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Venting here really as I am somewhat annoyed.
Managed to drop my car keys outside my house (small village, single lane track). They are the type that have an electronic bit which does all the keyless entry etc, and a spare 'blade' that can open the doors (but nothing else). The blade part atatches to my keyring, and clips into the electronic part...except it obviously pulled out and fell on the floor.
My neighbour found the keys, thought they belonged to me (as they have a toyota logo on them) and put them on the front verge by the road next to the drive. You can see where this is going....
So my keys are now in several pieces. I don't have a spare set, and Toyota are reckoning £1500 ish to replace immobilser, transponder barrels etc. I have called a few auto locksmiths, and those that have got back to me are saying that the only way to get a code is off a working key.
The car is in good nick and reliable, but webuyanycar reckon its worth about £1k - it has done 153,000 miles. So I think I might have just written my car off with a lawnmower and a well meaning neighbour!
(and no - my car insurance doesn't cover lost/damaged keys, only stolen)
Now feeling slightly sad...
How much?!?
Main dealer prices were £267 for new key, £50 to program it, and £770 plus labour for a new ECU etc.
Just how smashed is the key? Through the circuitboard and everything?
I'm wondering if one of those laptop/smartphone repair shops could patch the electronics back together if not too badly damaged, even if it's just enough for the mechanic to read the codes off.
Circuitboard is in 2 halves, and a bit roughed up as well. Not sure if one of the chips is actually missing - hard to tell and I can't find any pics online of a whole one!
Certainly worth a try though - cheers
I'm assuming you don't have a spare? Even a non fancy flippy one?
ebay sometimes have spare keys that include the transponder but needs the special software to promgrame it. Worht checking youtube for DIY walk throughs?
I’m assuming you don’t have a spare? Even a non fancy flippy one?
That would be too easy 🙂 Car only came with one - not been an issue for the past 7 years. Hindsight is great!
Can’t they peogram a replacement key at the main dealers?
ebay sometimes have spare keys that include the transponder but needs the special software to promgrame it. Worht checking youtube for DIY walk throughs?
Have had a good look and you seem to need the code to reprograme a new key. Keys are easy to get (although expensive) but the code seems to only be available from a working key. That's what Toyota are saying anyway.
😬 That's grim, pal of mine is an auto-locksmith. For some manufacturers he can code a key from the vin using a machine in his van and a special code he gets from a carefully cultivated list of friendly dealers. Surprises the hell out of people when he turns up to the person who has locked themselves out of their car with a completely functional key already working.
Maybe it's a toyota thing but that's crazy money given how easy it is to lose keys.
where are you op?
Forgive my ignorance, but isn't this a job covered by either house, car or lawnmower insurance?
Can’t they peogram a replacement key at the main dealers?
Apparently not without an already working key
Getting a car started with no keys, you say?
*regional stereotype alert*
Do you know any scousers?
😀
How many pieces is it in? Post pictures.
As the value of the car isn't that high, is it possible to have the immobiliser bypassed? Not sure how practical that is with modern cars, but had to do it about 20 years ago with my old car. Obviously you'd need to inform the insurance about this. But then you should be able to use the key to operate the car so not as costly.
Is it worth checking with your home insurance, maybe they would cover the keys? Don't know if they would, but worth asking.
where are you op?
Lincolnshire - seems to be a dearth of local autoloacksmiths around here
Maybe it’s a toyota thing but that’s crazy money given how easy it is to lose keys.
It is, that's why you always need two just in case.
is it possible to have the immobiliser bypassed? Not sure how practical that is with modern cars, but had to do it about 20 years ago with my old car. Obviously you’d need to inform the insurance about this. But then you should be able to use the key to operate the car so not as costly.
It is a push button start, so the physical key can only open the door - there is no ignition keyslot. Might still be feasible, but would mean anyone who got in the car could start it.
Is it worth checking with your home insurance
isn’t this a job covered by either house, car or lawnmower insurance
Checking house insurance now - good call!
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Trying to post an image...
I have no practical resolutions over what's already been suggested, but...
Why would your neighbour think it was a good idea to leave them on the verge rather than pop them through your letterbox* or hang on to them to give to you later?
*assuming here your front door key wasn't also attached.
Hows the lawnmower?
Why would your neighbour think it was a good idea to leave them on the verge rather than pop them through your letterbox* or hang on to them to give to you later?
Yes - she is 90, so I can only assume she didn't really think it through. ANd it was just the car key, nothing else.
Hows the lawnmower?
Lawnmowers fine - eat them keys with no signs of indigestion 🙂
Useless to theOP but for anyone else reading this Timpsons copied my van key and chip for £25.
A lost one for my Mondeo cost me £200 for a locksmith to open it and make a new one so when the new van only came with one I got it copied straightaway. Anyone else just got one get it done now! Copies are loads cheaper than doing it from scratch.
Is it a ride on mower? 🤔
Could you try talking to an auto electrician? As above, there may be ways of bypassing immobilisers etc and as it is a low value car there would be nothing to lose really.
A friend bought a fiat sports car thing years ago with only one key, same deal, a new spare key was a couple of grand so he was uber paranoid about loosing the one he had.
come on its easy just rub 2 wires together, everyone knows this.
Just checked houser insurance, and only covers house keys
Just checked houser insurance, and only covers house keys
I've just checked my car policy and it covers lost, theft or damage of keys up to £1k. Worth a perusal of your policy documents?
Hows the lawnmower?
Will shortly be nicked by some tracksuit-clad scallies with an OBD reader.
Is it a ride on mower?
No, but I think it might now have a keyless pushbutton start feature....
Don't suppose you have a bank account that does key phone travel insurance?
and no – my car insurance doesn’t cover lost/damaged keys, only stolen
I commend your honesty, if not your luck.
A key that can effectively be worth more than the vehicle is an absolute asshole piece of design.
Can you find the immobiliser chip
Will look something like this:
or this
Usually stashed in the plastic cover of the key separate to the circuit boards for remote entry.
If so and you have a key blade, then thats all you need. Tape the chip to the top of the key blade, enter the car like we used in the olden days with a key and crack on.
and no – my car insurance doesn’t cover lost/damaged keys, only stolen
Sorry, in standard internet forum protocol I didn't see that.
+1 for is the immobiliser chip itself actually broken? It's not part of the locking/unlocking circuitry. It's just like a little RFID chip.
I'll find a pic of what's left of my car keys......
As the value of the car isn’t that high, is it possible to have the immobiliser bypassed? Not sure how practical that is with modern cars
In days gone by before computerised ignition maybe (you just needed to interrupt the LT wire to the ignition coil to immobilise the car) perhapse. But these days it's just a bit of code on the computer.
The immobiliser chip is that bit of plastic on the right hand side. That's the only bit (I think) it actually needs to work.
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This threads reminded me I need to clone it as it's my only key 🤣
That's where I was going asking for pics. The RFID chip might still be ok.
Looks like their are people who can help
Our car locksmiths are able to de-solder a chip from the ECU or separate immobiliser box, read the E-eprom and write a new transponder chip into it. The cost for this is some 60% less than what the dealer would charge.
https://theautolocksmith.co.uk/vehiclestypes/toyota-keys/
I’d factor in the cost of moving to get neighbours that would drop the keys off at the house!
Immobiliser transceiver chips haven't been separate from the remote function in most keys for a long time.
Having seen the photos, I'd say the main chip on that circuit board is long gone.
I was going to suggest getting the main chip transferred to a donor key, but since the chip is mostly gone bar a couple bits, that's not going to be an option.
The issue with keyless ignition, is some manufacturers require an already functioning key in order to program any new keys for security, so that you can't simply plug a computer, program a new key, then drive it away. No functioning key, then you have to also replace whatever module stores/controls the immobiliser functionality.
Copies are loads cheaper than doing it from scratch.
Unless you have a Citroen. You're as well just taking the gamble.
Can you find the immobiliser chip
@wzzzz - thanks for this, but having spent several hours searching through the green wheelie bin we have every other part (including some very small buttons) but nothing like either of those. Nor sure the Avensis had something like that, although we did once drop one of those chips out of a Galaxy key in a carpark in the dark....