Quick Help Please! How much for new key? Dealer screwing me?

You can always call Toyota for cost/quote confirmation just to make sure you are not being ripped off by the dealer. They will confirm. This keeps dealers honest :)

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Guys-

I will explain more later- HORRIBLE day but long story short I lost my 4Runner key overboard today and have no spares. I had to get truck towed to dealer $120 and now they want to charge me $581 for a new key!!!

My boat is at the dealer, my truck is at the dealer and I feel like I'm getting screwed because they know they got me by the balls...

What have you guys paid? [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] any insight here?

For a new fob and reprogram, I get $175.
 
[MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] I must have missed the part where you lost the other keys.

What you have is a more expensive job than just adding another key to the Immobilizer.

What they are going to have to do is reset the immobilizer, erase all the existing keys, and get a authorization code from Toyota to program a new master key (the system will not let you do this without an original, programmed master key) This is more complicated and troublesome than simply adding a second key to the immobilizer (which requires at least 1 master key with a different ID than the key you are trying to register.)

OK- First of all THANK YOU to everyone- especially [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] for explaining the above to all of us- he is 100% correct, as usual.

Second of all- understand that when I started this thread my bad day had just gotten worse by hearing the dealer say"$581 for the new key...". I think I was in shock...:eek:

After looking back on all of this I am actually grateful that the dealer took care of me today, the tow company acted quickly and also grateful that I have friends that are willing to take time to help me!

Here's the story and at the end I'll give you some advice that you would do well to heed!


Went fishing on the boat today- surprise! I always keep my keys and wallet in a special waterproof Otterbox on the boat. I'm also very cognizant of where they are when I'm getting on and off the boat- keys ALWAYS in pocket and never in my hand. When I arrived back at the dock I opened the Otterbox and took out my wallet...and the lanyard on my valet key was in the fold of my wallet. I watched the key do a perfect arc right into the 4" void between the boat and the dock..."plunk".



Look at depth finder. 8 feet. Water quality? This is MD buddy, the water looks like a dirty toilet. Tried to get the key with a net, no luck.

As is usually the case in life, it's not one problem that sinks the ship- it's multiple problems. For example- I lost a remote key the week after I bought my truck. I've been using my second remote key for the last 5 years. I lost that key last week- it's somewhere in the house. So- I've been using the grey Valet Key- without a remote- since then. I knew a key would cost $$ so I've been putting it off. That "plunk" along with all of my procrastination sunk my ship.

The rest went like this...

Called the closest dealership to inquire about a new key. Service lady wasn't 100% sure a new-cut key would start the truck and said I may need to have it towed...so...

I Called my girlfriend [MENTION=47340]Titanpat57[/MENTION] who has a friend at the dealership to verify I needed to be towed. Got back to me quickly "Yes". BTW- DO NOT MESS with my girl Pat. He's ready to rip some poor F'ers head off for the cost of this. I gotta reign him in. Had me laughing (despite this) so hard I had tears in my eyes...:thumb3:


Called the tow company- awesome guy only charged me $120 and told me to call the insurance company to see if they would cover the cost. (I honestly wouldn't have considered that) They will cover it! I called them and thanked them- for which they were very grateful- said they never get calls like that. Felt good after I called them!


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...and the pictures are crooked. Fits my day.:flipoff:


Called my friend Patrick- a fellow fisherman and he drove 45 minutes to hook up my trailer at the launching ramp and drive me and the boat to the dealership for me. Wouldn't take a cent for gas or time. Whatta guy.

Started this thread while I was upset and angry at myself. I appreciate the responses!!!

The service guy fit me into the schedule, went out of his way to get a key (they had to go to another dealer to get one) and he gave a small discount and a spare "door only key" as well. He said he felt bad because he thought I was going to pass out when he told me the original price, lol. Thompson Toyota- good place. I even had a salesman that fell in love with my boat and we chatted about it for about an hour...



HERE'S THE DEAL GUYS...


Learn from this.

If you lose a remote and only have one, go to the dealer and get another for $200. Do not wait unless you feel like paying over $500 plus the cost and hassle of having your 4Runner towed to the dealership.


What a day. I'll call the insurance back tomorrow to see if they will cover the key cost as well. Thanks again BlackWorksInc!
 

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You have a way with words. I can picture that key arcing thought the air and going right in that slot.
You have a way with pictures too. Heh


you took a shitty day and made it in to a lesson. Learned a lot here.
You know that key in your house is going to show up once everything is squared away...
 
I hope it turns out that the ins co will take care of you totally...
Do you have comprehensive ins?

BTW, you will probably walk right up to that "other" key in the next couple of days!
 
I hope it turns out that the ins co will take care of you totally...
Do you have comprehensive ins?

BTW, you will probably walk right up to that "other" key in the next couple of days!

I'm waiting to see that other key any minute, lol.

I've been researching and I don't think they will cover it. I'm not going to make up a story- not my style, really. If they cover my stupidity, great! If not, lesson learned.:caked:
 
I'm waiting to see that other key any minute, lol.

I've been researching and I don't think they will cover it. I'm not going to make up a story- not my style, really. If they cover my stupidity, great! If not, lesson learned.:caked:

Props for not lying about your own mistake.
 
Glad everything worked out [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] !

Yeah, that sucks. When we have to reset an immobilizer, usually either the shop foreman and/or service manager have to actually file an electronic case to Toyota to get them to release/generate a valid reset code. Among other stuff, it's all in the name of making it hard to make a new key & stealing a customer's car.

Some locksmiths can do this as well, but I don't know if it would be any cheaper.
 
Good story Jeff. As a fellow boater, I have always dreaded that ker-plunk. Been lucky so far.

The bright side is no damage was done, no injury had. Boating, trailering, loading/unloading, all present those opportunities.

Catch any fish?
 
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I use an Inflatable Key Buoy but it's never been tested. Davis Self-Inflating Key Bouy Dav-530, grab a couple as they are one time use.
 
Learn from this.

If you lose a remote and only have one, go to the dealer and get another for $200. Do not wait unless you feel like paying over $500 plus the cost and hassle of having your 4Runner towed to the dealership.

I'll leave this here:

Years ago, we negotiated a good deal on a 2011 SR5. Unfortunately it only came with one key, so I quickly researched options to acquire more. I can be cheap (what my wife calls me), so naturally I went the DIY route and had success. I've read that not everyone's results are the same, and it even sounds like many follow the proper steps with failed results, so take this with a grain of salt. It's possible that I just got lucky. Also, it's been pointed out previously in this thread that having the master key (which I've always had) in your possession makes a BIG difference.

With that said, I've added 3 keys to my collection on the cheap. I purchased 3 blanks (two OEM, non-remote and one "knock off" 4-button Corolla remote) all for about $70 from eBay. My dealer pulled my VIN and cut each one as a complimentary service. I then hooked up my laptop running Techstream and programmed each key without a hitch. I even said to myself "there's no way it could be this easy....." But it was. And they're all still working, flawlessly, over a year later. All in, I'm out a little under $100 if you include the mini vci cable (which I already owned) and the Techstream software (given from a friend.) Another bonus is I've freed up my master as a spare which stays safe at home.

But what a bummer of a way to end a day of fishing though! Good thing for good people.......and beer too :beer:
 
I would have just left it there and bought a new truck. But I guess your ways works too. ;)

Glad it finally worked out.
 
So how did you get it loaded on that truck with the doors locked and transmission in park?


That was an eye opener- I even commented to the roll-back operator. He pulled the flat bed up to the 4Runner's front wheels, then pulled the entire rollback rear wheels off the ground and slid the flatbed forward (hard to explain but it was amazing to watch). He did this in sequence 4 or 5 times until the flat bed was touching the 4Runner's rear wheels. Then he hammered sliding pucks under the wheels, hooked a cable to the front tow eyes and pulled it onto the bed. It was crazy to watch!


Good story Jeff. As a fellow boater, I have always dreaded that ker-plunk. Been lucky so far.

The bright side is no damage was done, no injury had. Boating, trailering, loading/unloading, all present those opportunities.

Catch any fish?

We caught a few- nothing big. It was a beautiful day out there though!


I use an Inflatable Key Buoy but it's never been tested. Davis Self-Inflating Key Bouy Dav-530, grab a couple as they are one time use.

My boat key is on a float I made from a "popper lure". I always keep my car keys simple- just a key on a ring. I hate to have it dangling from the ignition. I know what your talking about though...



I would have just left it there and bought a new truck. But I guess your ways works too. ;)

Glad it finally worked out.


Damn Dave! Why didn't I think of that?:pound:
 
The only thing is if and when you find your other key at the house it wont work because when the dealer resets the computer they wipe it clean and program the new key(s). I always tell people to get a minimum 2 keys when we reseed the computer just in case they lose the 1 cus then the whole process gets started all over. And yeah the cost of it sucks I try to help people whenever I can
 
8 feet? If i was there, I'd have gotten them for you! Otherwise, I'm sure you could have found some kid itching to go treasure hunting for a $20 tip. Just like that game we used to play in the deep end with the weighted rings..
 

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