Advice Please Re: Ecu? & Keys

[jps71]

Hi Guys

Yesterday I received my 2001 rav4 diesel gx and I must say I am very impressed so far.

I do have one problem though.

I was told by the dealer I got it off that the car only had one key this turns out to be the valet key.

So I am left without a master key and according to MrT their is nothing I can do about it apart from get a new ecu? and keys at a cost of over £700 + fitting & vat.

I was told it might be better to get a second hand unit and keys and to swap the blades over on the keys to match the ones to my ignition and locks.

So I would like to know is this correct and if I was to fit a second hand unit and swap the key blades over would everything then be ok or would I have to get it all reset by MrT.

If that is all I need to do can you please tell me where is the ecu located on the car that I would need to change.

As an after thought if I where to tap my valet key behind the shroud near to the ignition block would I then be able to use a unprogrammed key to start it.

All useful info greatfully received.

Cheers Jim

[anchorman]

Very inventive Jim and it might work. I will leave the full answer to shcm or one of the other guys though as I hate these lock and immobiliser issues.

[crofter]

My memory never was very good but I seem to remember buying a key from a certain shoe repairers/key cutters starting starting with "T"

I think I then had to match it with the ECU and I think the instructions were posted.

Still as anchorman said those versed in electrikery will have the answer.

Del

[Davrav]

Hi Guys

Yesterday I received my 2001 rav4 diesel gx and I must say I am very impressed so far.

I do have one problem though.

I was told by the dealer I got it off that the car only had one key this turns out to be the valet key.

So I am left without a master key and according to MrT their is nothing I can do about it apart from get a new ecu? and keys at a cost of over £700 + fitting & vat.

I was told it might be better to get a second hand unit and keys and to swap the blades over on the keys to match the ones to my ignition and locks.

So I would like to know is this correct and if I was to fit a second hand unit and swap the key blades over would everything then be ok or would I have to get it all reset by MrT.

If that is all I need to do can you please tell me where is the ecu located on the car that I would need to change.

As an after thought if I where to tap my valet key behind the shroud near to the ignition block would I then be able to use a unprogrammed key to start it.

All useful info greatfully received.

Cheers Jim

Are you able to trace the previous owner from the V5? There's always a possibility that they have found/still have one of the originals.

[jps71]

Thanks for the info huys.

I haven't got the V5 yet as the dealer sent it to the DVLA.

So I will have to wait a few weeks to get it then I will contact the previous owner.

I don't think they will have the key though as I found that the glove box had been forced open, which makes mr think they had lost the keys.

[IanXT4]

I would contact an established sounding ECU repair specialist first and see if they can help.

An example would be:

http://www.ecutesting.com/

Please note I have not used this company and am not recommending them.

They look very legitimate and might be able to point you in the right direction.

There are other firms that do advertise, an example I found this morning was.

http://www.keyprogrammers.com/

Again I have never used them and would suggest that you proceed WITH EXTREME CAUTION.

As I far as I could see from the website the only initial contact is a Manchester mobile number.

My thoughts are the primary developers and users of this technology are usually "in the possession" of cars with just one key !!

(or maybe no keys !!)

[jps71]

Thanks for the links :)

I will have a read of the sites.

[crofter]

Re ecutesting,as they are local to me I popped in to do a recce.

They seem to be a reputable concern and also they will be moving shortly to the next town as they have outgrown where they are,so they must be doing something right!

I spoke to a chap named Roger who stressed one point,and I heard the ladies manning the phones say the same thing to callers,they must have the part number from your ECU before they can answer any quiries you may have,as there were so many types of them fitted.

I pass this on in the hope it will save someone the cost and time of a wasted phone call.

And dont forget anchorman has managed to secure a discount to club members, but you must contact him first for a password.

I cannot stress too much that I have no connection with this company other than this visit.

I do hope this is of help to someone

Del

[jps71]

Re ecutesting,as they are local to me I popped in to do a recce.

They seem to be a reputable concern and also they will be moving shortly to the next town as they have outgrown where they are,so they must be doing something right!

I spoke to a chap named Roger who stressed one point,and I heard the ladies manning the phones say the same thing to callers,they must have the part number from your ECU before they can answer any quiries you may have,as there were so many types of them fitted.

I pass this on in the hope it will save someone the cost and time of a wasted phone call.

And dont forget anchorman has managed to secure a discount to club members, but you must contact him first for a password.

I cannot stress too much that I have no connection with this company other than this visit.

I do hope this is of help to someone

Del

Thanks for the useful info :)

Can someone please tell me where this ecu is located so that I can find the part number :)

[shcm]

If it's the key transponder ECU, possibly up behind the steering wheel:

Part number may be something like 89780-42060, but I advise you to have a look around the vehicle and check.

[jps71]

will do thanks :)

[crofter]

I believe that the ECU is to be found under the cover in the centre console by the side of the front passenger's right foot.

I asked at the shoe repairers and I was told the could supply a key to operate the immobilizer, but that is what you have, and would cost £50 when cut.

It came back to me whilst I was in there the key I bought was for a 4/1 and that had a seperate fob to operate the central locking.

Del

[crofter]

Strike my answer and take the one from the electro master

[jps71]

I believe that the ECU is to be found under the cover in the centre console by the side of the front passenger's right foot.

I asked at the shoe repairers and I was told the could supply a key to operate the immobilizer, but that is what you have, and would cost £50 when cut.

It came back to me whilst I was in there the key I bought was for a 4/1 and that had a seperate fob to operate the central locking.

Del

Thanks for the info re the ecu.

I have been told by MrT though that a key cannot be cut with working imobiliser etc because I do not have a master key :( so they want silly money to change the ecu etc

[crofter]

I mentioned your problem to you know who and they said find that number and they may be able match an ECU with keys.

Once again I'm not pushing y.k.w.

[shcm]

Strike my answer and take the one from the electro master

You could be right. That diagram is LHD, and the stuff doesn't always swap sides with steering. I'll see if I've got any RHD stuff.

[crofter]

shcm

post still stands.

[shcm]

This is model year 2004 onwards, so it probably does follow the steering wheel:

[jps71]

So am I correct in saying it is the engine rcu(m/t) in the diagram that I want.

[shcm]

To be honest, I would have thought it was the "Transponder Key computer" or immobilisation ECU by another name. That was the part number I gave above.

I don't know about this system, but the principle is usually along the lines of the keys are registered with the immob ECU, then there is another coded link from the immob ECU to the engine management itself.

[jps71]

Thanks for all of the help.

I will have a look at it tomorrow :)

[jps71]

I managed a quick look this morning inbetween blizzards and up behind the steering column is a black box with a yellow label on saying ignition immobiliser I couldn't get close enough to read the numbers on it as the car was filling with snow.

It looks like it will be a difficult job removing it unless the bottom of the dash is removable.

I will just have to wait for better weather.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

Cheers Jim

[Davrav]

I managed a quick look this morning inbetween blizzards and up behind the steering column is a black box with a yellow label on saying ignition immobiliser I couldn't get close enough to read the numbers on it as the car was filling with snow.

It looks like it will be a difficult job removing it unless the bottom of the dash is removable.

I will just have to wait for better weather.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

Cheers Jim

Any chance of using a small mirror on a stick?

[jps71]

I managed a quick look this morning inbetween blizzards and up behind the steering column is a black box with a yellow label on saying ignition immobiliser I couldn't get close enough to read the numbers on it as the car was filling with snow.

It looks like it will be a difficult job removing it unless the bottom of the dash is removable.

I will just have to wait for better weather.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

Cheers Jim

Any chance of using a small mirror on a stick?

I will try it when the weather eases a bit :)

[IanXT4]

These days I use a small digital camera set on macro rather than a mirror.

Bonus is you get a record of any details.