the remote key as model) I programmed it , so, I'm now sure the remote key is a master key ... ouf !
And the funny end... I found the first valet key while putting the new one in the key drawer (on the Dakota ring)

[Topmounter]

Are both the remote keys master keys or only one of them?

[Jim_Chow]

Originally Posted by Topmounter

Are both the remote keys master keys or only one of them?

I believe the ECU can be programmed with up to 3 master keys (not sure how many valet keys). I had to buy a second master key since my CPO LX only came w/ one (to my dismay, especially after paying that much). The salesman never mentioned that it only one master key (I assumed that it had both since every car I own came w/ two). Upon delivery, he said that Lexus was only required to provide two keys at the time of delivery, and they need not be master keys (PO lost one master key). Had I known this beforehand when negotiating the deal, I would have had delivery of 2 master keys a precondition to the sale.

BTW, you can have the dealer remove the missing master key. You need to provide them w/ all your existing keys so they know which one to delete. We had this done for security reasons, as this vehicle is a local vehicle.

[Trunk Monkey]

Had I it to do over again, I wouldn't have spent $100 on 2 additional keys ($80 for one wtih buttons, $20 for a standard one, both from Ebay). I would have gotten a system like Autopage that also has remote start for like $120.

[OursSauvage]

Originally Posted by Trunk Monkey

.../... I would have gotten a system like Autopage that also has remote start for like $120.

I'm thinking about that... Only one remote key and the range is pretty ridiculious .

How can we know if a key is a master ?
Can we declare a new key ( ideally a standard one) as master key?
Or did the key I programmed ysterday is now a masterkey ?

May be a little bit out of the thread...

[WhyWait?]

What is the valet key like? My truck didn't come with a valet key, just two masters. I like to have keys hidden on my vehicles, but this truck is fairly tight, and these keys are pretty big. And I'm concerned about the electronics surviving if I tape it underneath. It'd be just my luck water would get in the key and set off the alarm or keep unlocking and locking it.

[macneill]

The valet key is a gray blank.

I have mine in a magnetic box up in the frame somewhere. Which reminds me that I should go find it.

Originally Posted by WhyWait?

What is the valet key like? My truck didn't come with a valet key, just two masters. I like to have keys hidden on my vehicles, but this truck is fairly tight, and these keys are pretty big. And I'm concerned about the electronics surviving if I tape it underneath. It'd be just my luck water would get in the key and set off the alarm or keep unlocking and locking it.

[Jim_Chow]

Originally Posted by WhyWait?

What is the valet key like? My truck didn't come with a valet key, just two masters. I like to have keys hidden on my vehicles, but this truck is fairly tight, and these keys are pretty big. And I'm concerned about the electronics surviving if I tape it underneath. It'd be just my luck water would get in the key and set off the alarm or keep unlocking and locking it.

The valet key is relatively thin and completely sealed...no buttons or anything, like a normal key. As far as I know, it just doesn't have the remote buttons and doesn't unlock the glove box. Can't remember if it can open the rear hatch from the outside or not, but you can certainly open the doors and hit the unlock button. Valet key is much cheaper, like $60, but it's not a master. Only the fat ones w/ the 3 remote buttons are masters.

[OursSauvage]

Originally Posted by Jim_Chow

.../... and doesn't unlock the glove box..../...

I didn't try (but I'm going to)... the original valet key can't open the GB, but my new valet key was cut with the master key model.
(and I'm pretty sure the GB don't care about transponder )

[Morty]

Agree that's a premium price for a 99. If it is squeaky clean, I'd pay that much, but only under that circumstance.