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Keep in mind folks - you get what you pay for! Cheap keys break easily and can leave you stranded. For a quality key that is designed better to be stronger than anything on the market and carries a lifetime warranty, look for the Eternity Key - www.eternitykey.com and save yourself from ever having this happen again... You own a Lexus because you want the best, your replacement key should be the best too.
When I bought our used 2007 Rx400h, the dealership only gave us one key. It made me nervous about every losing the key and facing a huge expense of replacement. I ended buying a cheap refurbished laptop with Windows 7 32-bit, a $30 dongle with Mini VCI, a $30 unkey transmitter key, paid $20 for a mobile locksmith to cut the key, and got to work. It took about 15 minutes to program the transmitter and program the immobilizer. I felt relieved afterwards.
Two days later, I took the Lexus to my trusted mechanic to have the radiator replaced. I was inspecting the undercarriage while the car was on the lift and I noticed a small Ziplock bag tied up with twine on the driver's side rear suspension. Inside that bag was the extra key! The original owner must have hid the key there in the event they lost the key while away from home. So now I have 3 keys.
I bought 2 keys from 1010keys and yes they are kinda cheap feeling but they work ok. I used a Toyota smart keymaker to program the the start engine function. and it works to start the engine but now the security light blinks even after the engine starts. with my original master key the security light does not blnk but stays on. Anybody know why and if it's a problem.
Bought a flip key and a spare master key (shells) off Aliexpress.com for $12 total. Looking around to see who center cuts keys around here. Previous poster said Ace, Home Depot or Walmart? Why would we all be searching for back alley locksmiths if it were that easy?
I already have two transponders, valet key and the cc key and card with code.
Debbie
Edit: Ace says no, they don't have a center cut machine, not enough demand.
Last edited by PlatinumV8; 06-10-15 at 10:06 AM.
Reason: Edit
Obviously, the master key for my 2007 RX400h broke.
I found on ebay many sellers that are offering spare keys; the question is: how long should be the blade of the key; I found keys with at least 3 different lenght; what did you bought?
Also, could you indcate a seller?
I'm not sure which length you need for your Lexus, but mine is the short key. The flip key that I bought out of china and what is coming cut from 1010keys on ebay, is just a bit longer than my stock (factory lexus) 3 button key.
IFIRC there are just a few years that require the extra long key.
There is a company called eternity key, above you in this thread, that has a list of which key length is for which year, right on their home page.
Maybe the RX specialists on here will know exactly.
If it were me, I'd take a nice close up photo of your key with a ruler next to the blade and send it to the guys at 1010keys, again on ebay.
What I did was to send them a note about the listing they have on there for two of the three button shells and ask for one to be a flip key instead.
Cost an extra $22 for the more expensive flip key to be substituted.
That is cut and ready to use. Not a blank. Awesome people. Look for their email contact on their ebay listing. It is an aol email address.
I don't want to link any of these because google is a much better way to find info that is current. Links can go dead days after they get put up.
If you don't have the master key code (5 digits for mine) a clear image of your existing key will be enough in most cases. They work magic IMO.
Now I can use the flip key as a fob and use the valet (cheap from the dealer and they cut it without griping) as the ignition key.
When I need to get in the glove box, lock out the trunk or just flip the key for a bit of flair when trying to impress, it will be there, but for daily driving everyone says it is too long and cumbersome in the ignition.
I've taken these apart. There is not much room wasted in them. They have to fit our transmitter and the spring mechanism for the flip function as well as the key blade release button.
Do any of these vendors have a name you remember or cut the keys for you like 1010Keys does? To me that is the major selling point. No one cuts these aftermarket keys but specialty locksmiths for astronomical prices.
The flip key you are seeing on their site is the exact same one all over alibaba, etc. The one with the silver injection molded inserts where your key ring goes. I've never seen a flip key that fits an early Lexus three button remote other than that one prevalent design after weeks of searching google.
Here is the picture of the eBay keys, they work perfectly and the seller even included a write up of how to clean the lock cylinder to prevent future breakage. The sub key shown came with the car and the two master transmitters also, but with broken shells. Now I don't have to hide my broken and glued OEM shells when getting in and out of the car with people around.
Here is the other side. I put 4 squares of black electrical tape under the new master key shell to push the transmitter all the way against the button side, that way the three rubber pads are raised up and easier to operate. I added two squares of tape to the flip key.
Note. I used some specialized Phillips head screwdrivers. If you have just one eyeglasses sized screwdriver it may strip or not turn these screws at all. If you have just the one graded: PH0, it will be able to work on all three types of screws you encounter. A PH00, works best when changing out the batteries, but a PH0 can be used if you are gentle. FYI, those are zeros, not ohs.
Here is the kit I bought from Harbor Freight for under $10 IFIRC.
Here is a better pic of the raised up buttons. We girls with our nails cut these rubber pads if the buttons are too shallow, now I can easily use the pad of my finger or thumb.
FYI I just had to go through all this with my 2008 RX350, so I thought I'd share as there is a LOT of misinformation on the internet about the replacement keys.
When I bought my RX (used), it only had one key and the "master" credit card key.
1) I ordered two replacement keys from ebay (for around $24 each.) These were the keys with all the electronic guts.
2) When they arrived, I took them to a local locksmith/key place along with the one key I already had, and he cut both (approx. $35 each.) I tried them both out at this point and they unlocked and locked the doors just fine.
3) Went to the dealership to get the "immobilizer" programmed in from the "master" credit card key I had into my two new replacements. I did not ask them to do the wireless lock/unlock programming, as I thought I would be able to do that myself. They finish, and both replacement keys now start the car just fine.
4) I get home and try to program the lock/unlock on my two replacement keys. I find instructions for the "lock/unlock" method and the "open/close door" method. Neither one of those worked. So after asking around some more, I learn that the 2008 CANNOT be programmed this way, and I have to take it back to the dealership.
5) They program both for me, but tell me only 1 key is working. I'm fine with this, as I now have a second replacement key that works fine and a spare emergency key (the one that would not take the wireless programming.)
All in all, I paid a fraction of what I would have paid for genuine Lexus replacements but it was a decent amount of legwork to get it all done. I am also going to contact the ebay seller and see if he will send me a new one and I'll try again on the spare at some point.
Thanks for the reference to Eternity Key! Our customers are thrilled to finally have a solution to the HUGE problem of ignition key breakage! Never pay for another broken key again. Info available at www.eternitykey.com
That is a dealer only option for us right? If you had an online option where we could give you our key code and you send us the keys cut and ready to go, it would be so much better. I don't even see any prices and your model year info is incorrect. Just look at what you list for the LS430.
On the Eternity Key website landing page : LS430 1998-2003
No one has a 1998 LS430. They do not exist. The LS430 designation BEGAN in 2001.
I saw TWO Eternity Key stand up advertising displays on the service counter, in front of the call buzzer button, last weekend at Meade Lexus in Michigan. Two.
One on each corner of the counter. No other advertising. What is the dealerships take on each key is what I want to know. Cluttering up their counter like that?
It must be a NICE percentage.
Offer it online or are the dealers banning you from doing that?
Hi All, I've had success programming the keyless entry portion using version 10 of the techstream software, however when I try to program the immobilizer I get this error any one have any ideas?
08-08-14, 01:04 PM
