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Thanks for your feedback and being the first guinea pig for this. I am thinking about doing the same thing that you did. Since you had the programming done by a local locksmith, how exactly did he do it. Did he clone it from your existing key fob? Or did he need access to your vehicle and maybe used TechStream to do it?
Did he also cut the key insert for you, as well?
It worked! I was able to get a local locksmith to program a Smart Access Card Key for my '24 500h.
My $250 gamble worked
I used Smart Access Card Key 8990h-78491 (HYQ14CBP).
Fundamentally is the Card Key a "no-cellular/Internet connection required" replacement for a key fob, without the buttons but perhaps providing an overall more convenient form factor?
(For example, if going for a run, easy to tuck it into a small ziploc and shove in a pocket?)
I've owned RX' for decades but not one with a Card Key.
Can you post a picture and measurement of the side profile of the key? I'm curious how thick it is?
I assume using a RFID-blocking wallet would nullify the use of this key?
The key card is roughly the thickness of two credit cards on top of each other. They use a "coin" battery, a CR2412, which is a bit of an oddball size which is thinner than a CR2032. My wife has one which came with her 2024 NX450h+.
The key card is roughly the thickness of two credit cards on top of each other. They use a "coin" battery, a CR2412, which is a bit of an oddball size which is thicker than a CR2032. My wife has one which came with her 2024 NX450h+.
CR batteries follow the naming scheme "CR{Diameter}{Height}" where Diameter is in mm, and Height is in 10ths of a mm.
A CR2032 would be ~20mm wide and ~3.2mm tall.
A CR2412 would be ~24mm wide and ~1.2mm tall.
It makes sense Lexus would use the CR2412 for the key card, since it is thinner.
I found a Panasonic data sheet and it shows the CR2412 having a nominal capacity of 100mAh, compared to a CR2032 at 225mAh. So I'd expect the key card to need battery replacement 2-3 times more frequently. That's good info to have, imo. I'd replace the battery at least once a year, if not every six months.
If the whole key card is no wider or taller than a credit card, and only about 2 credit cards in thickness, that'd be great for me. My wallet is RFID-blocking, however. I know the Lexus key card is not RFID, but I'm not sure if it would attenuate the card signal enough to make it ineffective. Having to remove the card from my wallet would eliminate its usefulness, to me.
Do you use a RFID-blocking wallet? Do you notice any issues with the key card?
CR batteries follow the naming scheme "CR{Diameter}{Height}" where Diameter is in mm, and Height is in 10ths of a mm.
A CR2032 would be ~20mm wide and ~3.2mm tall.
A CR2412 would be ~24mm wide and ~1.2mm tall.
It makes sense Lexus would use the CR2412 for the key card, since it is thinner.
I found a Panasonic data sheet and it shows the CR2412 having a nominal capacity of 100mAh, compared to a CR2032 at 225mAh. So I'd expect the key card to need battery replacement 2-3 times more frequently. That's good info to have, imo. I'd replace the battery at least once a year, if not every six months.
If the whole key card is no wider or taller than a credit card, and only about 2 credit cards in thickness, that'd be great for me. My wallet is RFID-blocking, however. I know the Lexus key card is not RFID, but I'm not sure if it would attenuate the card signal enough to make it ineffective. Having to remove the card from my wallet would eliminate its usefulness, to me.
Do you use a RFID-blocking wallet? Do you notice any issues with the key card?
Thanks for sharing your first-hand experience.
I just grabbed her key card and it is roughly three thicknesses of a credit card, not two. The width is slightly narrower and is about 1/4 inch shorter in length.
We keep our fobs in a Faraday box when not in use but, the key card remains in her wallet at all times. I would think that since you have a shielded wallet, this might block the signal. While the fobs can be put into sleep mode, I don't think that you can do that with key card, since there are no buttons on it. It also has a cut key that is removable, much the same as the fob has.
Fundamentally is the Card Key a "no-cellular/Internet connection required" replacement for a key fob, without the buttons but perhaps providing an overall more convenient form factor?
(For example, if going for a run, easy to tuck it into a small ziploc and shove in a pocket?)
I've owned RX' for decades but not one with a Card Key.
Thanks!
I hate the Digital Key... It worked only a handful of times. Once in a while, it'll force you to download the key again to your app. Right now, it's having issues and refuses to download on the app.
I'm just glad I got the Key Card to work, so I don't have to ever use the Digital Key feature on my phone.
The Smart Access Key Card is nice to have since I always take my wallet with me to the car. It's one less thing I have to worry about. I rarely use the button on my regular smart key fob, so I don't mind the card at all.
CR batteries follow the naming scheme "CR{Diameter}{Height}" where Diameter is in mm, and Height is in 10ths of a mm.
A CR2032 would be ~20mm wide and ~3.2mm tall.
A CR2412 would be ~24mm wide and ~1.2mm tall.
It makes sense Lexus would use the CR2412 for the key card, since it is thinner.
I found a Panasonic data sheet and it shows the CR2412 having a nominal capacity of 100mAh, compared to a CR2032 at 225mAh. So I'd expect the key card to need battery replacement 2-3 times more frequently. That's good info to have, imo. I'd replace the battery at least once a year, if not every six months.
If the whole key card is no wider or taller than a credit card, and only about 2 credit cards in thickness, that'd be great for me. My wallet is RFID-blocking, however. I know the Lexus key card is not RFID, but I'm not sure if it would attenuate the card signal enough to make it ineffective. Having to remove the card from my wallet would eliminate its usefulness, to me.
Do you use a RFID-blocking wallet? Do you notice any issues with the key card?
Thanks for sharing your first-hand experience.
On my old '22 NX F Sport, I had 2 Smart Access Card Keys (one for me and one for the lady). I had to replace my battery after 18 months, but her still worked. You'll probably have to replace the battery once every 2 years.
Thanks for your feedback and being the first guinea pig for this. I am thinking about doing the same thing that you did. Since you had the programming done by a local locksmith, how exactly did he do it. Did he clone it from your existing key fob? Or did he need access to your vehicle and maybe used TechStream to do it?
Did he also cut the key insert for you, as well?
He used Tech Stream to program my key to the car. It took less than 5 minutes for the whole procedure.
I didn't have the insert key since I didn't know if this was going to work.I called my dealership after I had it programmed, and they're asking $35 for the insert key! I guess I got to look around :/
He used Tech Stream to program my key to the car. It took less than 5 minutes for the whole procedure.
I didn't have the insert key since I didn't know if this was going to work.I called my dealership after I had it programmed, and they're asking $35 for the insert key! I guess I got to look around :/
You could always take the insert key to him to have it cut. I am assuming that the blank key comes with the unprogrammed card, correct? Yeah, $35 sounds like Lexus dealer pricing, for certain. Thanks for your response above, I kinda thought that he may have used Tech Stream but, I was not really positive. I have read that these smart key cards are an EPROM and can be reprogrammed, if you can pick up a used one, as long as you can find one with the correct frequency.
I know Mamberly confirmed the second is working, but guys, do You think also the first one would work (it's cheaper and available)?
I wouldn't recommend going with the "cheaper" option. Based on my research, It uses 433.58 MHz and 434.42 MHz frequencies. Our North American RXs, uses 312.1 MHz and 314.35 MHz frequencies for our fob.
It may work, but I wouldn't want to take a chance on it.
03-10-24, 06:58 PM
