I recently lost one of my two smartkeys for my 2005 Prius. After learning a lot about the issue from prior posts on this site, I just bought a new smartkey (with an uncut key) on ebay. Now I need to find a dealer to do the programming and the key cutting. My dealer quoted me $160, which I understand is the standard price. I also understand that one can find dealers who will do it for a lot less. Does anyone know of such a dealer in Calif.? (I'm in So. Cal., so that would be preferable, but I will likely be in the bay area in a couple weeks, so that would also work, as would Orange County and even San Diego which I get to occasionally.) Feel free to post or message me with any recommendations. Tnaks a lot.
Go to Coastaltech.com, whereby there is a section that shows you how to program your key, at all, except for the cost of the newly cut key. here is the link: http://www.coastaletech.com/carkeys.htm good luck
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(arkestra @ Aug 8 2007, 07:19 PM) [snapback]492706[/snapback]</div> Sorry you're not in Georgia. I had two keys programed for $40 each at my local toyota dealer. For a '05 with the smart key you can't program it yourself with the do-it-yourself instructions. It requires a special scan programmer from a dealer. I also purchased my new in the package smart keys on ebay. They must not have been programed before or they will not work. Good luck in Calif.
Your best bet for getting a price concession on the re-program and key cutting would be to go to the dealer that sold you the car. If you bought the car in a private party used transaction, you are pretty much out of luck. However, $160 is not too bad. I had a situation on a Volvo V50 whose key controller (the device that is inserted into a receptacle on the dash to start the car) was lost and even with the dealer giving me the replacement at their cost (I have bought something like 15 cars from the dealer's owner), I was out $225.... (I was told that retail on the unit is $300!)
Remember the manual key should NOT cost anything to cut. A good parts person can cut them on a standard machine. NO CHARGE! Yell and scream if needed. Programming the smart key is labor intensive and requires the Toyota scantool or Techstream. (Also Toyota Exclusive)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LYLUVLY @ Aug 9 2007, 12:01 AM) [snapback]492831[/snapback]</div> Better look again. That's a 'Pre-2004' style key on the CostalEtech.com website. Smart FOB's are a whole different animal. You got 3 functions in them. (1) working in the ignition slot (2) smart functions (3) remote lock/unlock functions. It's going to require the Toyota tool to program all 3 functions. sorry.
play local dealers off each other. it's worked for others. takes DH about 3 minutes at this point, someone who knows what they're doing makes good money from this job.
thanks for all your responses. i recieved the smartkey yesterday and had it programmed today for $45 (including cutting of key).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(arkestra @ Aug 14 2007, 10:01 PM) [snapback]495789[/snapback]</div> Great price. I'm on Socal and I also lost a smartkey and need to replace it. Could you tell me where you got it programmed for so cheap?