marty99

From what I've read, the ECU marries the key, not the key to the ECU. With this in mind, can I have a key work with 2 different vehicles? As an example, I have 2 keys for car A and 2 keys for car B. Both cars are the same, 2002 Lexus SC430's. Can I program all 4 keys to work with either car?

Please stay on topic with this. I keep getting crazy comments about how to turn a key, changing my running shoes, where to find a gynecologist, etc.

Thanks!
Marty

FLYCT

I've thought about doing thus a few times having owned multiple Lexus cars at one time. The dealer told me it was possible. BUT to be able to use keys interchangeably you would;

1. Need to rekey the tumblers on the ignition switches and door looks of one car to match the other.
2. Two of your key shells would need to be replaced and cut to match the working keys
3. You would need to move the remote guts from the old non working key shells to the new shells

The other issue is that the door opening remotes would need to be reprogrammed on BOTH CARS. Once you do this any time you unlock or lock one car via remote the other will also also lock/unlock if they are near you.

Now if you had Proximity remotes with push start button, like in my CT and my LS460, that would be great. One credit card key in your wallet and touching any door handle of either would open only that car door and push start would work in either car.

JR

marty99

JR,

Thanks so much for the info. I have an SC430 with a single master key which I'm terrified of losing. I purchased an ECU with matched key, but that ECU is one number off on the part number, and it does not work on my SC. If I were to take the matched key and program it to our SC430, would the spare ECU still recognize that key?

I have a spare laser cut shell I could swap the transponder into. I'll probably sell the ECU/Key combo after getting a spare fob and want to make sure the purchaser gets a valid matched set.

Presumably the key fob can match up to hundreds of cars, in theory.