I've searched the forums on this issue several times. This is a long story. A little background. I have a 1998 sc400. (with the transponder/engine immobilizer type key with built-in remote) I have had only one master key and nothing else since I bought it in late 04.

I tried to order keys from lexus and could not.
Lexus does not have my keycode on file in their VIN database, I checked this summer when my keys got locked in the car. The only way to get the keycode is from the right passenger doorlock cylinder, and I could not see the code by just taking the inner shell of the door off, it looks like the lock assembly would have to be taken apart to see the code, and so I have been very careful with my key since then. (I got my key back out of the trunk thanks to this forum).

My car was vandalized on new years eve. It has been in the local toyota body shop for 3 weeks getting some panels refinished, a new rear bumper cover, etc.. and a lot of the back end of the car had to be taken apart. I know they had to take out the tail lamps and other things, and I remember them saying they would also have to take out the rear side windows to do the painting (roof/rear quarters).

When I dropped my car off, I specifically told the guy I had been working with to make a note that this is the only key I have for this car and that the car will not start if it is lost or damaged and the process to get it going again is much more complicated than just replacing the key, so they need to be extra careful with it. He wrote something down and said okay.

Today he called me and told me my car will be done tomorrow, and that they are still putting it together, but it will not start. He asked me if I had ever had any trouble starting the car before. (Of course not.)

He said they have swapped batteries and that the key will not start the car (said the steering wheel is not moving into place, suggesting the transponder chip has been damaged!?), nor will the key's remote work anymore, which is a seperate issue entirely, suggesting that they have somehow damaged the key severely?!

I started to panic and tried to explain the ramifications of the situation to the guy on the phone but he assured me that they had a lexus tech coming out to look at it and would have it starting by tomorrow so I can pick it up. I am very skeptical of this.

Does anyone know if there is anything they could have done wrong in taking the car apart or putting it back together/still being partially disassembled which could cause this? I can't think of anything which would cause the transponder AND the remote to not function or recognize the key, which makes me think they damaged the key itself.

In that event, has anyone ever actually broken the transponder on a master key by submerging it in water, or abusing it in some other way? How?

I don't want to think the worst but right now i am pretty pissed off because I know that unless there is someone nearby who can reflash the ECU, the car will need a new ECU?! Assuming the bodyshop broke my master key, the locksmith would also need a new master key, cut from my VIN (read: key code). Now, remember that lexus dosen't have my keycode on file, so they would have to take apart my door to get the code off of the lock cylinder to order one, which further complicates the issue.

I refuse to pay the bodyshop for anything until they get this fixed AND pay for it.

If anyone has experience with these types of problems I'd appreciate any advice or knowledge you have. I'm in the Kansas City area. I have already been out of a car 3 weeks and 500$ deductible thanks to some jerk who vandalized it. Now I am afraid this issue may take even longer to fix.

 

did u change the battery in the key itself??

 

Oh, to clarify, what the guy said was that they swapped car batteries, and that the car has power.. headlights, etc.. but that the remote is not working and the key will not start the car or make the steering wheel move into position.

I have not been able to physically see the car or look at anything yet. It's possible for the remote battery to die on its own of course, but not so for the passive transponder chip. The indication that the key is not functioning in either way is what makes me think it may be ruined.

 

Well,
If your 1 and only transponder/immobilizer key is bad or ruined, then your S O L....You have 2 choices on what to do....

- Purchase a whole new ECU computer with 2 new master keys(required by the dealership), then have them program the new keys to your new ECU
or
- Extract the ECU that is currently in your car and send it out so that the factory can re-flash it for you. You will also be required to purchase 2 new master keys. Once the ECU returns, then the tech can program the new keys accordingly. This process costs much less, but your car will be down at least a week while the ECU is out.

I deal with this issue from time to time. Very similar to people who have lost all of their keys or for people who want new master keys programmed IF they only have a sub(valet) key. I have always stressed the urgency to my clients who have purchased pre-owned Lexus vehicles that are supplied with only one key to buy another key, simply for this reason. And if it requires for you to have a tech remove the lock cylinder to find out what the code is, then it will pay off when you have rainy days like these. The cost now to do so, would be justified right away in my honest opinion...

*Note* There are certain Lexus models and years that qualify for the Immoblizer Reset Process. The dealer is able to reset everything at the dealer for a small charge. Obviously the lifesaver if your car qualifies. And I doubt the SC400 qualifies, but I would have to check for sure.


Then again,
He may be lying to you to buy more time with the car...who knows....? My car has been in the body shop for 2 months so far as well...
or that he may have broken plastic key housing completely off the metal stick itself. I have seen people who can't afford a new key, stick the metal part into the ignition cylinder and start the vehicle while holding the transponder underneath it(Ghetto,I know)....if that is the scenario, then all you would have to do is order the key and the housing(minus the chip) for like $75 bucks and then just swap the guts...if it's available for your car of course.

I would suggest checking out the situation in person first...it's a good thing that the Toyota dealer can work closely together to solve your problem...hope everything works out...Good Luck bro

 

send me your ecu, and master key. i will have the ecu reflashed, and a new master key made for your car.

price will be 400 shipped back to you. i have a local guy that has made many keys and flashed ecus for me.

dealer will charge over 2k for this.

 

Yup,
there is your hook up dude!

Props to Aliga!

 

Thanks for the detailed replies sc400dude and aliga. I know lexus will cover the cost of the ecu part 1 time in the life of the vehicle if you buy 2 keys and pay labor to install it.
The problem with just cutting a new key from mine and reflashing would be that I would still not be able to order keys from lexus and wouldn't know my key code. I suppose if you cut two copies that would work since i'd have a backup, but hopefully I won't have to do either:

Today they told me that they somehow blew the alternator fuse and that's what it was. (I have not been able to go over in person yet as it's on the other side of town and i'm busy with school.) Supposedly I'm getting the car back later today when the fuse comes in. I'll be pretty relieved if so.

However, that dosen't explain why the keyless entry was not working. Does anyone know where the antenna for the keyless entry on the SC400 is? Maybe they disconnected it and did not reconnect it or otherwise messed it up.

Also, I'm still skeptical. Part of me still thinks it is the key and they blew that fuse trying to give the car "more" juice or something stupid. Or they are just buying time as sc400guy suggested. They said the car had electricity but wouldn't start/recognize the key, nor would the key remote buttons work. Shouldn't the car still have started, and then just died when it drained the battery?

I told the guy I was afraid they damaged the key and the car would need an ecu, but he said they've had to do that before and acted like this wasn't that at all. It dosen't really make sense though..

If the car had battery juice I don't see how a fuse could cause that behavior unless it has to do with the way the car is wired. Why/how did they blow the alternator fuse? Could that potentially damage parts of my electrical system? I realize that my battery was probably discharged from having the doors open while they were working on it, and would need to be jumped, but??

I'll let you know what happens.

 

I know lexus will cover the cost of the ecu part 1 time in the life of the vehicle if you buy 2 keys and pay labor to install it.



that is still not cheap, will cost you over 1k.

 

Yeah I have seen a lot of quotes at $500-700 but with the added labor to get the code from the passenger lock cylinder, it might be $1k. The most I would pay of that is the $300 for the second key, since technically the bodyshop would only need to pay the cost to replace the 1 key.

If for some reason I were to have to pay it all myself, your service would make sense. Hopefully it's not my key, if not i'm getting my keycode at the next service so i can order a second master.

 

i dont need the code, send me your current key, and that should be it. keep me posted.

 

You wont find a better solution or price than what Gazi has to offer. You wont find a better person to deal with. I have had the "only one key" problem for some time. I know just where to go.


gadgetSC

 

It WAS only the fusible link. I picked up the car today, and everything is fine. That guy did a really horrible job of describing the problem. I think he told me everything without telling me the order it happened in. I could have told him it wasn't the immobilizer the first day had I seen what happened! Want to know the funny thing? They charged me for the part! (only 15$ but still, it was their mistake) I didn't realize it until later when i read the itemized reciept haha.

I'm not sure how they managed to blow that just recharging my battery, but the car is better than ever! Brand new rear bumper cover and the paint matches perfectly (hard for diamond pearl white) and is beautiful!

However, someone did do something else wrong. You know the plastic clips behind the rear seatbacks that the seatbelts run through? They put the seatback in without reseating them so they are loose at the moment. They also left a twist in one of the belts when bolting it back down, so it's not laying flat. Of course, i can fix these things in 20 minutes so that's okay i guess.

That said, I'll definately either be having that lock cylinder looked at so i can order a spare master or I'll have a locksmith cut a copy for me from a blank master.
I think I've learned my lesson about the master keys! Thanks for all the support! What a relief.

 

Gazi. This sounds kind of improbable but I'm going to ask. Can you flash the ecu and create master keys w/ just the valet? My friend only has the valet key now. I think Lexus quoted him $1500 or something to do the job. The alternative, of course, is for him just to get copies of his valet key made.

 

get me the ecu, and the pass door lock cylinder, and i can get it done for you.

 

Valet keys don't allow key duplication,this funtion is, so that the porter cannot duplicate your key,for duplication puposes you must have a master key,reflashing the ECM refreshes the memory to activate new master keys,I do it for older " 98-01" lexus and toyota vehicles.