Programming extra Smart Keys

[tutor772]

I posted some of this information under the thread "maximum number of smart keys?" but I have an update.

A quick recap. I bought 2 smart keys for my 09 TCH from an eBay dealer named "RemoteSupermarket" (aka RemoteZ4Less). I did not realize this at the time, but the remotes were used. Two different Toyota dealers could not program the smart keys. Both dealers said the batteries were good, the smart keys were sending a signal, but neither key would accept a programming signal. I returned the smart keys to RemoteSupermarket and they sent me 2 replacement keys. RemoteSupermarket said there was "nothing wrong with the keys" and "the dealers must not have known what they were doing." I took the replacement keys to my local Toyota dealer, and they could not program them. I found another online dealer, MidwestKeyless.net, and called them. The person I talked to said that yes, they had keys in stock for the TCH, and yes, they were used. I asked about programming the keys, and the person hesitated and finally admitted that the keys were really designed for one car, but "if you know what you're doing, you can program them." The person said they had a locksmith in Florida who could program the keys. I said thanks, but no thanks.

I found a third online dealer, KeylessRide.com, and called them. The person I talked to said their keys were brand-new and there should not be a problem programming them. (The used keys sold for $100 each, and the keys from KeylessRide.com sold for $240 each. For the price difference I hoped the KeylessRide.com keys really were new.)

I took the new keys to my local Toyota dealer, and they could not program them. My local dealer programmed 2 smart keys for my 07 Prius, so I had some confidence they knew what they were doing. The service advisor said they "called Toyota" and "tech support" said the keys could be programmed by erasing the keys and the car's computer, and then reprogramming the car's computer and then reprogramming the keys. My dealer normally charges $35 to program keys, but because they had to erase the computer there would be an additional $97 charge for the programming.

After erasing the computer, they were able to program the keys. Here is what my invoice says in case anyone else runs into a similar problem:

"Clear ECU, upload info to Toyota and download new seed #, install seed # and program keys."

[spp]

All that time spent would be worth more to me than just buying them at my dealer and having them program them.

[tutor772]

Trust me, that thought crossed my mind, too!

[mspeasl]

Kind of like what I said in the original post. Don't Buy keys on line. You'll get burned like I did. You're luck that the on line dealer refunded your money. They wouldn't do it in my case and they used the same excuse that you got, but still refused.