Options for getting transponder type car key made

[villages07]

We have a recent vintage Toyota; it came with 2 transponder enabled master keys; the key also has the integrated lock/unlock/trunk release buttons. These keys have a chip in them that must match the car's onboard computer before the engine will start.

We want to get another key made ... the lock/unlock buttons are not necessary.

I called the local Toyota dealer.... to get a transponder key made with the buttons would be $340 for parts and labor (aye carumba) or about $90 for a key without the buttons. One locksmith said $90 for key without buttons.

You can buy key blanks on ebay for about $20, get them cut at Ace/Walmart etc and apparently there are ways you can program them yourself (some sequence of hitting gas and brake pedal).

So, the question is.... have any of you bought and programmed your own? Did it work? Has anyone found another more reasonably priced alternative to getting transponder car keys made? I'm sorry but paying over $300 or even $100 for a key just doesn't seem right.

Thanks in advance for any experiences or advice you can provide.

[handieman]

Didn't I see that walmart's was making transponder keys now for about 50 bucks??
See them at the auto counter
Handie

[KayakerNC]

eBay?:shrug:
Maybe you could get the programming done under warranty.

[chuckinca]

Had the same issue when we lent our Ford F150 to an old friend and they lost the key and remote and we couldn't find the second set.

After two weeks of the truck sitting in front of their house, my son called from college and said he had the second set and would be home the next weekend. Opened the truck and the first set was sitting under the seat!

.

[hdh1470]

toyotas are the hardest to program your best bet is the dealer.if you loose your keys its about 700 plus job they have to send computer out to be reflashed to new keys

[faithfulfrank]

villages,

I have bought chipped keys for both my jeep and my windstar from ebay and had them cut at home depot, then programmed them myself, saving big bucks.

The programming was easy for both, as long as you have BOTH original keys still.

If the Toyotas are more difficult, I would go on a toyota forum and do a search. You will surely find the answers you are seeking on a Toyota forum.

Frank D.

[tony]

Frank,

How did you program them?