In another thread, a member writes that they have lost their last key to their 02 Prius. This is an expensive and difficult problem to fix. And one of those problems that might lead to just junking the otherwise acceptable car. Pay me now, or pay me later. Remember the old Fram oil filter commercial? A couple of my recent acquisitions have come to me with only one key. For the Prius, Ace hardware may be able to cut and program a second key--if one has an original. On my 03 the last key was a valet version, so while it worked in the doors and the ignition, it took a little tumbler magic to get it to work If I remember correctly it was $60 at Ace and it did the trick. In these days of chipped keys, it's is just a terrible idea to only have one key. 2 is better, 3 is ideal. BTW, the other car is a 2001 Porsche Boxster, on jack stands in my carport, getting a replacement motor (and a bunch of other stuff.)
Hello, Brian. Good advice. Acquiring a car with a single key should have, in the Guy's Book of Common Sense, an entry which says "Get a Second Key and Keep It Somewhere Safe & Useful." Type 4C key blanks (used in the Gen I Prius) are easily available (& inexpensive) on eBay. Getting the key cut to match whatever key you have is a couple bucks at a hardware store. Learning how to register a new Master Key to your Prius takes a bit of doing, but the process is documented multiple places in this forum. At minimum, get a non-chipped key blank cut to match the car so that the doors can be locked (or unlocked, if you happen to leave your only chipped key inside the car). A non-chipped key won't start the car. IF, in the situation you find that the ONLY key you have is a "Sub" key (one which does not allow additional keys to be registered with the vehicle; this happened to me), there are two options: (a) go to Lowes or Home Depot and have them sell you a chip clone key, and clone your key (about $50/key) (b) go through a process to replace the Immobilizer ECU and register a new Master Key with the car (I did this). More expensive, but now you can make any number of additional keys as needed for just the cost of a chipped key blank and cutting. If you choose path (b), here are some parts costs estimates: Immobilizer ECU part number is 89780-47010, with a sample price of about $300. Immobilizer ECU, 3 keys and all locks, 89709-47010, sample price of about $700. 89780-47010 - Toyota Parts Deal 89709-47010 - Toyota Parts Deal
In this era of smart keys, more buyers ought to be demanding a significant discount for missing keys. Would it be too cynical to presume that most of those missing keys go directly to ebay?
most of the missing keys end up under couches or in dresser drawers... but if you've come to a deal on a specific vehicle, the number of keys is not a deal-breaker. Just an inconvenience...
In the old days of cheap mechanical convenience, it was merely an inconvenience. With these expensive e-keys, it should be part of the overall deal.
What about taking the chip from the key and fixing it in the steering column so you can start the car with a cheap cut key?
