Finally bought one...key question

[Bearcat5280]

Hi, just throwing out a quick introduciton. Just bought a 2000 TLC. Was a kid transporter so a bit dirty inside, found it on the internet at cars.com. Paid $18,900 and it only has 55,000 miles. It was located in Boston, and I paid $950 to have it shipped to my house in Denver.

Anyway, my first post question:

They only provided me with a valet key. So can't take advantage of keyless entry or alarm system. What is my best option to gain back these benefits? Buy an after market alarm such as Clifford? or buy a new computer/master key combo from Toyota (sounds expensive)? Anyone who has experience with this would appreciate your thoughts.

Looking forward to being a part of the group.

 

[spressomon]

Hi, just throwing out a quick introduciton. Just bought a 2000 TLC. Was a kid transporter so a bit dirty inside, found it on the internet at cars.com. Paid $18,900 and it only has 55,000 miles. It was located in Boston, and I paid $950 to have it shipped to my house in Denver.

Anyway, my first post question:

They only provided me with a valet key. So can't take advantage of keyless entry or alarm system. What is my best option to gain back these benefits? Buy an after market alarm such as Clifford? or buy a new computer/master key combo from Toyota (sounds expensive)? Anyone who has experience with this would appreciate your thoughts.

Looking forward to being a part of the group.

Congratulations and welcome Did you get all the Cheerios/cheese puffs vac'd out?

Although I do not know with 100% certainty the official number of key programs that an LC's ECU can accomodate it is listed somewhere here that someone thinks the magic number limit is 4. That means the ECU will allow, if this info is accurate, one to program up to 4-keys during the ECU's lifetime.

And I do not know (big help huh?!) if you can program from the valet key or not (contact a Toyota parts guy...Cdan or SINCITY100 on 'MUD) for this info. Assuming you can program the remote key with the valet in the ignition then all you need to do is cough up the $250-$300 for the remote key and program with instructions within this 100 forum. While your at it, assuming you can program from the valet key, get yourself a Camry key from one of the two above mentioned Toyota parts guys and have a nice, sturdy back up for less than $40 (doesn't have the remote in it...however much better than the valet key).

 

[grimmcruiser]

I just went through the same exercise. You are screwed. The only question is a little or a lot. You can't program another key with the valet. You have to have a master, the one with a built in remote. The dealer can not create a new master from file, they can only replace the ECM and start all over. IF this has not been done before, they will replace the ECM for free, but you have to pay for the labor and new keys, about $450. IF they have done it already, you are into it for about $1,400. Call the guy who sold it to you. I seriously doubt they don't have the master. The previous owner of my 99 was just too lazy to bring it in. All else fails, call Go Toyota or Stephenson here in town. Have you VIN handy, they can tell you if it has been done before or not.

 

[darrelwallac]

Feel free to PM me. I think there is a locksmith in Parker that can help you with this, a lot cheaper than the dealer.

 

[e9999]

Welcome!

yup, Master or hack...

 

[BMWSTOY]

In the FAQ area there is info on sending your ECU to Arizona to the locksmith that can hack it.
If the Parker locksmith works out - let me know - I live in Paker and it would be good to know who to use.

WELCOME to MUD, sure wish I can swith my mileage with you. Post up those pics

 

[Jim_Chow]

Yeah, you're screwed. See if the dealer will do the one-time replacement. The good news is, you should get two new master keys w/ the ECU replacement.

This is one lesson I learned, even when buying a CPO vehicle:

(1) Make sure it has BOTH master keys BEFORE you sign on the dotted line. I assumed it had both masters...wrong! Cost me another $250 for a second master. Salesman said lexus is only required to provide 2 keys on CPO vehicles.

(2) Have the missing key(s) codes erased from the ECU. I didn't know this could be done (salesman didn't say anything about it), so I had to pay another $50 for a tech to do it later on. So $300 in additional costs, and that was after shelling out all the money on the rig. Wife and I were dismayed.

This should be put in the prospective buyer's guide so more people don't get screwed. If buying a LX, you have have the dealer program all the custom multiplex settings as a condition of delivery, too.

 

[KathmanduCruiser]

This should be put in the prospective buyer's guide so more people don't get screwed. If buying a LX, you have have the dealer program all the custom multiplex settings as a condition of delivery, too.

I agree. It should be put in the prospective buyer's guide.

I, too, did not realize the implications of buying the 100 with only one key. Thankfully it is a master. But had I known, I would not have bought it without the dealership prividing me with another master and a valet key. I really thought I could just go to the hardware store and get additional sets of keys.

 

[calbo]

So, does anyone know definitively just how many master keys, sub (or valet) keys, and flat (card) keys should come with a brand new LX or LC?

When I bought my '01 LX a few months ago, it came with only one master, one sub, and zero flat keys. I said that a second master key was a dealbreaker, so they ordered one and programmed it for me when it arrived. I didn't ask for any of the missing keys to be erased from the ECU though.

 

[justimaginejack]

All Lexus Vehicles come with Two masters, a valet and a Wallet/flat ket. They are so damn expensive to repair through Lexus the dealer hear in St. Louis got a locksmith trained to do it and he does all thier work. I learned this after sticking my damn key into the paper shredder to get it unstuck. It work and split my key in half.
Also, the valet key will not open the glove box and cannot open tunks. not sure about back door on LX
Best of luck and congratulations

 

[Bearcat5280]

I'm am driving down to the Parker locksmith tonight after work. He has the master key in (ordered last week) and is highly confident he can program it to work with my vehicle. I haven't shelled out any $$$ yet, won't pay him anything until I see it work. Is this the route some have previously referred to as the "hack" route? Any reason I should be concerned with this? He seems to be a highly reputable locksmith. Key cost me $170 and he is including the programming in this cost.

 

[KathmanduCruiser]

I hope it works out for you.

The one key I got when buying my LC luckily was a master key. Otherwise, I would be going through the same ordeal as you. For peace of mind, I bought another key off ebay and programmed it. The downside is that it is not a remote. I will only get another remote master if I lose my current remote master to avoid spending another 100+ bucks.

 

[LXPearl]

There is a way a dealer can use the TSB on the Immobilizer Key Reset to reprogram another Master Key. They will need the programming unit plus a connection to TIS to do it. It creates a new master key and cancels all other keys for that VIN. With the new master key, they can program other keys to the new code. Toyota allows this TIS based reset once per VIN.

If the dealer has already used up the One-time reset, you will be likely left with the ECU replacement process (one-time also; then you pay). I suspect there is a charge for doing the TIS approach more than once - it is a lot less troublesome than the ECU replacement.

 

[Ming89FJ62]

FWIW - Just took delivery of our 07 two weeks ago. 2-master and 1-valet keys. In addition to the master you also need the key number (provided on a small aluminum tag) for additional masters to be programmed. Max master keys - 4.

 

[Bearcat5280]

Thanks, this is all very helpful. I'm still a bit cautious if the locksmith can achieve the same result of programming a new master, if I only have the valet. He continues to reassure me that he can do it.

 

[Bearcat5280]

So the guys at the locksmith couldn't figure out how to reprogram the new master they had ordered with only the valet (as we all new). A few hours later they called back and said if I can leave the vehicle for a few days, they have a company they can send the ECU to that will "flash" and reprogram, and provide a new master (but not with the keyless entry buttons), for $300 plus they will require me to buy the master with the keyless entry buttons for $170 that they already cut when trying to figure it out today. So for $470 I'll have two masters (only one of which will have keyless entry)

Toyota requires me to buy 2 new masters. however they throw in a brand new ECU ($2,200 value according to the parts guy) at a total cost of $600.

I will continue to explore options and post the outcome.

 

[aedgington]

Bearcat, I deal with this all the time (I'm a wholesaler).

Locksmiths charge anywhere from $100-$800 to reflash.
New remote keys are $189 (dealership).
New remote key shells are $25.
Used remote guts are ~ $50.

$300 to reflash, provide a valet master, and make your key a master is a so-so deal, BUT they have already demonstrated they aren't very knowledgeable about the situation. This should make you nervous.

$600 to have Lexus provide 2 new masters and a new/remanufactured ECU (with no old key codes in it) is a pretty good deal. $200 ea for the keys and $200 labor for install & programming is pretty reasonable. Plus you have Lexus to hold accountable for satisfaction rather than some independant locksmith who is subcontracting an ECU reflash.

Basically, there's no cheap solution. You just have to suck it up and deal with it before you lose what key you do have.

I'll third the motion for key checking being entered into the buying guideline. Whenever I wholesale a Lexus, it has to have two master remotes or my dealers won't buy it. The problem is non Lexus dealers who aren't savvy about the situation.

 

[LXPearl]

Bearcat, I would suggest trying a couple Toyota dealers maybe even a Lexus one. The keys are the same except the emblem.

I would first ask about the "Immobilizer Key Reset" service bulletin to see if it will work in your case. For my LX it is TSIB EL002-01. Toyota has an equivalent. It describes reprogramming a key even without a master key available. You will have to buy, or have available, a master blank to be programmed. The dealer uses a programming machine and connects with Toyota Info Services (TIS) with the VIN and follows the steps. The process inactivates all previous keys. Once you have the new Master key, you will be able to reprogram your own valet and any other master keys.

If the Toyota dealers do not have the programming unit, maybe Lexus does. The TIS site has both Lexus and Toyota components to it, so I suspect Lexus could do the job.

If you have a good relationship with a Toyota dealership, they will likely work with you on your situation. They would like your business in the service dept and in parts.

If the above does not work, then the ECU replacement program is the alternative. Some dealers may work with you on that price also, but $500 - 600 seems about normal for your part of the program.

 

[KathmanduCruiser]

Bearcat, I deal with this all the time (I'm a wholesaler).

Locksmiths charge anywhere from $100-$800 to reflash.
New remote keys are $189 (dealership).
New remote key shells are $25.
Used remote guts are ~ $50.

$300 to reflash, provide a valet master, and make your key a master is a so-so deal, BUT they have already demonstrated they aren't very knowledgeable about the situation. This should make you nervous.

$600 to have Lexus provide 2 new masters and a new/remanufactured ECU (with no old key codes in it) is a pretty good deal. $200 ea for the keys and $200 labor for install & programming is pretty reasonable. Plus you have Lexus to hold accountable for satisfaction rather than some independant locksmith who is subcontracting an ECU reflash.

Basically, there's no cheap solution. You just have to suck it up and deal with it before you lose what key you do have.

I'll third the motion for key checking being entered into the buying guideline. Whenever I wholesale a Lexus, it has to have two master remotes or my dealers won't buy it. The problem is non Lexus dealers who aren't savvy about the situation.

There was a 2000 remote on ebay for a buyitnow price of a hundred bucks. It cost like 2 dollars to get it cut. You can save about 90 bucks that way.

 

[Bearcat5280]

Thanks for the info, appears that the imobilizer reset only works on 2001 - 2003 LC/LX. I think I have to go the ECU replacement route... but this has been a great example though of how valuable this site is!!!

I'm going to ask my tech if I can provide my own key, but they've mentioned that part of the deal is my buying keys from them. One dealer I had been working with tried to tell me it was mandatory to buy 2 keys, luckily, Burt on Broadway is more reasonable, allowing me to purchase one master (w/remote) and reprogramming my existing valet as a master. If they can't reprogram the valet as a master, they will sell me a "non remote" master for $50 and no additional labor to program it.