Rekeying lock cylinder vs. doors

[MillerPKA]

Well my little beach community continues to be nice to me. First was the keying, and now it's the keys. Last night I went out surfing and some awesome person decided to steal my phone and my last key, and I'm pretty sure they watched me pull up and walk down so they know what the keys belong to. Obviously I'm thinking rekey

I had the car towed to a friends a few miles inland because I live too close to the water and wanted it to be somewhere secluded until I get a new key tomorrow..especially with all of the windows down and sunroof up :tsk: thankfully the weather is on my side here.

So anyways, I read up on an old thread here and someone mentioned a rekey of the ignition cylinder being $30-40. I just got off the phone with them and they said it's $187 to rekey without labor. Does anyone have any recommendations here? I'm also thinking about going to a junkyard and pulling all of the locks that way. If anyone has any recommendations I'm all ears. Won't be doing anything until tomorrow so I've got some time to figure out a plan.

Thanks.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

The ignition cylinder is only part of the problem. What about the 2 front door cylinders, glove box and the rear hatch cylinder? Not secure until those are re-keyed as well.

When I bought my 4runner in 2011 the only locks that worked with the key were the driver's door and the ignition. The rest were so worn out that the key didn't work. I bought a full set of cylinders with a matching key off a partout from Singtoe for like $35.

If you could locate a complete set and DIY it could be a cheap fix. The ignition cylinder bracket is riveted on and can't be removed, but IIRC, the cylinder comes out when you depress a pin that releases it from the bracket and it slides out. That part is not TOO bad, but the cylinders aside from the ignition and glove box are a bit of a PITA to get to and replace. Better than paying someone to do it at an hourly rate I guess. Calling the salvage yards is a good start. You're close to most of them since they're mostly south of the 8 frwy. North SD county sucks for salvage yards!

 

[AZ4Running]

Yeah re keying the ignition switch costs about $40 doing it to mine here soon so i have the oem key for the doors and ignition.
That said best option for you is do to the dealer with your title and have them cut a new key from the vin number. You will need the title for 2 reasons 1 for the vin number and 2 to proove you are the owner or they may not make you a new key. Or you can call a locksmith and have them make you a new key, yes they can do it with a tool that matches up the tumblers costs more though.

 

[Doc2012]

Locksmith wouldn't work if the truck had the chip.

I know mine does, and when I did the 4WD conversion, I had to switch keys.

I've got a spare key for the doors, and the chipped key for the ign.

Go to toyota and have them make you new keys from the VIN. gonna be expensive, but it'll be better in the long run.

Then, do a kill switch somewhere so they can't steal it, or get a club or whatever they're called.

 

[Doc2012]

Also, please tell me you called the cops? There isn't some kind of security cameras around there anywhere?

 

[AZ4Running]

Most good locksmiths can do the chipped keys and encode them as well.

 

[MillerPKA]

Yeah re keying the ignition switch costs about $40 doing it to mine here soon so i have the oem key for the doors and ignition.
That said best option for you is do to the dealer with your title and have them cut a new key from the vin number. You will need the title for 2 reasons 1 for the vin number and 2 to proove you are the owner or they may not make you a new key. Or you can call a locksmith and have them make you a new key, yes they can do it with a tool that matches up the tumblers costs more though.

You were quoted by a dealership for $40?

Locksmith wouldn't work if the truck had the chip.

I know mine does, and when I did the 4WD conversion, I had to switch keys.

I've got a spare key for the doors, and the chipped key for the ign.

Go to toyota and have them make you new keys from the VIN. gonna be expensive, but it'll be better in the long run.

Then, do a kill switch somewhere so they can't steal it, or get a club or whatever they're called.

I bought the car with just a regular silver cut key no chip. This was an SR5 and I read somewhere that feature was either on 01-02 and/or limiteds.

Also, please tell me you called the cops? There isn't some kind of security cameras around there anywhere?

Called the cops but didn't file anything. I parked on the cliffs so the sand is a ways down, oddly enough only a streaming surfcam would have captured it.

Most good locksmiths can do the chipped keys and encode them as well.

Any ideas on the pricing? I'm thinking these are my main options

-Rekey ignition and keep door locks the same. Comfort in knowing they can't start the car but no safety from stealing stuff in it.

-Rekey everything

- Kill switch (need to ask a couple users here)

- Find set of locks and keys at junkyard/part out. Does anyone know if I could ever go back to the dealership for a key if the VIN of the new locks is totaled?

 

[AZ4Running]

Its $40 to have the ignition cylinder re keyed. I dont know how much a dealer would charge. Go to the dealer to have a oem key cut that is your best and cheapest option.

 

[BrianSD_42]

You don't need the title onhand.

The registration with your name and a drivers license will do just fine. Ive done it before.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I don't understand why you'd get the replacement key cut so the guy can just come open your car start it up and drive off the next time he sees your car. Did you have your house key or any other things in your key ring that would give away your address? I'd be re-keying at least the ignition with anything except the original if it was me.

 

[Brilliant]

Remove the handles from the doors, its easy, and have the rekeyed? I thought it was pretty cheap. Not sure about the hatch.

 

[airmax233]

Do have a transponder key? Or is it a regular? In other words did your key have a fat grey handle? Or was it flat all the way like a regular key?

 

[BrianSD_42]

Kill Switch ... Kill Switch ... Kill Switch.

Also I'd highly recommend the TRUCK CLUB (sold on Amazon)

 

[kgbdonkey]

For a replacement key. All you need to do is pull the passenger side door lock. There is a code on there that a locksmith can make you a key from. Take cyl with you so can make sure it works.

Rekeying is a pain in the butt. If you pull the locks it is way cheaper. But still not cheap. You do need a working key to pull the ign.

 

[MyHigh]

I say, go to junk yard, pull the door locks off a 3rd gen or tacoma same year.

Go to locksmith have them make a key and see if those two locks work, if yes then have them rekey ignition to the set.
Rekeying the ignition is super easy and can be done in 30 minutes or less. Cost of ~45 (make a key from code, is about 15)

Go home install the door locks and now the two doors and ignition are the same, next and the hardest part of the whole thing is to rekey the hatch to match. This will be the most expensive part due to the location of the lock.

Or you can chance it that the thief will give up after realizing the key doesn't work the doors, and leave the hatch alone, but then you'd have to carry two keys for the vehicle.

 

[maryanncantrell]

Honestly if someone stole both your phone and car key together, rekeying is definitely the safer move instead of just replacing the key. Junkyard locks can work, but then you usually end up with different keys for doors and ignition unless everything is swapped together. Prices can vary a lot depending on the vehicle and whether it’s only the ignition or the full lock set. You might want to check with an Auto locksmith Corvallis first since many can rekey or replace cylinders cheaper than dealerships.

 

[maryanncantrell]

Honestly if someone stole both your phone and car key together, rekeying is definitely the safer move instead of just replacing the key. Junkyard locks can work, but then you usually end up with different keys for doors and ignition unless everything is swapped together. Prices can vary a lot depending on the vehicle and whether it’s only the ignition or the full lock set. You might want to check with an auto locksmith Corvallis first since many can rekey or replace cylinders cheaper than dealerships.