Spare Key Cost $$$

[westwind77]

I went to the dealer to get a spare key for the new 4R, wow, I knew they were not cheap but $230 + labor to program the key! That is a little insane to me! I have 4 keys to each vehicle I own, they are kept in differnt locations (home, work, wife, etc.) just in case I get locked out. I have my original key, the spare, and the vallet key, so just needed one more. I may give them a call back to see if I can get a vallet key cheaper as all I would need to do is unlock the door.

 

[Quentin]

I went to the dealer to get a spare key for the new 4R, wow, I knew they were not cheap but $230 + labor to program the key! That is a little insane to me! I have 4 keys to each vehicle I own, they are kept in differnt locations (home, work, wife, etc.) just in case I get locked out. I have my original key, the spare, and the vallet key, so just needed one more. I may give them a call back to see if I can get a vallet key cheaper as all I would need to do is unlock the door.

Can you not just get the key itself without the fob? Surely that would only cost $5~$20.

 

[ScottyTsR5]

I went to the dealer to get a spare key for the new 4R, wow, I knew they were not cheap but $230 + labor to program the key! That is a little insane to me! I have 4 keys to each vehicle I own, they are kept in differnt locations (home, work, wife, etc.) just in case I get locked out. I have my original key, the spare, and the vallet key, so just needed one more. I may give them a call back to see if I can get a vallet key cheaper as all I would need to do is unlock the door.

You can buy a spare for around $40-$50 on ebay. I did the same with my '07 Camry. Call around to different dealers, as they will have different prices for programing the key. I ended up paying $10 to get the key cut and $35 to have it programmed.

I just went to the dealer the other week and they programmed my key to open all the windows and sunroof (besides the back gate) by holding down the unlock button. Also had it programmed to open/close all windows by inserting the key in the drivers side door and turning it from left to right. Pretty nifty:hungry:

 

[westwind77]

Can you not just get the key itself without the fob? Surely that would only cost $5~$20.

The fob is not the big cost. These 4R's all have engine immobilizers in them that are linked to the special chips inside the key. You can have a metal key cut but it will do nothing to start the 4R unless the key has the built in special chip, and that chip has to be programmed to match the code in the 4R you own. These are the things benz and bmw's have been running around with for years. I know those people cry when they have to replace their keys as well.

 

[Atlanta_man]

Hey it's worth it ! Cars with these systems absolutely cannot be stolen. Car theft crimes are a distant memory.

Oh, I recently spent over $500 to get a second key for the 2006 Acura RL I bought recently and the car and the key have been back to the dealer 3 times now to get it to work right. Each visit takes the dealer forever for their poor technician to read the manual and fight with their master systems firmware as he tries to get it to 'take'.

 

[K.C.]

Street Keys & Keyless Ride
www.keylessride.com

 

[sporty87]

I went to the dealer to get a spare key for the new 4R, wow, I knew they were not cheap but $230 + labor to program the key! That is a little insane to me! I have 4 keys to each vehicle I own, they are kept in differnt locations (home, work, wife, etc.) just in case I get locked out. I have my original key, the spare, and the vallet key, so just needed one more. I may give them a call back to see if I can get a vallet key cheaper as all I would need to do is unlock the door.

Went to a locksmith and an Ace hardware here in New York and they both said they could make the valet key for $79.99.
Good Luck!

 

[R.A.]

Some locksmiths can do it way cheaper than the dealer. Just call around to find one.

 

[x67934]

I may be off base here, but if you only need a spare to open the door then does it need to be programed? I do not think vehicle requires the electronic signal to open doors that is just to start the car.

 

[harper7]

I may be off base here, but if you only need a spare to open the door then does it need to be programed? I do not think vehicle requires the electronic signal to open doors that is just to start the car.

The way it was on my 4th Gen. is that if you use the key to open the door and not the remote you had like 10-15 seconds to put the chipped key in the ignition or the factory alarm would go off.

I had a walmart cut non chipped key hid up under the truck on my frame in case I locked my keys in the car.

Probably the same on the 5th but I hav'nt tried it yet.

 

[M1911]

It's the immobilizer chip -- very pricey.

 

[AKABlig]

When I bought my 08 They only had one key. Found a local locksmith that cut and programmed 2 keys for me for $80 plus tax.

 

[TevisAaron]

I went to the dealer to get a spare key for the new 4R, wow, I knew they were not cheap but $230 + labor to program the key! That is a little insane to me! I have 4 keys to each vehicle I own, they are kept in differnt locations (home, work, wife, etc.) just in case I get locked out. I have my original key, the spare, and the vallet key, so just needed one more. I may give them a call back to see if I can get a vallet key cheaper as all I would need to do is unlock the door.

$230 is better than what I would have had to pay on a new key for my Infiniti. I checked with the dealership and it was $600 + labor. Hence another reason I got the 2010 4Runner. . Less maintenance and hopefully won't need new tires every 3 months like my Infiniti. LOL

 

[aezalpha]

I just got quoted $510 by my dealer to replace one of my lost master keys (my dear husband "misplaced" it when we were on vacation). Ugh. Anyone able to find it for cheaper anywhere?

 

[westwind77]

I just got quoted $510 by my dealer to replace one of my lost master keys (my dear husband "misplaced" it when we were on vacation). Ugh. Anyone able to find it for cheaper anywhere?

Owch, your LE key is over double my SR5 key! I would call around to a few different dealers, see if you can get a lower price, you might be surprised.

 

[hiker_jon]

EBAY didn't work

Hi,
I got a key on EBAY ($15) that supposedly should work for my 2010 SR5. Just took it to the dealer today and he was unable to program it. So EBAY keys may not be a bargain. Anyone got a source for inexpensive key blanks that will work with the 2010 SR5? My dealer says he will program it for free if I can find one. He did not have a valet key in stock. I am looking for a valet key as I want one that will not get shorted out if it gets wet.

 

[Orygun4R]

I think I've had my subaru key go through the wash about 3 times......each time requiring a $100 new key. It seems no matter how diligent I am about making sure my key is not in my pant's pocket before it goes in the laundry, there will be times I forget and my wife doesn't check.

 

[Uneek]

IIRC, there are two types, if not more than two of Toyota immobilizer keys. On the 4th gen's key, it needs to be the one that has a dimple on near the key head to work. That may be the case with the 5th as well.

 

[hiker_jon]

IIRC, there are two types, if not more than two of Toyota immobilizer keys. On the 4th gen's key, it needs to be the one that has a dimple on near the key head to work. That may be the case with the 5th as well.

My EBAY key that did not work had the dimple, my 5th gen keys have a small "G" stamped on the key.

 

[jsteinwald]

FWIW, I accidentally left my fob in my pants pocket and ran it through the washing machine. I panicked at first, but was gratefully surprised when it still worked.