Today, I came to find out via the manual that my car is supposed to have a wallet that includes a set of emergency flat keys. I looked through the leatherette folder looking for them, but did not come across them. I am curious as to how important it is to have these. I do however have the 2 masters and a valet ket, which all have retractable blades that have been cut. Being that this car is CPO, is it the dealers responsibility to afford me with the keys being that this car is CPO? Or is it game over?

 

We were given 1 flat key when we bought our car - 06 CPO LS430. I guess people might want to keep the flat key in their wallet maybe as a spare. My wife keeps it in her purse. Of course my wife keeps her keys in her purse also so I am not sure how great of a back up that deal is. The flat key is about thickness of 3 credit cards (not so flat) so its not going in my wallet. My wallet has too much crap in it already. If you don't have it I would not sweat it.

 

I think having the two masters is most important. For me, the valet is a nice-to-have and the wallet key would be left in my filing cabinet. My car only had one master and one valet, so I had another master made.

Something I learned from the dealer this week: if you program the car for an additional master, you need to re-program the car for all of the keys. Since I didn't have the valet with me, they put a note in my file to remind me to bring all of the keys to my next service visit and they would program the car for all three (at no charge). Until then, supposedly only my two master keys will work. (Unless I extend the metal key on the valet.)

 

The flat key is probably pretty cheap if the dealer won't give you one.

Maybe ask the dealer to call the previous owner to see if he has the flat key. That's what I did the day after I bought a three year old LS that was missing one master and one valet key. The previous owner/lessee didn't have the keys so I bought another set for a few hundred $. I guess I should have waited ... the missing keys showed up in the mail not long after that. So I've got extra keys -- better to have spares than not enough.

I've carried an LS flat key in my wallet for 20 years -- used one maybe three times and none of those times were an emergency.

 

the flat key IS cheap with the clublexus discount its 43.60

http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/par...id=17572&all=Y

but the wallet holder with the built in transponder is VERY expensive as it has a built in transponder in it,EVEN with out clublexus discount its 140.33 from sewell

http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/par...id=25690&all=Y

 

I have an 04 LS430 UL which has the first wireless key. I bought it CPO and have all the keys.

Neither of these Sewell keys look like my 04 UL wallet key. The first key above looks like the wallet key provided with my 1992 SC400, long before we had wireless. I'm not sure about the second key as I don't recognize it for my car. Perhaps something was changed for the 05 LS.

My LS430 wallet key has two keys in the wallet package. One, is a flat key for the doors. The second is an electronic key, which looks like a miniature master key. It doesn't have a battery or provide a wireless signal, but fits into the ignition switch (which doesn't accept a flat ordinary key) for starting.

My wallet key is kept with my car file at home. This key package is too thick in my opinion to put in your wallet. Besides, it might get damaged from sitting on it. Might be fine for a woman to keep in her purse.

Personally, I don't think of it as much more than a toy.

 

The wallet sized flat keys are indeed convienent IMO. I provides me with assurance that if something ever happens to my keys while im out and about, I would never get stuck of have to call for my emergency back-up set. I dont carry a full-size wallet but carry one of those little half-sized wallet thingys thats good for ony id, 1 or 2 credit cards and 1 or 2 other important cards which happens to be the spare key card. The Key card holds the plastic version of the door/trunk/glove-box slot key so that you can get in your car manually and the chip looking key is for starting the car only thru the ignition switch. Although it would be nice if Lexus made the key cards function the same way the regular keys do buy letting you enter and start the car hands free! Now that would be awesome!

 

hmmm, maybe ours are different. i have a GS430 and thats what my wallet key looks like...

the only specific key i found for the ls430 (according to sewells site) is this one and its not a wallet key, its a "smart key" or essentially a wireless master key

http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/par...id=50833&all=Y

but again according to there site this is you'll s wallet key also

http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/par...id=25690&all=Y


here's are all you'll s keys for a 2004 ls430 and that SAME wallet key i said is in there

http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/search.asp

 

I want an implantable, secure, rolling code, SmartAccess-type chip under my skin with a solid state battery that never needs recharging or replacement. It should allow me to use any of my vehicles and gain access to my home and workplace. It should replace the need to carry cash, credit card, drivers license, health insurance card, etc.

 

Yep along those lines at some point in the not too distant future people will carry an I-phone size and style device that will not only act as as communication device and internet appliance but will also serve as a digital wallet and a digital authorization "key" to your car and house. As an example , a car would recognize the device and request a password to verify the phone belonged to that person. Once identity was verified, and if the user was authorized to use that car, (note two separate and distinct concepts -verify identity, then verify authorization), the car would then integrate its on board systems direct with the user's "cell" phone. All car settings would be customized per the user, user address book and contacts would be downloaded, tolls would automatically be paid via the user's digital wallet, navigation system would load users preferences for POI alerts , favorite places to eat, it will have all your medical records and call your doctor and insurance company if the car is in an accident, etc. etc.
The high dollar cars will do all this for each passenger integrating everyone's digital appliance while they ride in the car and knowing exactly where they are sitting, what size and age they are and adjust car's systems and parameters accordingly.

Yes the old school concept of "key" - even the supposedly modern modern smart key and remote fob, will go the way of the buggy whip, to be replace by general personal digital appliance that uses password and authorization to gain use of the car. Welcome to the world of Identity Management. btw - resistance is futile : )