My 100 Series Key SAGA

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G-Cat

G-Cat

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I currently own the second of 2 1999 100 Series Cruisers that I've had for 6 years and 120K miles.

We've been very happy after moving on from a Sage 40th Anniversary 80 Series...except for the key situation.

This truck came with 2 master keys with the 3-button remote. (No valet key).

The shells soon cracked. I temp-fixed them with colored duct tape and set to searching Mud.

Back then, the "Mud Solution" was a pair of eBay keys, cut at Ace Hardware, and swap the guts.

Ordered the keys and headed to Ace. Key cutting kid cut one of them and I headed to the parking lot. Nope. Wouldn't unlock door, wouldn't start Cruiser. (Yep, guts/transponder were/was in correct proximity).
Minus one for Ace Hardware in Mansfield, TX.

I then PM'd one of the more famous Mud Toyota parts dudes. His place of employment had recently instituted a policy not to cut keys by VIN for folks who weren't physically there with Title or Vehicle in-hand. Understandable.

I gave up and continued to apply fresh duct tape every 6 months for the next 5 years.

Today, I decided to follow-up on a newer bit of "Mud Advice" and take my second blank key to Lowes in Colombus GA.

The lady at the key cutting service explained that she was prohibited from cutting a key not purchased at Lowes. A customer behind me said "What? I brought in a blank Ford key last week and y'all cut it for me."

I then asked to purchase a new master key shell for my Cruiser. Nope, we don't carry one. I told her that I was there after reported success at other Lowes in the US...she told me she could only do it if the manager approved it.

I went to customer service. I asked the rep if I could speak with a manager. She assured me she could help. I explained and, unable to help, she paged the manager. The manager called her and she explained the issue...after she hung up she told me the manager said that it is policy not to cut keys not sold at Lowes. Didn't fulfill my request to talk in-person or offer an understandable explaination.

Strikes 1,2 and (maybe 3) for Lowes in Columbus, GA.

Off to Home Depot.

(I'm a life-long Lowes shopper, but this was going to be enough to close-out my account and transition to Home Depot for life).

Guy at Home Depot told me they used to do it but "the dealerships won't let us anymore as they want the business for themselves".

Sheesh. Where am I going to get home improvement stuff if I am forced to boycott both Lowes and Home Depot!?!

Strike 3, 4 and 5 for Hine Depot in Columbus, GA (I had been done with them for years)

So, here I am, applying another layer of duct tape to my keys.
 
I've had pretty good luck at our local Toyota Dealer. Yes, I have had to show DL & auto insurance card to get a key cut by VIN. Depending on who is behind the counter, they sometime give a little grief over the "foreign" key. Usually an explanation that they don't sell one without the guts, and it is a proper "Denso" key gets past that. The cost has been between $0-$15, again depending on who is behind the counter.

When my son wanted to try one of the "flip" keys, we used a local locksmith/lockshop. They usually groan a bit, and point out that they won't replace the key if it doesn't work. I usually poke back at them that "I thought that they are supposed to be professionals, not some teen at a hardware store, and should know how to cut a key correctly the first time" but usually have more than one key in my pocket in case they screw it up.

Or you could go this route:
YotaMD.com - Products - Toyota and Lexus Key Fob
 
Definitely try an actual locksmith. I got one to come to the house. Had his whole set-up in the back of a small van. Cut the key in the driveway and made sure it worked before he left.
 
I went to a traditional locksmith and they cut my blank for $6. Works perfectly.
 
Find a certified cutter at Ace as not all employees are trained /certified to use the machine. They cut my 2001 Toyota (standard side cut) and 2000 Lexus (sidewinder /laser cut inside) for $10/ea. Both key works.
 
Fob looks good and I subscribed to the Fob thread on day 1...still doesn't solve my inability to find a place to cut me a key.
 
It might solve the problem. When we bought my son's 2000 LC (used), the "master" key was a simple hardware store brass key w/ the OEM "fob" (OEM key without blade) on the ring. Immobilizer seemed to work just fine for the short time we ran it this way.
 
Update! Went to three local lock smiths today. Two were out of business and one was closed, locked and didn't answer their phone!

Ridiculous. @beno , do you do keys cut by VIN? I REFUSE to give my business to the local Toyota dealership as they fall in the 99%.
 
I've had luck telling places to cut me a Camry key just to unlock the doors. Then use a @suprarx7nut fob or just tape the transponder to the ignition cylinder.
 
Lol....just taped up my fob again, close to 10 years, looks ghetto but it works....but should get a new one
 
To eliminate the whole FOB thing I pulled the front panel and zip tied the FOB to the ignition, reinstalled the panel, and now I have reg keys cut for $1.50 each:hillbilly:
 
Broken key fob shells are an ongoing maintenance issue for me...

I took a shell to the local dealership and asked them to cut it for me, they said they couldn't because of their policy, but after some persuasion they tried to cut it, but it didn't work.

I found a local Ace Hardware will "attempt" to cut shells bought elsewhere, but their success rate is about 40% or less... I usually take in a 4 or 6 shells expensive shells at once (from ebay or elsewhere - sometimes you can find lots or multiples for much cheaper from China - I found a lot of 10 key shells from China for $18), and I tell the hardware store that I know they have policies and rules, but I hope they will give it a try and if the cut keys don't work, its NO PROBLEM, I'll pay them for trying to cut the keys (they have never charged me), and I won't hold them responsible for ruining the blade if it doesn't work... I also try to pick the most "original" key I have for them to use to make the copy (for some reason I feel like this may affect whether or not the key works...).

It's a gamble and some times none of the ones they cut work (I thank them for trying and offer to pay), and sometimes they can get 3 or 4 to work. They have never charged me for anything (the ones that don't work AND the ones that do work!). It's all about the relationship. I end up throwing away several cut shells that don't work, but in the end I keep a few good cut shells on hand ready for the next time a key shell breaks (and they do).

Regarding the "laser cut" LEXUS key, this is a different story because this key is different (laser cut?). I have used 1010keys on ebay and been very happy (I have no affiliation with them other than being a customer). They sell a "pre-cut" key shell for the Lexus. You need to send them the key code from the metal tag with your keys; if you don't have this metal tag (might be in the owners manual or attached to some other key), they you can send them a picture of the key and they will figure out the code (this is more expensive). Search ebay for "lexus key fob pre-cut" and you should find them (the price varies greatly depending on whether or not you have the code, and some of their listings are a little confusing). The first time I used them, I sent them a picture of my Lexus key per their instructions, and they cut a perfect working key shell for about $25, AND they sent me the correct code (I have since re-ordered from them and simply provided the code which is cheaper - about $20 for TWO cut key shells). They are really good to work with and I have been very pleased. It is much easier than trying to find someone to cut a Lexus laser shell... Once I got a shell from them that didn't work, I emailed them and they immediately sent a replacement that worked perfectly, not sure what happened, but they were great to take care of it. I wish they did the Toyota key...

Hope this helps.

Lee
2000 Landcruiser
2004 LX470
 
G-Cat said:
I REFUSE to give my business to the local Toyota dealership as they fall in the 99%.
Click to expand...

Cutting a key by VIN is one of the few things I actually trust them to do. When I switched to an Eternity Key, my local dealer actually cut it for free (after checking my registration) and it works great.

Good luck getting yours cut.
 
Just received a pair of cut LX keys from 1010keys off eBay, as outlined by @leej. You give them your key tag code and photo of the blade + $19.85 and a pair of cut Denso (not) keys arrive in the mail 3 business days later. Transfer over the guts and they work fine. If you don't have your original key cut code then you still provide a photo of the blade and select their slightly more expensive option. They work fine and much more convenient then trying to find a locksmith/hardware store that'll "laser" cut keys (at least in my area).
 
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So, this gal...
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went to the dealership while I was at work and asked, sweetly, if they would cut the key by VIN. Nope. Guess the parts guy is married to a fella. She told him he was adhering to a silly rule...the best he could do, in the end, was to refer her to the locksmith the dealership uses.

A five minute drive and $3.00 later, she came home with the below...for the first time in 6 years, we have a key not held together with tape.

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