Key Fob Batteries Died (Both Fob's)

One of the Toyota dealers around here has the machine for the center cut keys...It cost them $10k, and keeps jamming, so they are sending their keys out to be cut at a locksmith. We order our keys through the online "Dealer Daily" Lexus program, and they are laser cut in Michigan, then shipped to us overnight FedEx. A cut emergency key is $100 including the overnight freight. I can't reveal our cost, but I CAN tell you that it's MUCH more than $15. (hell, just the overnight freight costs $15!)

Most dealers would rather not deal with keys at all. It's a huge headache, it's very time consuming, and requires a lot of paperwork and man hours compared to regular mechanical parts. If we were allowed to outsource all our keys to a third party vendor, we would jump at the opportunity.

 

i sit corrected. i could have sworn some people here were getting them cheap. looking at old posts, i guess it's the gen II that was cheap.

 

Anyone had a copy our center cut key made anywhere besides via a dealer? I assume it would have a normal key top of course, not like the our OEM ones that fit into the FOB. Curiuos what it cost at your local locksmith or wherever you got it done.

I understand that normally when you have your FOB/key there should be no case where you need just a key. But... I know one case where I would be glad to have this spare key in a magnet box outside the car. I always try to bring my FOB when my wife drives, so I can get in/drive, if she is not at the car. If I do not have my FOB and my wife is not around for some reason (shopping ;o), I would love to at least be able to get in to wait, read or whatever.

 

And that's pretty much all you could do. The only thing the key does is unlock the door. You need the fob (even with a dead battery) to do anything else.

 

Fully understood. Still would like a spare door only key hidden on the car if I can get it cheaply. I checked Home Depot and Ace Hardware. As suspected, they do not make these keys. At some point I'll check a locksmith. If it's under $20, I'll do it for the convenience stated above. More than$25, I probably won't bother.

 

I suppose if you have a damaged fob you could hide the metal key outside the car, and the fob with RF chip inside the car...