Auris spare key

[Merlin5]

Hi guys.  My spare key for my 2007 Auris goes fully into the door lock but doesn't turn. It also goes into the ignition but doesn't turn. My friend said it's because the transponder needs programming. However, I just popped into Timpsons who told me it won't be the transponder but rather the key itself. He says he'll need to cut a new key and then I transfer the buttons, Battery and transponder from the old non working key to the newly cut key.  Half an hour to do and £35. Is Timpsons right?

[Saxmaniac]

The key in the lock is purely mechanical so should work to turn the mechanism without transponder 

[Merlin5]

42 minutes ago, Saxmaniac said:

The key in the lock is purely mechanical so should work to turn the mechanism without transponder 

Thanks. Actually if I had any brains I could have removed the transponder from my working key and tested it in my locks. So basically, a key with no transponder will lock and unlock the car? But presumably not start it as a transponder is needed to communicate with the immobiliser?

Does £35 sound about as reasonable as it gets or do you recommend anywhere else?

[solero]

3 hours ago, Merlin5 said:

Thanks. Actually if I had any brains I could have removed the transponder from my working key and tested it in my locks. So basically, a key with no transponder will lock and unlock the car? But presumably not start it as a transponder is needed to communicate with the immobiliser?

Does £35 sound about as reasonable as it gets or do you recommend anywhere else?

£35 for what? Transponder and/or blade?

A whole new full workingkey cost me £80 from local independent auto locksmith.

Avoid any key cutting shops, unless you have a keycode. as it took my guy several attempts and finally using a lishi lock reader before the blade eventually worked. Keys/locks wear, so cant always make a good copy from a worn one.

[Merlin5]

2 hours ago, solero said:

£35 for what? Transponder and/or blade?

A whole new full workingkey cost me £80 from local independent auto locksmith.

Avoid any key cutting shops, unless you have a keycode. as it took my guy several attempts and finally using a lishi lock reader before the blade eventually worked. Keys/locks wear, so cant always make a good copy from a worn one.

No, I have the transponder.  It's £35 for him to cut a new blade and supply a new plastic mould. He showed me an identical shaped black plastic mould in his shop with the button cutouts for my buttons from my spare key to fit into, and the new blade will be installed to that mould as well. He said he'd make a new blade from my main key, the one that works. 

[solero]

3 hours ago, Merlin5 said:

No, I have the transponder.  It's £35 for him to cut a new blade and supply a new plastic mould. He showed me an identical shaped black plastic mould in his shop with the button cutouts for my buttons from my spare key to fit into, and the new blade will be installed to that mould as well. He said he'd make a new blade from my main key, the one that works. 

My only warning as earlier is the new cut key still does not work. Ask the what if? Price is ok, shells are about £10, key blade cutting is about £10-£20.

Your car is now 17 years old, and the key is likely worn, hence it no longer turns the barrel.And you are risking making a copy of a worn key.

Better off going to toyota with your docs and asking for the factory keycode. Onliine sellers can cut to the keycode, and would be a safer bet. Hence Toyota can be anal about giving out keycodes, as they want £250 for a new key. Mines bluntly refused to issue keycodes when I enquired over the phone.

Hope it works out for you, whichever route you take.

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Just a thought - has the spare key worked previously?

[Merlin5]

51 minutes ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Just a thought - has the spare key worked previously?

I don't think so, at least, not in my ownership. I've owned the car since 2020 and I don't remember ever using the spare. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Which makes me wonder whether it is the correct key.  If it's the spare, presumably it won't be as worn as the key you're using as the main key. Have you compared the two blades to see whether there are any differences in the cut?

[solero]

Also, try using keys 180 degrees rotated, as they are cut double sided.

[Merlin5]

8 hours ago, solero said:

Also, try using keys 180 degrees rotated, as they are cut double sided.

I think I've tried that before but yeah, I'll try it again.

 

14 hours ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Which makes me wonder whether it is the correct key.  If it's the spare, presumably it won't be as worn as the key you're using as the main key. Have you compared the two blades to see whether there are any differences in the cut?

 

Looking at both side by side they're identical to my eyes, except the very tip on the spare which is more rounded. Here's some photos of both sides of each key. The blue arrow points to the one that is working and the one without the arrow is the spare. 

[tavy]

   Hi !

  They are looking identical except of the tip, the one that is working has a longer tip. Try the spare one in this way: insert it completely in the barell then pull it out few millimeters only and twist it. 

This can be the result of tip wearing.

[Merlin5]

8 hours ago, tavy said:

   Hi !

  They are looking identical except of the tip, the one that is working has a longer tip. Try the spare one in this way: insert it completely in the barell then pull it out few millimeters only and twist it. 

This can be the result of tip wearing.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it a millimeter or so at a time but unfortunately it wouldn't turn. Also tried what solero suggested about rotating the key 180 but that didn't work either. 

This evening I wanted to check if the spare key transponder is even still working. So I opened up both keys. The Battery in the spare key transponder was dead so I transferred the good Battery from my working key to the spare key and fortunately the spare key transponder works! It unlocked and locked the doors, and the outside lights flashed as they should when I pressed the buttons. The spare key still won't turn in the door lock or ignition though, so that's definitely the key blade and not the transponder.

I then tested the spare key transponder by putting it into my working key and was able to turn the door lock and open the door, and it turned in the ignition barrel and started the car. So, both transponders work which is great and confirms that it's just the spare key blade which is worn (at the tip it seems). So I'll buy another CR2016 Battery and get a new blade cut from Timpsons. Hopefully the new blade will turn in the door lock and ignition. Thanks everyone for your help, much appreciated. I'll let you know if the new key works.