[Swordmaker]

It looks as if the real inexpensive solution to her problem is to buy some keys off eBay, have them cut and then find some sophisticated car thieves to reprogram her computer in situ . . . something the car dealers cannot do.

[snowsislander]

I personally am willing to make the tradeoff here: I think that security is better with the key practices questioned here than the old systems where it is completely trivial for a thief armed with no more than a screwdriver and no special knowledge can steal a car in seconds.

No security system is perfect; what you are trying to do in each case is make more expensive in time and effort for a thief so that he will go and do something else that takes less effort. As long as cars with much lower security are out there, he will often go for those.

[kingu]

This is where one learns the true stripes of their dealer, and why it is really critical to choose a good dealer, not the best price. I’ve seen a lot of dealers go out of their way for their customers, especially when they know that someone’s going to be coming back to them in the future.

As for the key prices, anyone care to bet how long it is before auto insurance decides to skip covering them?

[AlaskaErik]

This has all the makings of an urban myth. But then I did a little research and found out that some cars can cost sveral thousand dollars to reprogram.

[TheSpottedOwl]

We’ve run into a problem with missing car keys. Someone, and we have a damn good idea who, ripped off some tools from our garage. Our garage is not attached to the house, but a little way down the hill. Besides the tools, keys were left in the ignition of a ‘72 LeMans w/ GTO package that my bf is slowly restoring. The keys are gone. A friend of ours has a metal detector, and if we ever remember, we’re going to ask to borrow it, just in case Mr. Tweaker simply tossed the keys into the brush.

My bf estimates a cost of around 100.00 bucks to fix this little problem. In the meantime, we have added padlocks to the front and back garage doors. We also seem to be missing an ice chest, but the boys probably were too lazy to do a thorough search.

Good on that Toyota dealership, btw.

[deport]

A high-tech keyless entry and engine start system
is standard on Infiniti's M sedans. The Infiniti key fob,
shown here, doesn't include the usual mechanical key.

Street Keys.. also an option?

[goldstategop]

Modern cars are designed with keys that match the car's computer code. That means if you forget your keys inside the car, a locksmith can't easily gain entry to the car. Ditto if you lose 'em. They've cut down on car theft but they can inconvenience motorists.

[NonValueAdded]

If you spend that much money for a car and then complain about the $1,000 or so to replace a key, all I can scratch up for you is a Boo; seems like neither one of us can afford the Hoo.

[GoldCountryRedneck]

S.O.P. for years here has been, after purchase and oooing and ahhhhing, to hide a spare key in a magnetic case somewhere in a chassis crevice.

Has saved me some real headaches and expense....

[gcruse]

“Less sophisticated thieves can simply put the vehicle on a flatbed truck and haul it Off.”

If you ask me, a thief with a flatbed and the means to get a locked car up onto it is pretty damned sohphisticated.

[Little Ray]

This is why I like LOW TECH keys.

[stlnative]

In most cases spare keys are not that expensive and yes it is a very smart idea to get at spare (3rd) smart key cut and programmed at your dealer as soon as you can.

My husband and I both own Ford trucks (2000 and 2002)

We had spare smart keys made for both our trucks because we learned early on about the dealer needing a original factory key to cut and program a spare from. (put one original factory smart key in a safe place and never let yourself get down to just “one” original factory key.)

Also never close the deal on a used auto until you find out if the key or keys that come with it are original factory smart keys. If there is only one smart key that comes with the “used” car make sure it is a factory original and have the auto dealer make another one at their cost before signing the papers. Then take the original factory key and put in a safe place and drive on the newly cut spare smart key only. (I would never buy a used auto that did not come with at least 1 original factory smart key because you cannot get spares made from a non factory original key). In most cases the dealer will want both original factory keys to program the 3rd spare key from. Call your dealer ahead of time to find out if you need to bring in both original factory smart keys to get a spare smart key cut and programmed.

I think each spare Ford smart key we bought cost about $28.00 at the dealers, but each dealer charges different depending on the make and year of the auto.

The original factory Ford keys we have have a semi soft rubber key head.
The spares we had made (Ford Dealer) have a boxy hard plastic key head on them. So it is easy to tell which is an original and which is a after market spare.

[rawhide]

I do not know where your friend lives, but there are businesses that will come out to your place and make a new key for you, even if you do not have any keys, and do it all in one day, without removing the computer. Have your friend call around. See this link I found by searching on the internet, and see what they say about Lexus replacement keys:

link

Lexus & Toyota When you bought your vehicle, did it only come with 1 key and was it a valet key? Did you loose your keys or was it stolen? If you answered yes to the above questions. Don't worry! We can help. We can Replace lost keys, Re-flash ECU's and Immobilizer Boxes on-site at the vehicle to accept new keys without replacing the ECU (Engine Control Unit). We don't pull out your ECU or immobilizer box and make you wait days to drive again. Everything will be done on the same day.

[television is just wrong]

gone are the days my ‘64 VW convertible I was young and always losing the keys or locking them in my car. The AAA, would come out slim jim it open, and on my way I went. $1.00 for a new key. Insanity. How the heck are we supposed to survive.

[Spktyr]

One of the first things I do when I get a new or new-to-me car is to have two duplicate key (sets) made. This forestalls the problem quite nicely.