Successful 5th Gen Key fob swap!

[ryanbt]

mine has been doing the same thing. It will randomly stop working, but if I pop it open and removed/reinsert the battery it will work just fine. Its quite annoying.

The first one I bought on eBay in July 2012, the remote wouldn't program at all.
Seller said they were still developing them and would send me a new one. He did around October of last year, and everything worked but panic would also lock the doors. Also, I experienced the same thing regarding having to reseat the battery every few days. The seller explained to me it wasn't losing contact, but something (and I looked for the emails, but I have since deleted them) else was causing the problem. Christmas of last year he sent me a new one (seller was in Taiwan). All buttons worked, except every week or two I would have to reseat the battery. He said he gave up and couldn't get it to work any longer. He said he would give my money back, but I told him not to worry since I had in the end 3 full keys (only ever used one) and four remotes from him and I didn't feel like shipping them back. I bought a different one from one of the eBay links in this thread and popped the remote into the first key I ever got (the only one I had cut/programmed) and it's been great since. I believe the original seller artiway (the remotes that were problematic) and the seller whose remote worked was extra-partss. I hope this helps someone.

 

[nefarious]

I just ordered the double key set from the eBay vendor. I'm looking forward to doing this mod. I had a similar key with the previous vehicle I had prior to my 4R and it was very convenient.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Since peoples' batteries are dying should I just swap in new ones before I program? Anyone know what battery they take?

 

[nefarious]

I received my 2 eBay keys at the end of last week (they had the logo), programmed both the remote and chip over the weekend without being cut, then took them to the dealership service department this morning and they cut them by VIN # for free since no programming was involved. The result is 2 perfect working keys now. The service manager also didn't believe the 5th gen keys would work with the 4th gens, so he wanted to verify after the cuts were completed. Afterwards, he said he now wants to make the change. A big thanks goes out to this forum for this mod!

 

[gaterose]

I bought one of these last week, everything programmed fine and it worked nicely for a few days, although the emergency (or whatever) button just locked the doors, but then it quit.

I ordered it before reading this thread and I'm just gonna send it back for a refund as I'm worried they'll replace the chip and it'l just go out 6 months down the road when I can't return it.

I think I'll save a little more and get another switchblade key, the one I purchased was very high quality and worked great... Wish some jackass hadn't stolen it.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Follow up; we'll, I replaced the battery and now it seems to work, however I have to say the battery fit was not very tight and I'm now wondering if my issue wasn't a dead battery but rather a battery that slipped out of its slot. Bit of a PITA so if it happens again I'll retire the key and go back to using the separate remote.

 

[Ventil8]

Follow up; we'll, I replaced the battery and now it seems to work, however I have to say the battery fit was not very tight and I'm now wondering if my issue wasn't a dead battery but rather a battery that slipped out of its slot. Bit of a PITA so if it happens again I'll retire the key and go back to using the separate remote.

I retired my key a month ago...had the same issue. I thought it was a dead battery, changed that...a week later, dead.

 

[GixxerSteve]

Okay, I think I found the problem and a solution to the keyfobs not working.

I was having the same problems as others here. Bought two keys from ebay seller extra_partss, got them cut and programmed just fine. They both worked fine for about a week before the first one took a crap and the keyless buttons wouldn't work. I pulled it apart and re-seated the battery (it seemed loose to me), and it worked fine for another few days before taking a crap again. The second keyfob took a crap on me about 2 weeks later. I thought they were just bad products and was about to contact the seller and ask for a refund.

But before I did that, I wanted to try one last time to get them to work. When I took the keyfobs apart, no amount of re-seating the batteries would make the buttons work or the red LED light up. This made me think that perhaps the batteries were both dead, so I went to the store and bought two new batteries (I guess its possible that these are old stock of keyfobs, so the batteries are no longer good). Installing a new battery in the second keyfob made it work again perfectly. When I went to install a new battery in the first keyfob, I realized why it seemed so loose -- two of the three clips holding the battery in place were broken, so it wasn't holding the battery securely in place (see pictures with arrows). I decided to add a thin layer of some 3M foam adhesive tape I had lying around to the back of the battery, so that it would compress the battery against the contacts when I snapped the other cover in place. After doing that, the keyfob works again. Hopefully this will solve the problem for good.

 

[gaterose]

Received a full refund including shipping yesterday, pretty prompt as I'd say he just got the key yesterday.

He immediately posted a request to cancel the purchase, which according to eBay he could do with or without my consent. I assume he did this so I couldn't leave negative feedback about the remote.

 

[nefarious]

One of my 2 keys that I just had cut Monday already died and today is only Friday. I am going to pickup 2 new batteries and try the foam spacer and noted above and see what happens. My wife and I truly want them to work and I hope with a little modification they will ultimately work long term.

 

[hunterD1]

these keys are a piece of crap! i had one also it crapped out with a few weeks to a few days. its not the battery its the remote its self, these are not oem so i don't know why they stop after a certain amount of use. before i just take out the battery and reset the key, it works but than it does the same thing a few days later. went back to the remote and key.

 

[TOY2G]

Wow. Since I have checked out this mod I have come to find out that both of the fobs for my 2004 are aftermarket and have no idea which fcc id# is for my 4runner. I would guess that if I buy a key fob on ebay if it works both fcc id#'s I will be golden. I called the Toyota dealership and they can only give me the part number. They say they would have to hook car up to computer to identify whcih fcc id # is for my 4runner. I want to have the key gob combo. My fob now doesnt work the back glass.

Does anyone have the Part Number for the OEM camry key fob. I bought the Ebay ones and i have the same issue as so many others do, the battery stopps working every day or two. I just want to buy a couple factory Toyota keys and start over. but i dont know what to ask for other than a camry 4 button remote...

 

[ryanbt]

Does anyone have the Part Number for the OEM camry key fob. I bought the Ebay ones and i have the same issue as so many others do, the battery stopps working every day or two. I just want to buy a couple factory Toyota keys and start over. but i dont know what to ask for other than a camry 4 button remote...

It's my understanding that Toyota doesn't make a fob that fits the all in one key. These on ebay are aftermarket made to be our FCCID # by some other company. So if you buy one of those it is unlikely it would ever be programmed.

 

[dgwood12]

Does anyone have the Part Number for the OEM camry key fob. I bought the Ebay ones and i have the same issue as so many others do, the battery stopps working every day or two. I just want to buy a couple factory Toyota keys and start over. but i dont know what to ask for other than a camry 4 button remote...

Just take some hot glue and glue the battery down. Mine has been fine ever since I did that. By using hot glue, it holds the battery securely and also allows you to remove the battery in the future if it dies.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I retired my key a month ago...had the same issue. I thought it was a dead battery, changed that...a week later, dead.

Mine stopped working again this morning.

I've got some double-sticky tape at home but none at the office. I may try to see if I can shim in a folded up sheet of paper to get me home, but if I can't make it work this key will be retired and I'll go back to using the separate remote.

BTW, my problem is identical to what Gixxersteve posted: Two of the three plastic clips that hold the cover shut are broken.

Buyer beware!

EDIT: Went into eBay to leave feedback - guess what, the auction apparently was deleted (there was an older auction for something that I bought in June that was still showing up but the more recent one for the key fob did not show up.) My guess is that they do this to avoid people leaving negative feedback.

We're past the 30 day return period but I will contact the seller anyway to see if they will do a refund on the key fob. My guess is they won't but I have to at least give them a chance to make it right.

I'll post my results up here.

 

[mnormand]

BTW, my problem is identical to what Gixxersteve posted: Two of the three plastic clips that hold the cover shut are broken.

I wish I would have seen Gixxersteve's findings before I returned my two keys for refund. Would have like to examine mine closely for broken battery hold-down pegs.

I then bought two plain chipped keys, had them cut, and self-programmed them for emergency spares.

My 04 runner had a full alarm system. This 08 does not, and I tell ya, I don't miss it much. Dang thing was always flashing headlights, beeps, buzzes, alarms, etc when on my hunting trips. I may regret it one day, but for now life sure is simpler and quieter, LOL.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Caveat Emptor

"Let the Buyer Beware."

As I suspected the seller (extra Partss) will not refund my money because we are past the 30 day return period. Pretty much what I expected, but folks should know it's a crapshoot if they get one of these keys. Maybe you'll be lucky and get a good one, maybe not.

It's $30, not the end of the world but it does leave a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I want to return these, but I know I'm close to 30 days, and I already had them cut for my car

 

[Martinjmpr]

I want to return these, but I know I'm close to 30 days, and I already had them cut for my car

If they don't work, contact the seller and return them for a refund ASAP.

They do accept returns even if the keys are cut (think about it, they know the keys are going to be cut because who would buy a key and then not cut it? So a policy where they only accept returns on uncut keys would basically be meaningless.)

 

[TOY2G]

Just take some hot glue and glue the battery down. Mine has been fine ever since I did that. By using hot glue, it holds the battery securely and also allows you to remove the battery in the future if it dies.

I tried that, and it will still only last for a few day and then the battery dies. something is eating up the battery very fast. I think the case is pushing the button on the fob when i am not using it and running the battery dead???