Key Replacement and Programming

I lost one of my factory keys. Wanted areplacement and didn’t want to pay the 450 for one key!
I looked for a way to do it myself.

I found this company called Tom’s Key.

https://tomskey.com/pages/how-to-program-toyota-keys-and-remotes

I watched the video and gave them a try.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BMvE9N5VYWA&feature=emb_title


I programmed two keys in fifteen minutes. Inow have 3 keys. I am storing my last factorykey so I always have it and now have 2 others.

Never lost a key in my life. Then you have a blue heeler who can randomly select a newchew toy! The key didn’t survive, but my pupwas a champ and has lost his taste for keys after passing that thing.

I really recommend this company and want to see them succeed further due to how easy and inexpensive they have made this processcompared to high dealer costs.

 

The prices of the keys themselves are comparable to what you would pay at a dealer. Renting Tom's programming gizmo is $45 versus paying $155 for a dealer to program the key(s). Is $110 a fair price for the convenience and expertise? I would say yes.

 

@ OP, after everything is all said and done, how much did it cost?

 

Nice.

years ago I just bought a spare and had it programmed. Think in total I was around $200, so good find

 

Pic of the pup?!

 

How many keys can be programmed in to the truck to work at once?

 

I thought it was 5. But I forget now.

 

Interesting. I would have guessed 4. I'd actually like the maybe try the @MESO flip fob but a little scared to rip in to my OEM keys.

So far the only key I had made was a $3 metal key to hide that will only open the door.

 

I have a 2020 Tacoma the dealer quoted me $70 for a Chip Key only and $170 for program and cutting, totaling $240.
I didn’t ask how much an electric key fob and chip combo was.

through Toms Keys I paid $50 a key and $40 for the programmer plus an $80 refundable deposit for the programmer when returned.
Totaling $140 cost after deposit refund.
It took an additional $5 per key to have them cut professionally, totaling $150!
The plastic fobs are not quite OEM quality but they are good quality. The only reason I say good quality is because they have a harder button and no Toyota emblem.

I see your point!

But for me I have mechanic and tinkering abilities, and will do things myself, if I know I capable to get great results.

Either route one takes is neither right or wrong only preference!

 

I have a 2020 Tacoma the dealer quoted me $70 for a Chip Key only and $170 for program and cutting, totaling $240.
I didn’t ask how much an electric key fob and chip combo was.

through Toms Keys I paid $50 a key and$40 for the programmer plus an $80 refundable deposit for the programmerwhen returned.
Totaling $140 cost after deposit refund.
It took an additional $5 per key to have them cut professionally, totaling $150!
The plastic fobs are not quite OEM qualitybut they are good quality. The only reason I say good quality is because they have a harder button and no Toyota emblem.

 

I believe Toyota’s are 5. Every manufacturer is different!

 

The keys you purchase from Tom’s Keys are good quality, at a great value. If you watch the Meso video several times before you attempt the process you will have a better outcome.
It’s relatively easy, it mostly takes patience and time.

 

Looga that lil dummy! What's his / her / they name?

 

His name is Chancla. Chancla translates to sandals in Spanish.
He use to eat my sandals as a puppy so they name fit! Haha

 

By way of comparison, I had two transponder (non-Remote Keyless Entry) keys made at my Toyota dealer. The cost of the keys themselves, including cutting, was $58.72 ($29.36 each). The programming, for both, was $154.95. (I understand that that's a flat fee regardless of the number of keys to be programmed.) All told, that was $106.84 per key.

The Remote Keyless Entry keys would be about $20 - 30 more.

So it may pay to shop around.

 

I did shop around! I even called the dealer I used to use in Las Vegas when I lived their. Haha needed to make sure the local dealers around me were being honest.
$240 was the lowest for a chipped key only and $450 was the highest for a key with an electric fob from local dealers.

I paid $75 dollars per finished key and they work great no issues! No one would even know unless you said something.

The lock smith that cut the keys for me said and I quote “I hate those companies they undercut everyone.”
The lock smith told me he usually charged $150 per key finished for my Tacomas key type and if I would have bought two keys from him he would have only charged $200. That would have been a good deal.

Small companies that disrupt big business and other peoples revenue streams will always catch flack and doubt. I weighed my options, took the route I wanted. I wanted to support a small company I believe will help people save money and still give them a great product to use while allowing them to learn something new.

The lock smith also stated that he made 2 keys for a Toyota Land Cruiser, programmed, cut and flashed the CPU so the Land Cruiser would accept them. Little did the lock smith know that the customer had already engaged with a dealer who tried charging the gentleman $285 a key without programming or flashing the CPU included.
The dealership called the said lock smith when the customer canceled his request and belittled the lock smith because he undercut their pricing and poached “their” customer.

My father worked for a dealership for a long time as mechanic and shops leader.
He taught me all about dealers and the way they work. Sometimes the employee culture the dealer builds is great and sometimes the employee culture built by a dealer isn’t.
I have encountered both!
I fortunately have a great relationship with the dealer I currently use!

One thing to always be said about any dealer though is they over charge for everything, especially the big name ones. They need to make huge margins to pay their large overheads.

Toms Keys is a small company that needs support and trust to grow, so they can continually help people give great products at fair prices while teaching someone a new skill to do something on their own. Not every person is going to find a deal like you at a dealer.

I respect your choice and acknowledge your opinion.

 

I wanted some spare keys just in case. I ordered a remote key and a plain generic chip key from Tom's Key. Order arrived in under a week. Just came in the mail this evening. I was able to get the programing done for both keys with little trouble. The one thing that tripped me up was the doors need to be unlocked when doing the remote and the chip program process. I tried to program the key portion and didn't realize the doors were locked from testing the remote fob part I just completed. The security light didn't come on as expected in the instructions. Unlocked and did it over and it worked perfectly. Now I just need to get Downtown to Kleppers key shop the oldest most trusted locksmith in town to have them cut this week.

 

Awesome, good to hear man!
Before I started I had to watch the instructions several times! Haha

The keys are still working great for me!
Only issue I had was the key smith miss cut one. But he replaced it.
He computer cut the first key which was perfect and the second he did old school and cut too much off somehow.

I wrote Tom’s a thank you and gave them some feedback. One thing I mentioned was they should cut the keys as well.

They replied with:
“As for the key cutting, our company now offers Key By Photo™ Key Cutting Services. Here's the link on how it works: Can You CUT a Car Key by Phone?” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RkUGSheKpL8

 

i used tom's and i programmed 2 keyless.. now i have 3 keyless and 1 valet.. no point in renting his programmer for just one... no complaint here