Simple Enough Question About Getting Spare Key Cut, Please Advise...

[Blobert]

Hello,

I've had a read through most of the threads here but cannot find a suitable answer.

Basically I imported a 1999 Toyota Vitz (Yaris) that only came with one key (black one with remote locking buttons).

The central locking has a habit of kicking in automatically so I’m worried I may lock the key in the car by mistake.

I rang up a local locksmith who specialises in car locks and he say that that if the key has a chip it will cost about €100 for a spare key whereas if it does not (he seems to think it won’t have one) it will only cost about €5. I’ll bring the key over to him tomorrow at lunch but just wanted to check with you guys first.

Is this key likely to contain a chip? If it does can I still get the cheap copy cut that will open the doors but not start the engine? Like I say my main concern is not loosing the main key but it getting locked in.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Robert

[T600]

Yes and Yes are the answers to your questions I believe.

It will almost certainly have a chip, but a key without a chip will open the doors, but won't start the car.

[dagbladet]

Assuming that your 'good' key is a master. The locksmith will need it to programme the new transponder key. If you lose your one and only transponder key you could be looking at a huge bill for a new ECU and locks.

Im a little surprised that the local locksmith was unaware that Toyota had a chipped key, they are renowned for their difficulty to copy/programme.

[jsautos]

If you lose your one and only transponder key you could be looking at a huge bill for a new ECU and locks.

Sorry new here but had to post this as i am fed up seeing too many Toyota owners getting ripped off by main stealers when it comes to keys.

You do not have to replace the engine ecu if you lose all your keys. The ecu can have new keys placed directly in it by reading the eeprom and typing info directly into it.

I am a mobile locksmith in southend on sea and i do many of these aswell as other Toyotas and all that is needed is a decent eeprom programmer, a RW2 or similar and a little bit of soldering knowledge.

You can even virginise the engine ecu so all you then need to do is cycle 3 new keys to it. Its a simple process for little money. If you have one of these and have no master keys then send me your ecu and existing slave key and i will cut a new master key and programme it into your ecu. I do not need the car.

You can view what we do at www.jsautorepairs.co.uk to check we are bonifide.

If you have the facilities for doing this yourself but not the knowhow then give me a ring on 07779 799027 and i can talk you through it. Its a relatively easy process if you have the equipment to do it.

HTH

Jason

[Blobert]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

As it turned out the master key didn’t contain a chip so I managed to get one cut that opens the doors and turns on the engine for only €5!

Apparently Japanese Yaris’s didn’t bring in the chips in the keys till later, seems like the locksmith knew his stuff after all:)

Needless to say I’m very pleased (even if my car is less secure than a European counterpart of the same era)

Thanks again,

Robert

[dagbladet]

If you lose your one and only transponder key you could be looking at a huge bill for a new ECU and locks.

Sorry new here but had to post this as i am fed up seeing too many Toyota owners getting ripped off by main stealers when it comes to keys.

You do not have to replace the engine ecu if you lose all your keys. The ecu can have new keys placed directly in it by reading the eeprom and typing info directly into it.

I am a mobile locksmith in southend on sea and i do many of these aswell as other Toyotas and all that is needed is a decent eeprom programmer, a RW2 or similar and a little bit of soldering knowledge.

You can even virginise the engine ecu so all you then need to do is cycle 3 new keys to it. Its a simple process for little money. If you have one of these and have no master keys then send me your ecu and existing slave key and i will cut a new master key and programme it into your ecu. I do not need the car.

You can view what we do at www.jsautorepairs.co.uk to check we are bonifide.

If you have the facilities for doing this yourself but not the knowhow then give me a ring on 07779 799027 and i can talk you through it. Its a relatively easy process if you have the equipment to do it.

HTH

Jason

Jason

Thanks for that, I wish i'd known this a couple of months ago. Having bought a second-hand phase 1 1.0 with only one key, I was paranoid about losing it and having to splash out for ECU, locks etc. I went to a locksmith who runs a fleet of vans with logo's proudly boasting that they can provide keys for "any vehicle!". When I handed my one and only key to the youth at the desk, he said it shouldn't be a problem. He handed it to the guvnor who took one look and said he couldn't do it and the only alternative was Toyota. Bearing in mind the back of this shop is riddled with high tech looking machinery and computers, I was surprised. After the boss returned to the back room the youth quickly scribbled down a number on a scrap of paper and suggested I try this guy with the comment "he's a bit of a nutter, but brilliant with keys". I phoned the guy who told me to do a little test with my key, the result of which told him that I had a 'master key'. I went to his place (he lived about half a mile away), he had a van loaded with lots more very sophisticated looking machinery inside. First he cut the new key but he didn't appear to use any techy device on the transponder. Instead he appeared to utilise the 'throttle/brake/door dance technique' and voila, one new master.

Now I don't panic when I drop my car keys.

[jsautos]

Yes you can use the brake, accelerator etc mothod if you have a master key. If you only have a slave key though then its an ecu out job and code keys directly in to it. I did 3 today. 2 Yaris's and one Landcruiser. Its so much better as the key you programme will be a master key no matter what and from there you can programme the remaining keys.

Toyota did not believe this possible until i went down there and showed them. Now they call me in to do all their lost keys. It saves them waiting for ecu's.

[Mickzx9]

Hi Jason, (jsautos)

could you send me an email address for me to contact you on.

I am an Auto Elec. from Australia and i do alot of work for a big toyota dealership here in sydney. i have so far been sub contracting out all my lost key work. but i am missing out on some good business. i have access to an eeprom programmer and an AD90 Key reader/cloner machine. i would really appreciate if i could ask you a few questions about the process required. i will even pay you for your time if nessecary.

Regards

Mick

[jsautos]

Hi Mick

You can email me on cs@jsautorepairs.co.uk

If you have access to reading eeproms then you can send me the dumps and i can do them and send them back(at a fee of course)!! :)

Its took me close on 2 years to master these and i can not give it away for nothing.

Cheers

Jason

[Mickzx9]

Hi jason. thanks for the offer mate. i already can virginise the ecu i have figured that much out but i am trying to figure out how i can write the transponder code directly to the ecu. will make it a little easier for customers this way if when they recieve the ecu the keys will just work

However i will hang on to your email address and if i get stuck i will send you off some eeprom dumps.

also how much would the fee be?

Thanks for your fast reply.

Mick

[redcard]

Hi Jason, (jsautos)

could you send me an email address for me to contact you on.

I am an Auto Elec. from Australia and i do alot of work for a big toyota dealership here in sydney. i have so far been sub contracting out all my lost key work. but i am missing out on some good business. i have access to an eeprom programmer and an AD90 Key reader/cloner machine. i would really appreciate if i could ask you a few questions about the process required. i will even pay you for your time if nessecary.

Regards

Mick

Hey Mick,

I'm based in Sydney and could do with getting some keys cut for a corolla (2003). Could you message me directly if you're able to assist (Got an error when I tried to message you). Naturally I'll pay - anything to avoid the dealership prices!

Si

[JohhnyB]

Hi,

I too have lost my last master key for a toyota corolla 2003 model and based in Sydney, Oz. I am getting by with a slave key ( grey head)

Have been quoted $900 to get new remote keys, I assume re-programming ecu. I would welcome any suggestions if this is the going rate or if anyone know where in Sydney/Wollongong area I can get a better deal.

Thanks in advance

John