What is the little key do.....

Thought I would hijack this thread since the OP got his answer.

About that little key. We bought our Prius about a month ago. The dealer ordered a second key for us. It arrived yesterday in the mail. I went to the local dealer and paid 37 bucks to have it programmed however the little mechanical key was a blank and was not cut. The dealer told me the key should have been cut at the factory and now could be cut by no one.

Can anyone confirm this one way or the other. Doesn't sound right to me.

Thanks
SL

 

can't confirm or deny for you, but i dont see why someone at your local home improvement store couldn't cut it for you, especially since you have the blank.

 

Yeah I was just thinking the same thing, I will try that tonight and report back.

Thanks
SL

 

The mechanical key can be cut by anyone with good key cutting equipment. I prefer a lock shop or locksmith, since they have more experience.

Tom

 

A new Prius normally comes with 2 keyfobs with the mechanical keys already cut for that car.

Extra keyfobs available from the parts department come with uncut keys. The car has to be programmed for the new keyfob, and the mechanical key cut. $37 for programming is less than many people have paid, so that's not a ripoff. But not cutting the mechanical key is rather poor service.

A good reason to have the dealer cut the mechanical key is that they have the proper equipment to do it. I took one to my local hardware store, and the machine couldn't hold the little key properly. They botched the job, and I had to get another blank ($7) from a dealer.

The real reason to buy a cut key from a dealer is that they have a supply of blanks to waste until they make one that works...

The local hardware store is a good place to get $2 copies on ordinary Toyota key blanks. I carry one on my keychain, as it's much more convenient than taking out the keyfob one.

 

You should be able to just go to a Lowe's or Home Depot or something and get it cut.

 

Thanks guys, I went to Home Depot tonight. The guy cut the key in about 5 seconds and said no charge since I had the blank. Went out to the parking lot and it worked perfectly. Thought I would post so others might know.

Thanks again
SL