Busha

So I got my car with 1 key and it's a valet key, and I was given a master key also but with out the buttons. So I finally got the buttons for the key I went to the dealer to have it program & they are telling me it's impossible! They said I have to by a new computer and 2 keys for 1500$ !!!! Can someone please tell me another way to go about this please????? My valet key does start my car and lock my doors, but I want to be able to use my master key??

Thanks for your time guys😃

Busha

By the way my car is a 98 GS 400

Busha

Can someone please please help me😰

ebxgsxr

there is someone selling an ecu & key in the classified section.

doesnt seem right with what they are saying. with my wife's LS430 (it has the smart key so you just have to have it near the car) the used dealer only gave us a valet key. i bought some keys off ebay & brought it to my local dealer. they said the basically had to reflash the ecu in order to program the keys. that was $250 more than i was expecting, but that's all they did.

GS4_Fiend

iTrader: (22)

Your dealer just sucks then. Find another lexus dealer or talk to Swell Lexus

Busha

Do I really gave to buy another ecu??

ebxgsxr

i dont see why you would. especially since your current valet key works. that is the same as the way my wife's situation was. only had the valet key & it worked fine. but dealer had to reflash the ecu in order to "open" the system to add more keys. if they would have told me i had to buy another ECU, i would have walked out & dealt with one key for a while until i figured something else out.

try calling another dealer & ask what the charge is to reflash the ECU to add master keys since you only have the valet key.

raytseng

if dealers do not work, call around to local locksmiths.
Car-related work is a good amount of Locksmiths work so they are arguably more familiar with auto locks then your dealer (who are more interested in the moving parts of your car).
If they are a good locksmith but they don't know, they won't leave you hanging and should be able to refer you to another locksmith who can help you out (ask for a referral if they don't offer).

lexybaby77

Local locksmiths that do smart keys. They can re-flash your ECU for $250 and program your master key as well. Good luck.

Busha

I will try a lock smith, Thanks a lot guys for trying to help me out, I never figured it could be this hard to get another key. I'm pretty shocked that I'm the only one that has this problem.

raytseng

You are not the only one who has had this problem, that's why everyone has answers for you, and relatively quickly I might add.

The dealer is just following the Service Manual to the letter, which if the master key is lost/damaged, the solution is to replace.

That is the way with most service on cars these days, especially computerized parts. Replace rather then try to find out what is wrong and/or refurbish. In most cases it makes sense, as labor is more expensive than just swapping out part for a for-sure solution.

If your DVD/Harddrive based GPS was broken for example, do you think they'd go in to try to replace just the drive, or like play around with the software on the harddrive and like look for bad sectors or what? No, they're just going to replace the whole unit. Same for the key system.

Your dealer is not interested in having their techs learn unofficial computer hacking techniques, those come from a locksmith.

This being said, I think there are some official serviceable instructions in the newer Lexus/Toyotas so they don't need to be hacked by a locksmith when you get into this situation, but I'm not sure, I haven't really kept up too much.