Keyless Entry & Keys

New Here. Been reading threads and enjoying reviews. I've owned multiple Toyotas through out the years and enjoyed them all. Got my truck used in pristine condition and love my truck. Does anyone know if there is a place to get keys or remotes besides the dealer?

Thank you for your help!

 

Chipped keys / Remotes - ebay is a good starting point.

Unchipped keys - most any hardware store, Lowes, Ace, Home Depot, Walmart ...

 

don't you get like 2 keys with remote, and valet key when you buy it new, no?

 

You should get two standard and one valet key from the dealer, at least for a Toyota Certified used vehicle. Not sure about non-certified cars.

I bought a certified used Taco that came with three keys, but only one of them worked. The dealer provided two more keys and programmed them for free. The sales manager was a bit miffed, probably because I negotiated a pretty good deal and the cost of the keys ate into their margin. They should have tested the keys during the certification process! I wasn't interested in the valet key, so I have three standard keys. No remotes for my base model truck, but you should get two of them.

If you have to buy them, immobilizer-chipped keys are very expensive ($200+) at the dealer, and they can take quite a while to program into the ECU. I would ask the dealer about the labor charge for programming keys bought from ebay. The total cost may not be much different than buying at the Toyota parts counter, and you don't eat the cost of keys that don't work.

Mike

 

Sure you do but if you notice the OP says he got his truck in "pristine USED condition" so maybe he didn't and that just might be the reason for him asking.

 

i have had a 2010 and now a 2013 ive never had/ heard of tacomas coming with valet keys

 

Maybe by valet, they meant the white plastic one for your wallet?

 

If you have base model truck then what needed programming? There is nothing but plain ass key for my SR5 with no keyless entry.

 

mine is 2010 I think I got a "third" key which is smaller than the other two. I'll have to look for it just curious now.

 

My brand new 2013 only came with 2 keys and 2 remotes, no valet key of any kind.

 

They used too. They no longer come with Valet keys as they were useless anyway.

 

No. It was a key with a gray head vice the black one.

 

My 2011 came with two keys with fobs and a valet key. valet key is nothing but an ignition key will not lock door or unlock door.

 

The key contains an immobilizer chip which communicates with the ECU. Unprogrammed keys can open the doors, but not start the engine.

Mike

 

My 2011 came with two Black keys, Two remotes, and one gray "valet" key. It was basically another key for the truck. My 2013 only came with the two black keys and two remotes. the dealer said that 2012+ only has the two black keys because there was no lock on the glovebox or bed...Apparently, Toyota wanted to save money...Go figure...

 

Not base models. I made a copy of my key at the hardware store, it starts the truck just fine. No chip in it, just a blank metal key. Truck is a 2011. But op has a sport with keyless entry so his probably does have the chip.

 

That's what I was thinking when people said valet. Valet? There are no locks on glovebox, console or trunk. WTF?

This....no chip in my keys either. Immobilizer on mine is the unfreezable, unshootable, unsawable, unpickable clutch pedal club lock that goes really great with the steering wheel lock club deal.

 

I'm confused now. I waited for more than an hour for the service department to "program" two extra keys for my 2010, and they said they had difficulty doing it. I have an appointment next week to have the TSB rear spring upgrade installed. I'll get to the bottom of it, for sure.

Mike

 

I bought a spare remote on Amazon. I think the actual seller was remotesremotes.com. $40 and it works great!

 

Maybe that is why they couldn't program the keys. Just because you have a keyless entry fob doesn't mean the keys are chipped. My 2012 has keyless entry, but does not have chipped keys or the Immobilizer.