Just dodged a bullet!!!

[IMB055]

G'day guys,

I thought I'd share a recent experience I had with my 'stivo.

When I got it, I only had one key with a chip/buttions in it. This was on a keyring that I lost. I considered getting another key cut & coded, but at about $350 I didn't think it was worth it.

Until I lost my master key!!

Car stuck in the garage, and can't do a thing with it. I have a spare key shell whcih nmeans I can open the doors manually, but can't start it.

All enquiries led back to the one point - which is, if you lose your master key, you need to replace the car's ECU with another one which has a matching immobiliser transponder chip (found in the head of your key).

A previous topic mentioned a replacement cost of $1800 for a new key and ECU - which is on the money from a dealer. The service staff at my local dealer here have been excellent in assisting me - but it's a massive amount of money!

From my enquiries, I found a wrecker willing to supply a key chip and ECU for about a quarter of that, provided I removed the ECU and took it to them, whcih is a risk in itself, and the car is off the road until this is done.

Bottom line folks - to save you the stress that I have just had, please, make sure you have a spare key coded and stored somewhere safe. If you don't want to pay Toyota $350-odd, buy the chip off them for approx $220 and a key shell off ebay for about $10, then get it cut & programmed to suit your car. This is probably obvious advice, but I wish I had followed it, and if it saves one person from this pain in the butt, it's worth it!

Cheers & all the best,

Nath.

PS: My story ended well - I put an ad in the paper and an honest guy found my keys! I gave him a $100 note and he was blown away!!

Not as stoked as me though - I had a key to my wife's lancer on the same keyring which, though cheaper than a Corolla key, was still going to cost $200-odd to replace. I have got a spare key made up and am getting it coded as I type.

[doriae86]

install a power fc for less than that - bye bye immob ?

seriously, why cant you just get your car towed toyota so they can code a key off the ecu ?

[CHA54]

Note, there are some locksmiths around now who can re-code the ECU to accept a new master key, so no need to purchase a new ECU.

One example is DLC Locksmiths at the Gold Coast who do the work for Motorama Toyota in Brisbane.

[IMB055]

Note, there are some locksmiths around now who can re-code the ECU to accept a new master key, so no need to purchase a new ECU.

One example is DLC Locksmiths at the Gold Coast who do the work for Motorama Toyota in Brisbane.

Nice stuff - it makes sense that the technology is around to be able to do this. The line I got from Toyota was that it couldn't be done - it seemed odd to me, so I was going to go with the wrecker option if the dude hadn't found my keys. One dealer referrreed me to a specialised locksmith that then referrred me back to Mr Minit.

Out of interest, any idea what DLC would charge to code a key to an ECU without a master key?

[CHA54]

around $300-400 from memory. The new chip keys can be had for as little as $30.

I believe it's IC900 that stores the key codes on a 1ZZ ecu, there is also some info on the net out there on how to reset this IC but those methods usually involve desoldering the 8 pin surface mount IC and putting it in a programmer which is a pain in the neck

eg http://www.ecufocus.com/admin/toyota%20key%20programmer.pdf

Edited September 1, 2009 by CHA54

[boggles]

just cut a black head key with no remote in it, around $70 bucks, so if u do end up loosing your remote key, you can use this spare key to cut and program another remote key