Work Around For Transponder Key

[r2m]

Has anybody ever thought of taking their valet key and tape, glue, Velcro, epoxy, it to the back side of the ignition (behind the plastic knee panel), right up snug to the key hole. This way you would never need a transponder to start your car! Just have a few steel keys made and you're good to go!

You could still use your transponder remote for your doors and starting your car, but if you should ever lose any or all your transponder remotes and valet keys, you can at least get into your rig, start it and get to where you need to be. This would be ideal for having a second key hidden on your vehicle if you should lose your transponder remote. Just fetch your hidden steel key, unlock and drive away with your steel key. No batteries, no worries about losing a $300.00 key, no worries if you ever need a transponder key made again, it's always in your car under your dash!

Another benefit is for people like myself and my family who surf. We usually have to surf with a key in our wetsuit for getting into our cars, and this removes the issues of worrying about remotes or getting them wet, etc.

Just a thought...

 

[ScubaJon]

thats how alot of the aftermarket remote start kits work.

 

[JCReb]

Scuba- where would a key typically be mounted? My 100 has a remote starter installed. I only have one key so if the other key is mounted somewhere in the truck, that would be great.
Thanks

 

[larryt]

My buddy's LX had an aftermarket alarm when he bought it. When we replaced a broken ignition shaft, we found the original transponder key zip tied right behind the trim ring of the ignition key opening. It has to be very close to the ignition to work, so it made sense there.

 

[ScubaJon]

it all depends on who installs the alarm. but it should be close to the ignition as posted above.

 

[JCReb]

Thanks guys

 

[Odyseuss]

You can probably take the transponder chip out of the key and tape it on somewhere if you wanted to.

 

[duggy]

I've never thought about this scenario since I only have a valet key and would love not to lose it.

Can anybody recommend any vendors for keys similar to the ones we have now?

 

[ScubaJon]

ebay

 

[scottmbbp]

This weekend I took the trim around the lock cylinder loose and zip tied my transponder key to the right side of cylinder itself. Now all my plain steel keys work and I have a spare key if something really goes sideways. Plenty of room there and everything to fit back together stock.

 

[bctlex]

I have seen on eBay keys that has transponder chip, but without remote. I have bought similar keys for my 01 Sequoia, and those keys are waterproof as far as I can tell - we have gotten it wet in a washer before and still working.

Kinda on the back burner at the moment, but planning to buy some of these keys this in the future for daily use, and keep the original locked safely.

 

[AimCOtaco]

I think mine are mostly ebay sourced non-remote Camry keys, ACE cuts them and I program them with the truck, cheap and easy.

If you have a master key you can program the ECU to recognize more transponders.