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…