How to make spare chipped keys

[mnormand]

Yes! Just programmed a 2nd remote successfully on my 4R.:bluejump:

I wonder if these remote and/or chipped key instructions would work on a 2009 Camry? Next time daughter comes in from college I'm going to try with a Camry spare key/remote combo I just bought off fleabay.

 

[Asmara]

I recently came across this and did my research both on here and on various other forums.
Some said that it has to be programmed by a dealer/locksmith and some said that only the keys with a small dot near the end of the key blade works. Some also mentioned that walmart/home depot would cut the key.

However most of those information might not be the truth based on my experience. I'm willing to provide a small guide on this for those in need.

How to get a key blank

I bought the key blank from a seller on Amazon and there was no small dot on the key blade at all but it works.Those found on ebay might also work.
So just buy the cheapest one which says "for 03-09 4runner"
Should be less than 20 bucks shipped.

How to cut

I at first went to walmart but they refused to cut it because I didn't buy the key blank from them. Home depot and lowe's did the same thing.
So I asked a local locksmith and he did it for just 5 bucks. (just FYI those keys are made of brass, not steel, so most locksmiths would be able to cut them.)

How to program

Actually it's a super easy if you still have one master key that can start your 4runner. There was a pdf somewhere about how to do it on a Prado but
its not very clear(it would ask you to remove the key from ignition 3 times without mentioning putting it back in at all) so I'll try to provide a clearer one here:

1. Take the new key and one master key that can start your 4runner(old key) into the 4runner with you and close the driver's door.(immobilizer light should be blinking)

2. Insert old key, remove old key, Insert old key, remove old key,
Insert old key, remove old key, Insert old key, remove old key,
Insert old key (immobilizer light should be off from the first insertion)

3. open and close driver's door six times (immobilizer light should be off)
Step 2 and 3 need to be done in less than 35 seconds(pdf says 35 seconds)

4.remove the old key. (immobilizer light should come on(steady on, not blinking))

5. insert the new key(immobilizer light should be blinking)

Then just sit there and wait, after about one minute the blinking immobilizer light should go off and you're done.

Whole process need to be repeated for any additional keys, the just programmed key could be used as the "old key" for the additional keys.

If there are 5 master keys registered with the immobilizer, it won't accept any more(and I don't know how would it tell you this, so just do a erase if you can't get it to work after trying for a few times). You have to erase them using a similar method(bring in just an old key, insert+remove one more time and open+close one more time, after the 7th close of the driver's door the immobilizer light will stay lighted for one second, remove the old key quickly after that and all but that one you just removed are erased.)

If you don't have any working master key(meaning you only have valet keys). Then I've no idea what could you do other than ask for help from a dealership.

Total cost is less than $25 if you still have at least 1 working master key. Less than 1/5 of what my local dealership wants.

Hope this would be useful for those in need, please post your results if you decided to give this a try.

I ordered two keys from Partznet cut to the VIN number and this worked great. Thanks.

One tip I figured out. When you are doing the opening and closing of the driver's door, watch the door open warning light on the dash and count that light going on and off. Maybe I was doing it too fast or not closing the door enough but the first couple of times, I couldn't get the 4Runner into learn mode. Once I started watching the door open warning light it worked perfect both times.

 

[jediwebdude]

I ordered two keys from Partznet cut to the VIN number and this worked great. Thanks.

I may give them a try. Did you place the order over the phone? How did they verify that you were indeed the owner of the vehicle?

 

[Asmara]

I may give them a try. Did you place the order over the phone? How did they verify that you were indeed the owner of the vehicle?

I just did it via their website and asked them to cut the keys to the VIN I provided. They didn't ask for any documentation but I've ordered hundreds (probably thousands if you go back far enough) of dollars in parts and exchanged several emails with them over the past few years. They 'know' me.

The other thing to remember (as far as security goes) is that the key might open the door but it won't shut off the alarm and it won't start the car until it is programmed. It's unlikely that any thief would be willing to spend $38 to get into a car instead of just smashing the window.

 

[DaveK22]

Wow! Worked for me too. Total cost $11.99. Ebay purchase. Then went to Lowes to have key cut...they didn't even charge me. Did the program in the parking lot. The best part is watching the customers watch you open & close the door 6x in a row

This is seller I bought from...I recommend.
TOYOTA REPLACEMENT UNCUT TRANSPONDER KEY - 4D CHIP | eBay

 

[Coveman]

Thanks for the great tip!

I got my uncut keys in the mail and took them to HD to get them cut. The key guy told me it they couldn't cut chipped keys, because they would ruin the chip, the key would catch fire and the sky would fall... I told him I thought it would be fine and got the store manager's blessing to cut my blank...and guess what?

They actually screwed up the cut! Seriously, I thought the cassette cutters were I-proof but it left one side of the key about half-cut. So, I waived off the HD key meister on the second key to go take it elsewhere.

I was able to salvage the first key with a couple of small files at home and then programmed the chip up np! Now to find a better place to get the second one cut...

Thanks for the tip!

 

[ryanbt]

I got my uncut keys in the mail and took them to HD to get them cut. The key guy told me it they couldn't cut chipped keys, because they would ruin the chip, the key would catch fire and the sky would fall... I told him I thought it would be fine and got the store manager's blessing to cut my blank...and guess what?

They actually screwed up the cut! Seriously, I thought the cassette cutters were I-proof but it left one side of the key about half-cut. So, I waived off the HD key meister on the second key to go take it elsewhere.

I was able to salvage the first key with a couple of small files at home and then programmed the chip up np! Now to find a better place to get the second one cut...

Thanks for the tip!

Take your other key blank, proof of T4R ownership and go to your dealership. They will cut you one from the VIN, and therefore it's an original key and not a copy of a worn key, or a copy of a copy and will work much better. My dealership did it for free once, and another time they charged me the fee of just a plain metal key cut ($10). Worth it to get an original key in my opinion.

 

[earthrealm]

wow..just cut my blank key from amazon..followed the instructions n voila...it worked!...can now start my car with the cut key!!...thanks gents.......really appreciate the forum for this tip!

now i have 4 spares...2 programmed that can start the car..n 2 metal ones just to open the doors

 

[Coveman]

True Value Hardware

I took my second chipped blank to my local True Value and they cut it no problem (2 bucks to cut, regular key cutting machine, not the cassette type system that did not work so well for me at HD). They also said they had the blanks and equipment to clone the chip from a master key but that would run about 70 bucks.

Nice to have options...

 

[sc-4runner]

I locked my glovebox while on a cruise last week and my key was so worn down it wouldnt unlock. Inside was an ipad and GPS along with everything else I always keep in my car.

Got home and started reading and found this thread....bought a key off ebay for $7 shipped.

Got the key today and called everywhere asking if they could cut it. Everyone told me the same thing. "We cant cut chipped keys unless you buy our blank chipped key which is $70" Walmart said they just couldn't cut it and didnt give me an excuse. After calling everywhere with no luck I resorted to calling the dealer....

Dealer cut it for free!

Went back into the parking lot, and bam, glovebox opened right up with the new key. Problem solved!

Once home, I followed the youtube video and the programming worked on the first try.

Total cost of under $7.

 

[iBison]

Awesome thread, thanks for the share.

Edit: I bought two keys on ebay for $23.98 and had them cut by VIN at the dealer for free (I was shocked) and programmed them myself. My local dealer wanted $50 for each key and $70 for programming.

I asked at Home depoot about cutting them and the person there said sometimes their machine doesn't make perfect keys. She offered to cut on on their blank to try in the door. It didn't work.

Thanks again, it worked perfectly.

 

[xxaarraa]

Hey guys. Trying to program a switch blade key for my 2008 and having trouble. Cannot get the immobilizer light to stay solid. I only have a grey fob key left but that starts the ignition. Any tips?

 

[beeftube]

[No message]

 

[Pitbull410]

I had an aftermarket key for my 4runner and it fried the immobilizer ecu, $1000

Beware, stick with Toyota keys

 

[beerbroker3]

Awesome post, thanks so much. One dealer wanted $80 and another $95 for my 03 limited. So glad I joined this forum with such great people, thanks again!!!

 

[Pitbull410]

everytime i post it comes up blank....................

now it works sometimes....

 

[ASUMTNEER]

worked like a charm for me! Bought a $12 key from amazon, Toyota dealer cut it for free, and I programmed it for free. The dealer told me that it would have to be programmed using their special scan tool and that you would have to have a VIN# to get the right key. It was going to cost a little over $90 from the dealer.

 

[Asmara]

I had an aftermarket key for my 4runner and it fried the immobilizer ecu, $1000

Beware, stick with Toyota keys

There is no way a key can fry your ECU.

Now if some amateur locksmith tried to program your ECU to accept a new key with a machine, that could do it but not the key itself.

 

[MikeInNH]

Any decent locksmith can make a chipped key for you. I'd stay away from places like Home Depot where they give the guy running the key machine a 2 hour training video class and then say - "Good Luck".

Either get the key from the dealer....OR go to a local locksmith for a LOT LESS.

 

[shaxs]

worked like a charm for me! Bought a $12 key from amazon, Toyota dealer cut it for free, and I programmed it for free. The dealer told me that it would have to be programmed using their special scan tool and that you would have to have a VIN# to get the right key. It was going to cost a little over $90 from the dealer.

Can you post the link to the key you bought on Amazon?