What's the best way to find duplicate keys?

First I would go to the toyota dealer and demand the other key that they are holding. If the vehicle has only had 10,000 km it was probably a lease. For leases, some dealers give the leasee a key and keep the other. For the car to be returned, they almost definitely had both keys. The factories always distribute two keys. for only 10,000km there should be still a warranty. If they don't help contact and complain to toyota head office.

Unfortunately you have answered your own question. The smart keys are manufactured at the factory and are contracted to the dealers to distribute. There should be no other source of this key. The original owner should have been distributed 2 keys so either the original owner has the key or the dealer has the other key. (If it was leased, the dealer almost definitely have a second key and is trying to rip you off).

If the second key was lost by the original owner, to get a new key, you will be at the mercy of the dealers. The factories give out a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) which is typically a mark up of 400 TO 1000%!!! Most dealers will try to sell at this price since all the markup goes to them. The best way to get a fair price is to either shop around as you have started or get an employee to use their discount.

Some unscrupulous dealers have been known to keep the other key for easy reposession of vehicles after missed payments, or even sell the key to auto thieves.

Exactly - I got two smart keys with my Solara. Somebody has your other key.

That sounds like the going rate on this side of the pond, however, if I was buying the car from them, a spare key would be a minimum requirement. My advice would be to go and ask less politely, at a busy period.

i had the same problem with my 04 ford taurus, they had one good key and one with a broken chip-they said it would cost 200 to repair the chip-i sayed screw that at the time but now ive got two cars and it would suck if my wife took the key to both cars in a rush and didnt leave me a key. if anyone knows a better way to get a chip it would help

aparodox2003@yahoo.com

There are many sources for aftermarket keys. Your best choice would be to go to a locksmith who should be able to make the key for you. He is the same person who makes keys for the dealers who do not want to pay the high cost from the factory. On the other hand,if you bought the car from a reputable dealer he should have given you a second key.

Well cbob; Fist off must tell you that if you don't think its fair; you are correct. You could go about finding answer one of two ways. 1. Keep up your effort to find a civil answer to something that only boils down to the fact that the dealer has more money than you, or. Covertley trick them in to getting your way. ( This way I am sure is in no way endorsed by CR4 but it is legal non-the-less.... Take the following steps. 1. Write a letter to the dealers service center and the Toyota from anyone that isn't you. Explain to them that you are considering buying a vehicle from a local Toyota dealer for your mother and you don't understand what it is meant by a 'Smart key'? What if she losses it?, can she ever get another?' How do I know if someone else doesn't have one if I decide to go withe a more expensive but used Toyota?" Then end it by saying, I'm going out of town for two weeks so I may not be able to be reached so could you please respond by either voice mail or e-mail to....create a new hotmail address and send it to them. One day later resend it from that made-up address and request a confirmation of receipt as you are really under the gun to get that car by the end of the week. Also say, If I could get another key made up for myslf, how much would it cost or would that just be included as a buying insentive. As you understand I would really need my mom to have a spare and one for here for emergencies." Overall...You build the trap. Let them set the policy. When you get names and thing resent to you, ( actually the made up hot mail and name ).....The answer to your first question upon presenting them with there own noose, is: It costs NOTHING! You watch, they will want to sell the next car, Toyota that is, before they will even think that it is a set-up. Ta-Da! Let us know please anony6664

Step 1: Ask politely for another key. As a standard requirement for selling a car would be to furnish two keys.

Step 2; Do you have a Small Claims Tribunal? or Fair Trading Commission? How about a consumer ombudsman? If you threaten them with a legal recourse they will probably come up with the goods.

Contact one of these. Ask them what you are legally able to do. Do your homework. Then threaten them that one of these will be contacting them within the week. Be convincing (take a friend for moral backup, less likely to intimate you if there are witnesses). They know that even if they win it might cost them a lot of money. Do you know any people in a newspaper.? We have a dodgy TV show in Australia called "Today Tonight" thay would love this story. I can just read the headlines now. "Small battler takes on motoring Goliath"

Priceless

If not, Sue them. I'm sure Judge Judy would tear them a new one.

Good Luck

Hi geomech. Two years ago I bought a SAAB and was given only one key, so I refused to take the car and asked for my money back. This request was ignored, so I went to my local trading standard office and told them, they threatened to sue the company if they did not comply with my wishes. The SAAB dealer then offered me two sets of keys along with my vehicle, needless to say I accepted their offer. Case closed. Spencer.

Well Done. Car Dealers are just a rung up the evolutionary scale from lawyers and Members of Parliament.

Good on you. That's one for the team.

I have not checked this out, but maybe buying a new lock/ignition set would be cost worthy. Try some after market type places that sell OEM parts.

Your either, filthy rich and don't mind throwing money back to a dealer to get something that your entiteled to or your just plain stupid. I don't say this to be ugly, I could have used the word ignorant, but some people just are so gullible that they will take for granted whatever is said to them without questioning them. You should go back to the dealer and DEMAND them get you a key or tell them to keep the car, make a scene when there's buyers around to let them know how this dealers treating a customer. If in fact you are filthy rich give that car with one key to charity and go buy you a new car with two key's, but if your really stupid they will probably try to get one over on you again.

Have you tried Google or Froogle for a source of a smart key?

I bought a used leases car about a year ago and they gave me one key. I asked for a second key and aside from the outrageously long time it took them to "program" the key, they gave me a second key for free. That's because all cars come with two keys. Especially outrageously costly chip keys.

If you lost the key, it would be a different story. You would have to pay the man to get a new one. If car manufacturers want to sell cars that require sophisticated keys, they should be willing to provide two of them to any buyer. Your dealer is trying to screw you. I agree with other posts that you go back and get a second key for free. They owe you two keys, especially if this is necessary to even start the car, regardless of how you enter the vehicle.

One last thought, if I were to loose my key, could I get one made with just the key, without the chip. You shouldn't have to click a code to unlock a car. You should be able put the key in the key hole and turn.

Well, to start with, the dealers are doing nothing more than taking you to the cleaners.

Well equipped locksmiths have aftermarket, programmable key blanks for practically every car sold in the US, and they have the electronic programmers to duplicate them. There's a local locksmith around here who makes them for $25 or less.

$25? Thats about £12.63, not bad, it costs about £4 for an ordinary key here.

I don't know exactly wher you are, but I have gone to a locksmith place named Suburban Locks and they make a smart key for me for about $23 whereas the dealer wants to charge me $40. You may want to check with a locksmith place. Keep in mind through, if the dealer charges you $200 to $400 for a key, chances are the locksmith would not stock such a blank, too expensive for them.

MidniteFighter

I come back from the future, with information for those who may read this later in a site search:

1. The dealer does not work on a 400% markup. The "smartkey" is nomenclature for a keyless start. The immobilizer chip is embedded into a remote/fob/prox unit, which acts as an amplifier to get the RFID signal back to the antenna coil in the dash, behind the START button or knob ( Nissan/Infiniti used a knob on some models ). smartentry is a Toyota designation for car recognizing the fob/prox/remote as you approach it, and allows the door to unlock merely by grasping the handle and pressing a small button in the handle.

2. The Prox/Remote/Fob thingie is only available as an OEM component, no aftermarket as far as I know. Some ignitions can work with a traditional looking key with RFID chip in it, by passing the key head across the antenna spot ( near the START pushbutton ). This varies by vehicle year make and model

3. The Price we will be charging, in about 5 years, in 2012 for the 2007 Camry will be 390.00 USD This includes programming to the vehicle.

Locksmiths have been at the forefront of transponder technology in the US since 1996, when the first systems hit the road on this side of the pond. European locksmiths were already old hands at this, since the technology was deployed there years earlier.

I recommend negotiating 4 complete keys and remotes, or prox/remotes ( based on what the car is equipped with ) as a contingency to the purchase.

In most of the US, with exception if some states have statutes requiring dealers deliver with a minimum of two key type devices; used cars are bought "as-is" and without buyer's remorse insurance.

Personally, I would like to see dealer's associations set a baseline standard to supply the car with keys/remotes as the car was originally equipped.

And, now.,..... Back To The Future!