Hello everyone. I was tired of my Smartkey looking like it belonged to a 1991 Ford Escort. All 3 buttons (including the trunk) were worn away so much, the rubber button on the internal electronis was showing. I took a chance and bought a "refurbushed" key on Ebay. It cost $45, and my only intention was to use the plastic outer case/outer plastic keyfob housing.

To start, you'll need a sharp #0 philips screwdriver, and a little patience! UNDER each picture is a short description of that picture...

This is the old & wornout keyfob. I will disassemble this keyfob, and REUSE the electronics because it's programmed to my car, and REUSE the key because it's cut to my car.



Here is my old keyfob totally disassembled. Be careful when removing the 'endcap' shown in the bottom left of this picture, or else it will spring into outerspace never to be seen again, as I believe Jimi mentioned on another post, lol




Using a sharp pointed #0 philips screwdriver, place the edge of the keyfob on a hard surface with the keyside up, and push down firmly with the screwdriver so it's inserted fully and bites the screw, the loosen and remove the screw. The removed screw is shown on the counter.


Here's my new $45 dollar keyfob I bought on Ebay. It was listed as having a 'blank' and 'uncut' key. That was fine with me, because I just wanted the plastic housing!


Here is the new fob with uncut key, with screw removed.



Here's both keys and screws. Obviously the key on top is my original from my old keyfob. The bottom is the new & uncut key.



I'm inserting my electronics into the new keyfob. The new keyfob was shipped with a clean/new looking electronics. As much as I wanted to use the new one, I knew I'd have to have it programmed, etc, which some people have a very difficult time accomplishing. Just push your electronics with the button side up, obviously, until it's fully seated.



Here I'm sliding my key into the slot. Notice the hole in the key. That hole has to go BEHIND the plastic slide gizmo, so that the key hole is aligned with the hole in the plastic slide gizmo. I held the key up in the air above my head and then slid the key into the slot. That way, the key slid behind the plastic slide gizmo.


This is the key fully seated and behind the plastic sliding gizmo. Both holes are aligned and ready to accept the screw.



Here's the screw fully tightened. I was thinking of using a drop of blue locktight, but a drop would literally be larger than the screw. You just have to have faith that you tighten the screw all the way, and use good technique when tightening!



Here I seated the endcap halfway. You need to retract/pull back on the slide lever of the endcap, so that the point that is sticking up and to the right, retracts. Once the point retracts, you can push the endcap all the way down. This is the piece that Jimi sent into orbit never to be found again. (the white spot was simply a sticker that I could cleanly peel off, simply exposing black plastic underneath.

Here the endcap is fully seated. You push in the direction of the point of the triangle to retract the point of the endcap, so you can push and lock it in the down/flat position.


Here she is, 100% completed!!!


And last and not least, here's the new electronics, Jimi's endcap that re-entered the stratosphere, the new/uncut key, the old shell/housing, and a #0 screwdriver. GOOD LUCK!

 

Anything's better than your original fob but that one you picked up on fleaBay hardly looks new to me.

One of the features that I like the most on my LS is the SmartAccess system. I don't need to pull the key out of my pocket so I really never pay any attention to how it looks...

 

 

I can't imagine how your old key got to be so semi-destroyed. My 04 has the original smart key and looks much better than your "now" key. My key rarely comes out of my pocket and looks nearly new at 14 years.

 

Great point/question. I'm not sure either. Maybe previous owner kept the fob where it was constantly exposed to sunlight, and the UV eventually broke down the plastic? I did receive TWO smartkeys when I bought the car in 2009. The one that was obviously used (and eventually all 3 buttons became destroyed with my ownership), and the 2nd smartkey, which my GF suggested (demanded) that she possess. Hers also looks MUCH better than the $45 ebay special that I bought. Hers looks brand new and hangs on a keychain rack by the front door, not exposed to direct sunlight. She averages driving my LS (and using her key) maybe 2x a month so she 'touches' her smartkey maybe 2x a month.

I searched high and low from online key fob specializing compaines, for a replacement smartkey fob, and the cheapest I could find was $100, until I saw the Ebay listing. It was described it as "refurbished", and it was less than $50, I pulled the trigger. I actually asked the seller if it had the genuine Lexus logo on the other side, but he never replied. I decided to go ahead with the purchase and I'm satisfied for having a much better smartkey fob that what I previously had. I got pissy with Gron because I had already done the switchover of the electronics and metal key, but then undid everything because I thought everyone would appreciate the DIY. I had never seen this DIY so I decided to undo the work I already completed so I could do it again and take pictures for the forum's benefit. Receiving what felt like critical comments didn't sit well after uploading & commenting on the 15 pictures that I laboriously executed (it really does take a good amount of time to upload and comment on pics), regardless however simple the procedure may have seemed. Hopefully you guys understand. If my post helps 1 person I'll be happy.

 

I was actually looking into doing this exact thing had no idea that there was a tiny screw holding the key in.




I feel your struggle my key looks like this. I have not been able to find any housing except for the oem ones, I have thought about maybe somehow making one with a 3d printer possibly.

 

That has just the housing brand new for $70.00
https://replacemyremote.com/catalogsearch/advanced/result/?car_make=Lexus&car_model=LS+430&car_year=2005

 

Nice write up and thanks for taking the time for pics and step by step and then posting. Certainly know that takes some time and contributes greatly to the forum. I've had 3 LS 430s roll through the family and never had any in the shape yours was in. Congrats on the upgrade.

 

I clicked further into the details and it's listed as "refurbished". That's how mine was listed.

I figured my housing would be brand new-ish looking, since there would be a blank/uncut key with it, but apparently not. Maybe the one I bought from, "refurbished" means they only place a new/blank/uncut key into the used housing? Not sure if you guys noticed, but on my worn out keyfob, even the plastic around the red LED was deteriorated, so my buttons didn't wear out from use. The plastic chemically broke down somehow/someway.

 

Thats what I am wondering is if the oils in our skin slowly breaks down the plastic and yellows it over time.

 

Wow that old fob looks like a German Shepard used it as a chew toy. Great write up and pics! It does seem harder than usual to find replacement key fob shells for the LS430.

 

Nice write up, I learned the key part can be removed by taking out the screw. I might be willing to someday pay for a brand new fob on eBay, move the electronics, and move the actual key. No dealer or coding needed.....but today I use the beat up one that had the end door break, and I keep the other master in a drawer. But good to know the screw would release the physical key

 

From what I can tell the ls430 is the only lexus that has a key fob in that shape, I could be wrong though I have searched high and low for a purple case for my wife to have.

 

I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers I just thought that the key looked rather beat up for being described as new or even reconditioned. I also did not have any idea that these housings would be so damn expensive to replace. I'd be willing to bet that the only reconditioning your fob had was to put the uncut blank into it. Nevertheless, it still looks MUCH better than what you had before...

 

I had no idea there was a little screw holding the key blade in. May just swap the blades over now, rather than getting the blank cut. I guess I got lucky when someone on eBay was selling a key they bought and never used for $25 some time ago. Thanks for sharing.