unprogrammed key starts engine of camry 2004 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

nasoni · 09-13-2010, 06:46 PM

Hi, two days back I closed the trunk of my Camry (2004) after getting a water bottle and i realized that the key is inside the trunk. I did not have duplicate key so i went to Toyota Dealer this morning and asked for duplicate key. Upon producing all the necessary details ( VIN/ proof of ownership/ID), I was told that I will get the key which can open the doors only but will not start the car. After having that key spending just $6.58 I reached home and unlocked the trunk and got my Original Key back.
Just to verify that this duplicate key does not start the engine, I inserted the key in the ignition and tried to start the car and guess what, It started the engine with no complains. After few seconds I turned the engine off and used the Original key and it worked too as expected ..

Now i am not sure that using Duplicate key to start the engine will make any damage to my car's engine/computer at any point..

Has any one any Idea or comments ?

profuse007 · 09-13-2010, 07:38 PM

was the unprogrammed key linked onto the same key chain?

CamrySExxx · 09-13-2010, 07:39 PM

im going to assume your camry is a base model? LE ?

It sounds like you dont have the engine immobilizer.

If it starts , your fine, it wont damage anything if you use it.

IF you DID have the engine immobilizer, the car would just crank and crank but it wouldnt start. That's what the immobilizer does, it prevents the car from actually starting. So it prevents it from getting started, but onec its started the immobilizer cant do anythign to prevent the car from getting stolen etc.

here is a good example

You Tube

So pretty much if the new key starts the car, its fine.

***arabianobsession*** · 09-14-2010, 09:14 AM

Unless the Camry is like other cars out there and will just shut off the fuel pump after a few minutes when it doesn't detect the programmed key. That way, if someone steals your car, they'll make it about a block or two before it just dies.

profuse007 · 09-14-2010, 10:17 AM

^Never seen cars like that and I have looked at quite a few main relay diagrams of toyotas. I am a mobile security/remote start installer.

***arabianobsession*** · 09-14-2010, 10:56 AM

Oh well pretty much every GM/Ford car out there has that feature now....my 2004 Mustang had that feature......it all started with Cadillac about 20 years ago when they started putting chips in their keys. If you didn't have a chip in the key the car would start, yes, but only make it about a block or two before the computer shut off the fuel pump. I am very familiar with GM/Ford in that respect and wasn't sure if Toyota would do something similar. They should.....

94PrizmDD · 09-14-2010, 12:53 PM

What a deal $.6.58 ! I remember when i lost my keys to my prizm the dealer charged me $75 for a duplicate. So even a key just to open all the doors at the price is great lol. You must have a honest dealer. Drive the car around your block, see if it turns only way to find out.

CamrySExxx · 09-14-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

Oh well pretty much every GM/Ford car out there has that feature now....my 2004 Mustang had that feature......it all started with Cadillac about 20 years ago when they started putting chips in their keys. If you didn't have a chip in the key the car would start, yes, but only make it about a block or two before the computer shut off the fuel pump. I am very familiar with GM/Ford in that respect and wasn't sure if Toyota would do something similar. They should.....

on star?

and its just a basic engine immobilizer, like i said once you get it started, your good to go.

***arabianobsession*** · 09-14-2010, 01:29 PM

It has nothing to do with onstar....just the computer senses there isn't a chip in the key and shuts off the fuel pump. Like I said before I didn't know if Toyota had that in all their cars or not.

***bandit*** · 09-14-2010, 01:42 PM

Gen 5's dont have chips in their keys. So if you get a blank key cut, it will start the engine. A friend bought a flip key for his Gen 5 SE, went to a store to get cut and also got a blank house key cut for his car. Both started the car without problems.

profuse007 · 09-14-2010, 03:17 PM

late 1990, most upper trim package toyota have chip in their keys. I have installed remote start on a lot of them. We used to own an 02 V6 LE and it does it have it. It also had remote start w/ a bypass.

nasoni · 09-14-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

im going to assume your camry is a base model? LE ?

It sounds like you dont have the engine immobilizer.

If it starts , your fine, it wont damage anything if you use it.

IF you DID have the engine immobilizer, the car would just crank and crank but it wouldnt start. That's what the immobilizer does, it prevents the car from actually starting. So it prevents it from getting started, but onec its started the immobilizer cant do anythign to prevent the car from getting stolen etc.

here is a good example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaYbcC8yJdo

So pretty much if the new key starts the car, its fine.

Thanks for the reply ! Yes it's Camry LE ..

Mike Gerber · 09-14-2010, 05:49 PM

"late 1990, most upper trim package toyota have chip in their keys."

^ I believe what profuse007 is talking about are the generation 4, 5 and 6 XLE models, which come from the factory with an alarm system and an imolbilizer. They have a chip in those keys. I have owned a 98 XLE and currently own an 07 XLE. Both cars had alarms and imobilizers with keys that had a chip in them.

Mike

CamrySExxx · 09-15-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

Gen 5's dont have chips in their keys. So if you get a blank key cut, it will start the engine. A friend bought a flip key for his Gen 5 SE, went to a store to get cut and also got a blank house key cut for his car. Both started the car without problems.

Some do , some dont.

our gen5 does.