Transponder key woes...

[atalarico]

I recently discovered the previous owner only gave me a gray valet key when I purchased the car last year. I tried, without success, to program some new master keys off Amazon, but yeah, you need a master key to do this.

So, I went to a local locksmith shop to have a new MASTER key made. They said the only difference between the Master and the Valet key is the tip, and that's what prevents it from locking the glove box, etc. So, $110, and they cloned the valet key transponder code and put this removable chip inside the new master key.

The new key does lock the glove box, so it would seem it has the cut of the master. I went out side to see if I could get the immobilizer light to stay solid to program the other blanks I bought and it still won't stay lit after the in-out 4 times, leave in 5th time, and open shut door 6 times routine.

What gives!? Do valet keys also have different transponders? I figured it was just some switch in the ignition cylinder that gets hit by the master cut that doesn't get hit by the valet cut.

Edited to add: After spending way too long researching this, I've learned that yeah, the transponder code is also different between master and valet, so now I just have a master cut key with a valet transponder. Useless. However I did learn that I can get techstream, and pay $25 for some tokens for an immobilizer pin code calculator and just do whatever I want with the immobilizer. https://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/228590-new-truck-no-master-key-solved-about-$70.html

 

[atalarico]

If anyone with any sort of IT inclination runs into this issue, here's how I resolved it:

I was able to reset my immobilizer and program the hell out of some master keys without ever having a master key. Thanks to an informative thread over here I got an MVCI cable from Amazon, and Techstream, and I was off to the races. $25 for the cable, $6 for the cut new transponder keys (unprogrammed), $25 for 5 immobilizer key code tokens, and I was off to the races.

Dealership wanted over $350 to reset my immobilizer and register a new master key. Local locksmith 1 screwed up and just cloned my Valet key for $110 after I specifically asked if this would be a "Master key". No refund given there, so lesson learned. Local locksmith 2 knew what I was asking for and wanted $110 to do it, so I said I'll call you back later this week knowing I'd only call if the cable/techstream didn't work.

So, even though I spent $166 on this endeavor, I have the know-how to do it again for the low cost of a key cut. If anyone in Denver needs a hand because previous owner hosed you and only gave you a valet key, let me know.

 

[AuSeeker]

If anyone with any sort of IT inclination runs into this issue, here's how I resolved it:

I was able to reset my immobilizer and program the hell out of some master keys without ever having a master key. Thanks to an informative thread over here I got an MVCI cable from Amazon, and Techstream, and I was off to the races. $25 for the cable, $6 for the cut new transponder keys (unprogrammed), $25 for 5 immobilizer key code tokens, and I was off to the races.

Dealership wanted over $350 to reset my immobilizer and register a new master key. Local locksmith 1 screwed up and just cloned my Valet key for $110 after I specifically asked if this would be a "Master key". No refund given there, so lesson learned. Local locksmith 2 knew what I was asking for and wanted $110 to do it, so I said I'll call you back later this week knowing I'd only call if the cable/techstream didn't work.

So, even though I spent $166 on this endeavor, I have the know-how to do it again for the low cost of a key cut. If anyone in Denver needs a hand because previous owner hosed you and only gave you a valet key, let me know.

Glad to hear you were able to resolve not having a master key and without going to the dealer or a locksmith!!

I figure the link to the Immoblizer Pincode Calculator website where you got the tokens from should be included in this topic!

LEXUS, SCION, TOYOTA PASSCODE CALCULATOR / GENERATOR: Calculate Pass-code by Seed number | Immobilizer Pincode Calculator (official website)

 

[atalarico]

Glad to hear you were able to resolve not having a master key and without going to the dealer or a locksmith!!

I figure the link to the Immoblizer Pincode Calculator website where you got the tokens from should be included in this topic!

LEXUS, SCION, TOYOTA PASSCODE CALCULATOR / GENERATOR: Calculate Pass-code by Seed number | Immobilizer Pincode Calculator (official website)

Yep! That's the one. It looks sketchy and definitely not like a website you'd want to give money to, but it went through just fine.

 

[hendrj26]

as long as you have techstream and pass code generator, you can reset the ecu for a new master key? i see you just posted this a few weeks ago and my keys to my lexus gx were lost around the same time. only had one and it disappeared at the gym. once the ecu is cleared, does it auto learn the new key? i have a new key that was cut with my vin from the dealer and just need a passcode to continue. was just trying to figure out if this is as straightforward as it sounds. any insight is appreciated as the car is sitting on a trailer at the moment.

 

[atalarico]

as long as you have techstream and pass code generator, you can reset the ecu for a new master key? i see you just posted this a few weeks ago and my keys to my lexus gx were lost around the same time. only had one and it disappeared at the gym. once the ecu is cleared, does it auto learn the new key? i have a new key that was cut with my vin from the dealer and just need a passcode to continue. was just trying to figure out if this is as straightforward as it sounds. any insight is appreciated as the car is sitting on a trailer at the moment.

Well, if you have a new key cut via VIN from the dealer I'm a little surprised it's not a master key already. I guess maybe they're telling you the same thing that the dealership told me, which was that if you don't have a master key to program with then it's $300+ to reset the ECU etc.

So if that's the case, then yes, you just get some tokens from one of those websites to generate a passcode and you do the option that allows for the reset. I forget exactly what it's called in TechStream but it's in there, and then once you do that you can buy all the transponder keys off eBay/Amazon that you want and program off that master key. Let us know how it goes!

 

[duffdog]

depending on the year of the Toyota, you can simply "reset immobilizer" in Techstream and program whatever key you want to be the master key. I already have done this on my truck. Lost all the keys, had one cut by the numbers and then programmed my new key to be the master and then programmed the rest of the keys to work.

 

[hendrj26]

thanks guys i got up this morning and was able to reset everything
yeah even if you get a key from dealer it still has to be programmed. i just needed the key immediately to get in the car to see if the key was in there. unfortunately it was not so i had to wait to get techstream. in which i bought the wrong one the first time around and had to wait on the correct one. now that i have it 60$ well spent.
thanks again for both of your responses, just didnt want anymore bumps in my 2 week journey to get this thing off the trailer and moving again

 

[AuSeeker]

thanks guys i got up this morning and was able to reset everything
yeah even if you get a key from dealer it still has to be programmed. i just needed the key immediately to get in the car to see if the key was in there. unfortunately it was not so i had to wait to get techstream. in which i bought the wrong one the first time around and had to wait on the correct one. now that i have it 60$ well spent.
thanks again for both of your responses, just didnt want anymore bumps in my 2 week journey to get this thing off the trailer and moving again

Did you just use the Techstream to get it reset or did you also do the "Tokens"?

 

[Kal__]

depending on the year of the Toyota, you can simply "reset immobilizer" in Techstream and program whatever key you want to be the master key. I already have done this on my truck. Lost all the keys, had one cut by the numbers and then programmed my new key to be the master and then programmed the rest of the keys to work.

Sorry if this is a dumb question/reply, but just trying to make sure I'm picking up what you're putting down.

I just bought an 07 SR5 V6, and the lot only had the valet key. I've gotten quotes to cut/program a new master key from two dealers (cut $0-10/program $100-130) and a locksmith (program ~$95).

So if I can get the key cut from VIN at a dealer ($0-10), and then I order the MVCI cable and Techstream software referenced by OP, I should be able to reset the immobilizer and make the new key the master? Also, from what you're saying I won't need to purchase the tokens from the potentially sketchy generator website?

You said this is dependent on the year of the truck, so does this apply for a 2007?

 

[atalarico]

Sorry if this is a dumb question/reply, but just trying to make sure I'm picking up what you're putting down.

I just bought an 07 SR5 V6, and the lot only had the valet key. I've gotten quotes to cut/program a new master key from two dealers (cut $0-10/program $100-130) and a locksmith (program ~$95).

So if I can get the key cut from VIN at a dealer ($0-10), and then I order the MVCI cable and Techstream software referenced by OP, I should be able to reset the immobilizer and make the new key the master? Also, from what you're saying I won't need to purchase the tokens from the potentially sketchy generator website?

You said this is dependent on the year of the truck, so does this apply for a 2007?

You can just get the transponder key blanks from Amazon for cheap, and just go to a hardware store and have them cut (not programmed) for very cheap (less than $10 for sure). And yeah, you'll need the MVCI cable and techstream on a winXP VM, and yes, you will need to buy those tokens, but the websites are actually legit. Just use PayPal instead of giving them credit card info.

Good luck!