Yes, there is such a thing as a non-remote master key. At least for a 2000 ES300. Despite what the parts counter man at my local Lexus dealer said.

I recently bought a used 2000 ES300. The only key that was with the car was a valet key. I want a spare key that will at least operate the door lock and the ignition, and I want to be able to walk up to the car and open the trunk with the key. (I found a locksmiths website that can now clone Toyota valet keys, but not Lexus. I would have cloned my valet and skipped the master keys and ECU replacement/re-flashing, if I could have my valet cloned for a spare) So I finally decided I would get the Engine Control Module (Unit) re-flashed or replaced, and get master keys.

I was at the local Lexus dealer and I asked about getting a non-remote master key. The parts man pointed to my valet key and said something like, "that is a non remote master". WRONG!!! Now I don't know if the parts man was not well informed, or if the dealer only wants to sell the $180 plus tax full-tilt remote master key with lots of buttons you can press.

lexus-parts.com has a great reputation here on CL. So I looked at their nice parts ordering website. The first thing I noticed was that they sell the flat, emergency key for $35 + shipping, where my local dealer wanted a whopping $63 + tax!!! So that gives me the impression that lexus-parts (Sewell Lexus in Texas) is not trying to gouge their customers.

I ordered one cut master key (it comes with the built in transponder) for $51 + shipping. Later I read in the internet that if an ECM (ECU) is replaced or reflashed, it is ready to program two master keys and one valet key. So I sent an e-mail to lexus-parts.com changing my order to TWO non-remote master keys. I could not tell the color of the head of the non-remote master keys from the poor photo on the website.

My additional key order was received too late to be put in the same package as the first key, so I received one key Thursday and one key Friday. (Sewell did not charge me shipping for the second key--nice thinking boys.)

When I got the first key, it had a grey head. I was disappointed, I was hoping it had a black head, like most master keys. It would not operate the trunk, the glove box, or the pass-through locks. I thought, well, when I get my new ECM, and get this key programmed, then it should work every lock. After all, lexus-parts calls this a "non-remote master key".

The next day, I received the second key. It had a black head! I tried to open the trunk, and I was shocked when it worked! As-is. Unprogrammed! It also operated the glove box and pass-through locks. It also turned in the ignition, and cranked the engine, but the engine did not start. But it will start the engine when I get the ECM replaced or re-flashed, and get the key programmed.

So what must have happened is somebody made a mistake at Sewell, and sent me one valet key. I e-mailed them asking for a replacement black key for my grey valet key.

So the one key each day deal may have helped me out a lot. If I had gotten two grey headed keys at once, I would have assumed that those were, in fact, non-remote masters. And when I got the ECM replaced or reflashed, I probably would not have been able to open the trunk with those keys.

I looked with a magnifying glass to see if there were any obvious difference between the keys. There were slight differences in the key cuts, but I don't know if those are deliberate differences, or just differences because different people cut different keys on different days.

So, if you want another master key, but can live without the buttons, and want to save about $137, get a $51 + shipping non-remote master, instead of a $182 + shipping or tax remote master.

 

I have 3 keys for my 94 SC, the Master Remote, a Master NON-REMOTE and a Valet.

My Master Non-remote has a slightly larger casing than the valet, and opens the doors, trunk, and locks and unlocks the glove box (of course it starts the car also). The valet key will not open the trunk, will not unlock the glove box either. All the valet does is unlock the driver's side door and start the car.

 

Larry,

It has been my experience, that Toyota and Lexus dealerships, are the most uninformed of all dealerships when it comes to keys. Your experience does not surprise me.

What are you doing about the ECM? Are you going to buy a new one or go for the reflashing?

I own the website that you found with the Toyota key cloning.

Take care,

Tami

 

That is the important question. Thanks to posters here on CL I found a locksmith's website, http://locksmithcharley.com who has useful information posted for all, and who will re-flash the ECM for $150. Although he is in Phoenix, and I am by LA, so that would be a long round trip. But not out of the question. I e-mailed two Lexus dealers telling them Lexus Customer Assistance in Torrance, CA said Lexus will give owners a free ECM. The customer will pay for the labor to replace it, and pay for new keys.

One response was: "I was told that you would have to refresh the ECU, and that would run about $403.00 typically for the labor. Our standard cost for programming per key would be $48.00 per key, and it usually takes about 30 minutes."

WHOA!!! NIMROD, I just told you Lexus will give me a free ECM! YOU DON'T HAVE TO "REFRESH", AS YOU CALL IT, THE ECM! And $48 to program each of three keys.??!! Thanks to locksmith Charley's openness and honesty, I know that it takes literally one minute to program three new keys into a new or re-flashed ECM. RIPOFF! $403 to re-flash the ECM and another $144 FOR ONE MINUTE OF PROGRAMMING WORK! FOAD!

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I'll tell you what the response was from another Lexus dealer, farther from my house: "...submit a request to Lexus for assistance with the ECM. If approved, they will ship the ECM to us....The labor charges to install the ECM and program the keys is $188."

OK, I can see that. I haven't had time to call locksmiths locally to see if anybody has the capability to re-flash Lexus ECM's. I could only find a few nationwide on the internet, none in California. It would cost me about $75 in gas to round trip Phoenix + 750 miles wear and tear on my car. Plus the $150. So after I get my second non-remote master key, I'll probably go to the Lexus dealer for $188.

If and when clonable Lexus valet keys are available, I am sure there will be a market for them from people who either lost their two masters, or had them stolen. Or people like me who bought a Lexus with the only key being a valet key.

 

After I received the e-mail from the Lexus dealer that said it would cost $188 in labor charges to get my ECM replaced, I decided to go with that. Then, in the next e-mail, I was told that to get the "free" ECM, I had to purchase TWO REMOTE master keys from Lexus for my car--about $400, plus the $188 for labor!!! NO WAY! I didn't waste my energy sending the following question back: What possible reason is there that REMOTE masters must be purchased? Because you are so uninformed that you don't even know that non-remote masters work just fine with my car, or Lexus wants to make some money on the "free" ECM's by selling $200 keys?

So I took my two cut non-remote master keys bought at the only Lexus dealer, it seems, that knows that non-remote masters exist and work perfectly, www.lexus-parts.com, 365 miles to Locksmith Charley in Phoenix. I removed the ECM from the car in 8 minutes, and Charley reflashed it in a few minutes. Then it took me another 8 minutes or so to reinstall the ECM, and Charley quickly programmed the two master keys and the valet key I had. All is well.

Another question: Why does Lexus want $188 to remove and replace an ECM, when I, no mechanical genius, got it out and back in, in 16 minutes?

So one Lexus dealer wanted $588. One wanted $403 labor!?! + $48+ $48 + $48 + the actual cost of two keys, I guess.

I paid $51 for one cut Lexus non-remote master. $51 for a second master. $8 for shipping those two keys to me. $150 for Locksmith Charley's reflashing. $90 in gasoline to round trip Phoenix from the LA area. Total: $350. Plus 730 miles of wear on my car. Plus a day of my time. But I was off work anyway. I still saved over $200 compared to having Lexus handle things. My keys don't have buttons, but I don't NEED buttons. Only on my shirts.

 

For $50.00 extra, I could have done the reflash for you which would have included 1 Remote Master Key and 1 Non-Remote Master key and the overnight shipping back to you. You wouldn't have needed to drive anywhere.

Take care,

Tami

 

Yes, I considered shipping the ECM, but then my car would have been undrivable for a minimum of two or three days, even using overnight shipping, and that is the only car I have.

 

Wow Larry, nice post....Just so you know, your lexus dealers SUCK!!!!!
I order ALL the keys at my dealership and I can get the computer replaced with NO CHARGE for you.......The only thing we have charged for....is keys(however many you want) and labor(to remove and install the key computer with a new one).....Thats it. For our shops or customers who know how to work on their own car, we have allowed them to just bring us the old ECU back and we gave them the new one.....And just so you know, the employees cant do anything about pricing if their bosses wont let them.....but they sure can work on the knowledge of the Parts on these cars.....

Master Certified Parts Specialist....

 

Where is the ECM?

 

It's behind the glove box. If I remember, you open the glove box, unscrew three phillips head screws along the top, and another at the bottom left corner. There is a bolt holding the lower right corner that you remove, or loosen. (I broke the little circular part that the bolt holds down) Then unclip a couple of wiring connections, and put the glovebox aside. Then you pull off a plastic shroud around the CD changer by hand. Remove two nuts (10 or 12 mm, I forgot which), that hold the CD changer, undo the electrical plug, and remove the CD changer. Then you can see the ECM. It says "Engine Control" and "Denso". Remove the electrical plugs, and there are two nuts (10 or 12mm, I forgot which) that hold the ECM.

 

Are these instructions for a 99 LS?

 

First of all, Thanks for the 411 Larry
I looked at lexus-parts.com, their website seems dead already. however,

1) when u ordered the keys from lexus-parts.com, did they cutted the key and sent it to you? how did they do that without having your spare key?

2) im looking for a remote key for my lexus 2001 es 300, do you know anywhere i can get it for a cheaper price? i prefer OEM keys. i looked at ebay they had this and doesnt look good to me.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/00-01...Q5fAccessories

Thanks Larry

 

1) Lexus dealers, and I guess some locksmiths, have access to the way original keys were cut. So using your VIN, they can get the pattern and cut the key to match your car. I forgot if I had to email them a photo of my title or registration, and maybe my drivers license.

2) Here is the new website http://lexus.sewellparts.com/
Go there, click on sedans>ES300>2001 Then click on keys. The prices of their NON-remote master keys have gone up from $51 when I bought mine, to now, $80! But still, that is FAR cheaper than a REMOTE master key. Ouch. I don't know about buying keys from ebay. There would still be an additional charge somewhere to get your key cut, while from the above website, the price includes cutting the key. But after you get it, you still have to program it to start your car. It will open doors and the trunk without programming the key.