2004 key problems and ?'s (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Nov 4, 2004
Threads
44
Messages
266
Location
SE South Dakota
Bought my 04 about 10 months back, just as I was signing the papers I remembered the problems people have when they only get 1 master key.
They fumbled around for awhile and eventually agreed to get me a second key with no bottoms that could be programmed as a master. Well turns out it cant and 10 months later I still only have one master. I recently bought a master/remote key off ebay for $60 and today asked for it to be programmed while getting an oil change. Dealer says "not compatible" vender says "its a 100% oem compatible key"

SO how can I tell who is wrong? What numbers should be on the guts inside the new key?


I have read more threads on this then I care to admit. Once and for all on 2004 it needs the dealer to program a new key and can not be done at home, right?
 
I had this exact thing and exact response from my dealer.

Waiting for the smart guys to tell me if I wasted $60 on a key.
 
Well keep in touch as it looks like you have the exact same vehicle and key (remotesupermarket ebay $60?)

I plan to head back to the dealer Friday. The seller said that an easy way to prove the dealer wrong would be to program the lock bottons that can be done at home with the directions they provide.
 
OK I now have a key that will manually open the doors and remotely al I need is the transponder sync up and I am set. Here are the directions to program the remote buttons for anyone that needs them. *****Keep in mind you still need to get the dealer to program/sync the transponder to ECM.

Programming for a 2003 to 2006 Toyota Landcruiser

1. Start with the key out of the ignition. Open the driver door
(all other doors are closed). Driver door is unlocked (other doors don’t matter).

2. Perform these steps within 5 seconds
Insert the key into the ignition (don’t turn it) Pull key out
Insert the key into the ignition (don’t turn it) Pull key out


3. Perform these steps within 40 seconds
Close, then open the drivers door.
Close, then open the drivers door.
Insert the key into the ignition (don’t turn it) and pull it out.


4. Perform these steps within 40 seconds
Close, then open the drivers door.
Close, then open the drivers door.
Insert the key into the ignition and leave in the ignition.
Close the drivers door
Turn the ignition to ON (as far as you can go without cranking the engine),
then back to off . Remove the key from the ignition.


5. Within 3 seconds, the power door locks should lock then unlock automatically
indicating successful entry into programming mode. Return to step 1 if the
locks do not cycle at this point.


6. Perform these steps within 40 seconds
Press the lock and unlock buttons on the transmitter simultaneously for 1.5 seconds
Immediately after letting go of the lock and unlock buttons, press the lock
button by itself and hold for 2 seconds. Within 3 seconds, the door locks should
lock then unlock once indicating successful programming. If the door locks cycle
twice, repeat steps 6a and 6b as the remote was not accepted.


7. Open drivers door
 
I just went through all of this myself. I was going to share my big long story... but it's probably only interesting to me :meh: Of course if you want to hear it I can post up :rolleyes:

From what I found the bottom line is... yes it is an OEM only key for your truck. The 4D chip needs special equipment to program the chip into the ECU and for whatever reason the non-OEM do not work :crybaby: Also, you should be able to get the valet key to be programmed as a master (depends on technician skill from what I understand), the master function has to do with the 4D chip and not the keyless entry.

Oh and just because the keyless entry can be programmed does not mean that key will work with the ECU. The keyless entry does not use the 4D chip so it has nothing to do with being able to be programed to the ECU for start capability.

Finally, when you break down and go to the dealer for your key just make sure to talk them down to the wholesale price (or lower if you can). I made sure to know the wholesale price before walking in. :cheers:
 
I just went through all of this myself. I was going to share my big long story... but it's probably only interesting to me :meh: Of course if you want to hear it I can post up :rolleyes:

:


OK, post up or please answer some quick questions.

Where did you get your key?
What does it look like?
Who finally got it to work?

Thanks!
 
I have only 1 key for my 98. What is the wholesale dealer price?
 
Walton, you have a different chip for your 98. For your truck I would suggest going to e-bay you can pick one up for less than $100 that way. Then when you get it you can program it yourself. There are instructions in the FAQ here (I just posted so go to the last post).
 
I’ll start by answering your questions.


  1. My non-OEM keys that did not work came from Midwest keyless, the final working key I bought from Toyota for ($170)
  2. It is the standard Toyota key, although I also bought a blank (case only) for my existing key as well and it looks almost identical to the OEM key
  3. Toyota programmed the OEM key for $90. By the way the FSM states that 03-04 are only programmable with a computer.

As for my story… I bought mine with only one master key thinking that I could use the transponder from my 2000 and a blank for $10. Should have researched that. :doh:


So when I started looking into buying a blank I discovered that in 03 the transponder was updated to the 4D. OK fine, so I bought the blank with transponder. Then I tried programing it after I got it. No luck. I tried multiple times and found many different programming sequences. So I then called around to several lock smiths, who would have tried the same method I did as they did not have a computer. Finally I got a copy of the FSM… where I found a computer is needed to program the 03-04 model year key. Why they would do that I have not figured out yet :confused:


So off to the dealer I went. The service time listed is one hour, so they kept the truck for the entire hour before bringing it back. They then told me the computer used for programming the key would not recognize my key, at least they did not charge me for that hour. So it was back to the retailer, who sent me a replacement upon hearing that their key would not program. Got the new key and it was off to Toyota again… where I had to wait another hour before they came back to tell me that key would not program either :mad:

At this point the service specialist (or whatever they call themselves) was intent on having me buy a key from them. I asked the price he quoted it, and I said no way. I told him I knew I guy at a dealer that would get me an OEM key for wholesale. He then said he would match that price and I would wind up getting it for less as I would not have to pay shipping. I said “deal” and they then programmed the OEM key, which by they way did not take an hour. In retrospect I should have quoted a lower price to see if he would offered me that price :p


Could they program the non-OEM key and just didn’t to get me to buy a key from them? No way to know for sure, but I had no options as all the locksmiths did not have the computer needed. So that left me with going to the dealer; and out of the 3 in my area that dealer seems to be the best and most trustworthy (if there is such a thing).

Lesson learned: That key is doggon expensive so treat it nice :meh:
 
The one you bought that was not oem, what did it look like? I bought my 3 botton key from ebay for $60 and the seller claims it is oem? It looks almost identical to the master that came with my car but the "dealer" says it was not compatible. Who do I believe?
 
I'd be interested in trying to program one of these keys. You'd just have to bring everything to Central CA for me.
 
:lol: I was thinking the same thing. I like having the transponder inside my key :rolleyes: Oh and you can get Toyota to cut a blank for free, they even cut it by VIN so it is spot on.

My non-OEM key looked just like the OEM key. It had a slightly different plastic on the exterior of the shell. Other than that it looked the same. And it was about $60 as well. They claimed the shell was aftermarket and the transponder was OEM, but did not seem surprised that it did not work. They said that sometimes the keys don't program and gave me my money back without any hassle.

I have seen some that sell a refurbished key. They take a new blade/case and put an old factory transponder with a fresh batter in it. I don't know where they get the used transponder, but the pics showed some pretty beat up transponders. Sorry I don't have a link for that.

As for who to believe... If you can't get it programmed without using the dealer I guess you have to believe them. At least that is the approach I took. If you can find a locksmith that can program your key with a computer give it a whirl.
 
:lol: I was thinking the same thing. I like having the transponder inside my key :rolleyes: Oh and you can get Toyota to cut a blank for free, they even cut it by VIN so it is spot on.

My non-OEM key looked just like the OEM key. It had a slightly different plastic on the exterior of the shell. Other than that it looked the same. And it was about $60 as well. They claimed the shell was aftermarket and the transponder was OEM, but did not seem surprised that it did not work. They said that sometimes the keys don't program and gave me my money back without any hassle.

I have seen some that sell a refurbished key. They take a new blade/case and put an old factory transponder with a fresh batter in it. I don't know where they get the used transponder, but the pics showed some pretty beat up transponders. Sorry I don't have a link for that.

As for who to believe... If you can't get it programmed without using the dealer I guess you have to believe them. At least that is the approach I took. If you can find a locksmith that can program your key with a computer give it a whirl.

We have an expert with transponder here in Phoenix locksmith Charley. He can flash a Toyota computer even if you dont have any keys.
 
We have an expert with transponder here in Phoenix locksmith Charley. He can flash a Toyota computer even if you dont have any keys.

Tried him. At the time he said for the Land Cruiser he uses the onboard programming that I tried. If that did not work he wouldn't be able to do it either as he did not have the computer to program keys into the ECU. On his site he does have a disclaimer that 03+ Toyotas may not be able to be flashed by him. He was very nice and did refer me to someone else but they did not have that particular computer either.
 
I zip tied a transponder key to the ignition and had 4 keys made at Home Depot @ .99 each and called it good.

Tell me more! I tried holding my actual working key against the column while attempting to start the vehicle with the key that has not been programmed and it would not start? I have an extra valet key that I could cut the end off and put it wherever I need to. At this point I am quite disappointed in this security features and the hassles it creates.
 
Tell me more! I tried holding my actual working key against the column while attempting to start the vehicle with the key that has not been programmed and it would not start? I have an extra valet key that I could cut the end off and put it wherever I need to. At this point I am quite disappointed in this security features and the hassles it creates.

I found the transponder works the best just above the key hole. Remove the plastic trim around the ignition and zip tied the transponder or the whole key to the ignition (were you put the key in) and reinstalled the plastic trim.

1-:banana:
Keys were .99 at Home Depot
 
Tried him. At the time he said for the Land Cruiser he uses the onboard programming that I tried. If that did not work he wouldn't be able to do it either as he did not have the computer to program keys into the ECU. On his site he does have a disclaimer that 03+ Toyotas may not be able to be flashed by him. He was very nice and did refer me to someone else but they did not have that particular computer either.

Good info to know now that I have a '06
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom