I fell of the wagon and bought another 95 SC400. It was pretty nice and on a used car lot. They only had one key for it. I have the key code. How do I go about obtaining duplicates ?

 

Dealership. Bring title and photo I’d that match your information. About 35-40?for key and it cut.

 

Local locksmiths can cut it, as well, but around here the price was more like $70/key several years ago, and probably a lot higher at dealerships. There are also eBay sellers who can cut a blank from either your key code or good photos of the existing key, along with ownership proof.

 

I paid like $12 from lexus rivercenter. Went in with my title, cut it for me within 10 minutes.

 

I'm pretty sure you can just get that key copied and dont need to have anything programmed. Dont think the 95's had an immobilizer. Where in TN? I'm in Nashville.

 

That's nuts. I combed through my notes and found the entry from ~7 years ago. The nearest Lexus dealer, in Portland, quoted me:

$95 for regular key, $290 for remote key + labor, $395 for two remote keys + labor

Labor being the programming for applicable years. They also told me, keys get ordered online and ship next day. Maybe only the dealerships with in-house key cutting services offer low prices?

 

Highway robbery lol. Find out who can do it in-house and go from there I guess. Grab atleast 2 if you find them for under $20. Don't wanna deal with it again later on.
(I ran one of my keys over once...)

 

92-97 cars:
90999-00220 Master
90999-00221 Valet

92-95 cars:
89742-24070 Master 1 button key

Any Lexus or Toyota dealer can cut keys if you give them the keycode. Its just a Toyota dealership can't verify if a Lexus keycode is correct (and vice versa). That's why some dealers will say they won't do it. They don't want liability if the keycode you give us is incorrect.
Some dealerships cut the key for free if you buy the keys thru them. Otherwise they will charge anywhere from $10-50 to cut a key brought to them, or in some cases will even refuse to cut aftermarket keys (but will cut Toyota/Lexus keys).

 

If anyone is looking to get a low cost backup key, when we cut keys at a dealership, most of the time we make test keys (especially if we cut a lot of keys and our key machine is known for "recalibrating" itself). If you go to a dealership and ask for a test key cut with your keycode, they can cut one for you. Sometimes we charged $7 for just the key. Or $15 for a test key + cut. And other times we just gave them away for free. Policy varies dealer to dealer, and also person to person.

 

issue is whether your ignition system has immobilizer in it. my 1999 sc300 has one, so that makes backup ignition keys more tricky. Anyone can cut the key but ignition won’t reliably work without immobilizer in key fob. These are in the hundreds of dollars at dealers and maybe $150 at local locksmith if they have tech to program a key fob.

might just want to get spare cut for trunk/doors without the fob as backup to get into car or trunk but not for ignition.

any locksmith can determine if your fob as immobilizer.

Kolbe

 

I didn't put this in my post above because it doesn't apply to TNSC, but the 98-00 SCs are the only cars that have chip keys / immobilizers. Those keys are the easiest to spot because they are the big keys with the integrated remote buttons. Those keys are also the only ones that require programming, not necessarily by a dealer, but nowadays its kinda rare to find a automotive locksmith that can program 98-05 Lexus keys. They are more complicated, and require linking to the ecu. If you have a master key (the remote key) you can get this cloned into an aftermarket key, but the last time I checked the OEM keys are discontinued. The key and plastic shell for another Lexus can be used (people use the GS or IS or RX key - I'm not entirely certain which) if your key physically breaks, but the SC3/400 remote insert with chip is extinct (hopefully this is one of the things Lexus will reproduce at some point). The chipped valet key is still available but I don't have the part number on hand.

 

I'm in Nashville area too. Dealer said they no longer support 95's !

 

Hey 1997Soarer

great details in your follow up post on keys and immmobilizers. Wonder if locksmiths or dealers make those 1993 sc keys with the lock/unlock button on the side. Mine stopped working years ago even with new batteries. You don’t gotta answer that, just typing out loud.

 

The OEM keys are so notorious for breaking, I wouldn't be too worried about them being discontinued. I spent a bit more on an Eternity key for my '98 and couldn't be happier with it. I got it cut online and programmed it myself.

 

In the mid 2010s, it was no. In 2021? I am not certain.
Anyone in need of a 1 button key should research into that and find out if the aftermarket ever made an alternative to profit from all the demand. I remember hearing people say the 1 button key ran out of stock sometime before the Recession. For years people have just been SOL.

*BUT*

If you need a 1 button master key for you SC, 1 button keys were brought back into production at some point in the past 2 years.
Part # 89742-24070
You can order this thru any Lexus dealer and find them on ebay.
So if your key is broken, you can get a new one.