lost only key - 2003 Tacoma

I lost my only key on a hike yesterday. I tried retracing my steps, but could not find them. I know there are several other threads on this subject, and I am thankful for them because I was able to access the interior of my truck following suggestions in those threads. I called a dealer today and explained that I lost my only key and that I needed to have a new one cut. Parts guy said I had to bring him the truck because the key has an immobilizer. I told him that I thought this year Tacoma (2003) did not have an immobilizer. He then got a little irritated at me questioning him on this fact, and told me not to trust the Internet and that "every 2003 Toyota had an immobilizer key."

I was already factoring in the hundreds ($$$) it would cost me to get the truck towed from it's remote location, but called another dealership, and they basically just told me to bring my registration and insurance card and that I could get a new key today. I am going at lunch time to get the keys (3 of them!) made. I just wanted to let people know that you may not get the same response from different dealers.

 

He is high. There is no immobilizer. They can cut a key using the VIN. I have had it done several times.

 

Either way it shouldn't be too bad. I paid $7.xx per key made by VIN at my dealer, which really isn't bad since they're usually $4~ for a copy at the hardware store anyway

 

get 3 cut - one primary, 2nd one for home and 3rd one as a back up under the truck with a wing nut or a magnet

 

Lol...I had a key cut at the local hardware store after I bought my truck. Cost $1.50. Definitely no immobilizer. Some dealerships are shady as hell.

 

He doesn't have a key to copy. He has to go to the dealer. With that said, expect to pay around $30. Shop rates are $80-125/hr. For labor. It sucks, but dealerships are businesses and need to turn a profit just like anyone else. The tech has to bill for his time whether changing brakes or cutting a key. Time is money.

 

Yeah I saw he didn't have a key to copy. I was more commenting on the original dealership telling him he had to bring the truck to them because of the immobilizer and then getting hostile when he challenges that idea.

 

No problem. Sometimes I get worked up on how people complain about the money dealerships charge. I can do 90 percent of my own repairs, but when I have to take the truck there, I happily pay what they ask. Sorry about the thread Jack and rant.

 

exactly, I had to pay 1/4 hour ($25) from $100 hour rate plus the $4 for the key so it was $29 to get mine cut.

only bad part was having to wait my turn for a tech so I spent an hour waiting my turn

 

Cost me $28 for three keys. One with the black plastic head, one all-metal master key, and one 'valet' key. People were very nice to deal with at this dealership. Got a ride back into the woods and just got the truck home. What a relief!

 

Really? That's crazy. At my dealership the parts counter guy cuts the keys with no billable hours

 

yep, different places do different things. I tried the parts guy but this dealership makes techs cut keys, parts guys just do parts.

no other choices around here either, next dealer is 2 hours away

in truth I think they are supposed to go through the service dept to ensure they properly verify ownership of the vehicle for liability reasons. can you imagine the butt hurt from a minimum wage parts guy giving a key to the wrong person?

 

Wichita Falls Toyota dealer has no key cutter, they recommend their "contracted" locksmith who charges over $100 a key even provided with VIN number