New Keys for Old Tacoma

I was down to one key for my '96 Tacoma and it was very worn so dropped by McGeorge Toyota this morning and had them make me a few new ones.
I was getting concerned my old key would be too worn to make new and may stop starting my truck.
They did a great job and the new keys sure look A LOT better.
I was surprised as they don't even need an old key as they can grind new from your VIN#.

 

Pretty simple actually, Ive been in the locksmith field for 35+ years. They cut the new keys by code. You input the cut depths and spacing into an automatic machine and it cuts the key.

 

How much per key was it?

 

what happened to your original black key? that old one there looks tired

 

That's pretty cool

 

is it possible to get them cut with the all metal key? for some reason i like those better than the one with the plastic handle

 

What about the ign switch side? The tumblers feel really loose on my truck can they repin that based off VIN?

 

Have 2 sets for my truck, original key is for the ignition, passenger door and fuel door. New key is for the drivers door. Prior owner had replaced the drivers side lock due to attempted break in with screw driver and it destroyed the core. It has not bothered me enough to key everything the same.
Still, its cool that you got a new set with just the VIN....
EDIT: should have clarified that its cool it is still available for older Toyota's.

 

Got a spare cut key at Lowes for 3 bucks.

 

Yes, new key can be cut by code, however not much chance of still having the key code for a 24 year old truck. I didn't realize they could reference the key code via the VIN#.

 

$8.77 for blank and cutting. About $5 more than I could have got a generic blank cut at HD or hardware store but my '96 is practically all original and I like having the OEM style key.

 

Yes, I believe Toyota has both, I just prefer the OEM plastic.

 

Cheap!
I might try to grab one there then, see if there is a difference in fit. At hardware store they use existing key whcih is worn down?
Wonder if it will be same price here since everything is overpriced.

 

I purchased this truck in May of 1996 as a delivery vehicle for my auto parts stores so for it's first 7 years it had 20-25 different delivery drivers driving it so original keys got lost.

That's what I find remarkable about this truck, even though it's hard first 6 years it's been basically problem-free for 414,000 miles.

 

Not sure. I'm fortunate to reside in the same area as McGeorge as they are one of the more reasonably priced Toyota parts dealers.

 

Yes, most places making keys will just put your current, worn down key into a vice and the machine just makes a copy of the worn down one. Every copy of a copy of a copy you make loses the original form.

 

Not sure about that.

 

@Kevin Jones Do you happen to know the part number for the all metal key as well?

For those who want to just copy and paste, the plastic key Toyota part number is

$11 90999-00185 Blank Key

90999-00185

 

i probably should've gotten one of those back then in '96, i know i had my eye on those every time i hit the dealer lot. oh well, guess i was happy at the time with the sharp blue metallic single cab with the fancy bench seat and the long 200 to 500 mile drives across the mid west to the next job site every other week it seemed with no A/C. CC or power windows, at least it had a rear slider window and a working toyota cassette deck to pass the road time!
it would be nice to have something more reliable now, i have no clue what is going wrong now have to throw more parts at it

 

No way! Has to stay original!