LS400 Remote Key Replacement

[ajchetcuti]

Evening fellow LS'ers!

Some time ago I posted about keys for the LS and if I could get a replacement remote key somehow and it's been a bit of a saga but I DID IT!! I thought you'd be interested to know and tell me I went too far to get there... lol

My car came with 2 keys, the valet key and the skeleton key in the card. Unfortunately the master and remote were lost along with the service book when the last owner passed away (the car was laid up in a garage for 7 years). 

1. I initially tried local locksmiths and even the AA to try source a remote key to link up and of course they couldn't. I didn't know at this point about the receiver in the boot and the paired chip but neither did they. 
2. I managed to get a blank Lexus master key from the USA and brought it back and had it cut at a local auto locksmith. I was slightly happier at this point being able to get into the boot without the interior button.
3. A donor car arrived for some bits and bobs I needed for my car and I was amazed that it came with a remote key and all was working; so I reached out and got some advice from (steve2006 - what a guy). I looked into if I could swap the key blade as it would leave me with one complete key. This isn't possible as the blade is set into the plastic and it would mean absolutely destroying it to even start. Coding the chip in the car to the key is also not possible and swapping all the locks etc didn't seem wise as they were iffy and worn on the donor. I tracked down the part numbers with Steve's help for the remote key sets and found both 1, 2 & 3 key sets with transponder. Lexus Chester point blank said it was very doubtful I'd get one but there was confusion about pre-cut/blank sets with a suffix to the part number and also and if the receiving chip was definitely part of the set. The dealer prices didn't seem too horrific as Amayama were looking to be several hundred before shipping and import duty. Lexus Stoke seemed to be able to supply it and at a cheaper price to Chester, so I ordered. I called 3 weeks later as I had heard nothing. They looked into it and nobody placed an order, they shouldn't have without prepayment anyway and actually they couldn't get the part (poor service). At this point I was giving up... In the end I swapped over the donor car chip into my boot and then used 2 keys for unlocking and then starting the car. I know the remote distance is pants but I wanted the car to have all it's features working and be complete!
4. I left it for a bit longer and used the 2 keys until I went back searching on eBay. I was always searching for LS but one of the similar items was a key for a GS300 95-96 which there was a decent stock of. I compared the photo in detail and it looked identical, the dealer was kind enough to open it up and send photos and the inside also looked identical so I ordered at £130 delivered. 
5. The key arrived and I took it apart, yes it was going to work!! Started by pulling out the cover plate with brute force as it's glued in, removing the circuit board after breaking the solder link to the key blade. Mock fitted the circuit board from the donor car and everything lined up, took the blade to Timpson's for cutting which was a big mistake. Timpson's don't guarantee their work if they don't provide the key. I stressed to the guy to make sure he thought he could do it and he said he could, he couldn't and he cut straight through the blade... £130 down the drain. 
6. I remembered that when I had the master key cut the shop had a proper laser guided machine and they didn't have an issue with me supplying the key or cutting it. So I ordered another key from the USA and waited another few weeks. The local locksmith had no issue cutting the blade, the machine even read back the code from the key card after it had measured up from the key; which I find fascinating. I should have gone back here initially and have now lost trust in Timpson's antiquated machinery now. It was also half the price. 
7. Bought myself a soldering Iron and had a practice, soldered the wire connection to the key blade and put everything back together. 
8. Patted myself on the back for the fact it worked on first press!!! I have gone from a valet key and the card to a remote master, master, valet, skeleton and two generic keys I had cut from the master as emergency spares. I'm glad I kept persevering with it, some things for the LS400 are difficult to get hold of but it proves if you keep at it, you can find a solution!

 

[ajchetcuti]

Feast your eyes... 🤪🤣

[rich1068]

What a tale. But what a result!

I'm in a similar situation. I have the master key but nothing else and I'm just starting on my spare + transmitter journey!

[Farqui]

Good luck Richard...

[rich1068]

Sounds ominous...

[cruisermark]

Good result!

So are you saying that a GS uses a similar key i.e with the button on the side of the key?

[runsgrateasanut]

That has to be dedication to the Marque. Trophy accordingly awarded

[Cotswold Pete]

One comment in Timpsons,  they are capable of doing a good job, but choose your Timpsons with care..

Had a colleague who used to work for them, and he said the high street stores generally have older cutting gear than the Supermarket ones.

I have had 2 LS keys cut at Tesco in Stroud, no problems (even handing over just the metal stub itself).  One cut at Cirencester high street was (and is) iffy, and the chap at the Sroud High Street branch said Tesco option 1 mile away was better.

Sounds like some branches have gorillas doing the cutting from ajchetcuti experience!!!!

[gkkes]

I was in a similar situation with keys.

I learned that there are 2 length blanks available.
I bought a number of old Lexus keys from eBay.
I also learned that my W Reg 2000 LS400 required the transmitter pack with triangular indent.
These are readily available on eBay... This one is currently under £20
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-Lexus-gs300-is200-3-button-1512v-3-button-Remote-Key-working-part/402441486730

Once the key is cut, all that is required is the "pedal dance" outlined in many places on this forum.

I managed to lock my keys in the boot last year whilst working in Scotland. After removing a wet jacket and leggings I closed the boot lid immediately realising what I'd done!
I tried calling the wife and getting her to operate the spare key in Hampshire, whilst holding the phone in various places along the windscreen - no luck!

The AA man spent an hour trying to access the car, and once calling a colleague for advice, took the advice and gave up.
My saviour was by way of a local auto locksmith. On the Monday morning he retrieved the key code from Lexus Central (I was able to confirm it's pedigree and date of registration)
He arrived in the muddy field with a blank, typed in the code to his automated key cutter and I was able to gain access to the boot and my regular key set from the wet coat. Alarms blazing.
Charge was £86 which I didn't think was extortionate.

[BigBoomer]

The 430 beeps at you if you try to lock your smartkey in the boot.
You can still open the boot with the button and retrieve the key.
I found out by doing just that, then read up on it in the Owners Manual. 😄

[ajchetcuti]

Good result!
So are you saying that a GS uses a similar key i.e with the button on the side of the key?

Yep! The only difference was that the internal cover over the PCB is sealed in place compared to the key I had and it's a pain to get it off. Required snapping and gouging at with sharp little precision screwdrivers!

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

[ambermarine]

I locked my keys in the boot in a similar fashion in Devon last year and the Green flag local garage came and said he would struggle getting in the car.

He used two inflatable rubber cushions on the top door edge in alternate sequence until there was enough room to insert a wire to catch the drivers door internal handle it took about ten minutes and there was no damage to paint or the mechanisms.

Since that unfortunate episode I have secreted the valet key in the chassis of the car so I never lock myself out again.

[EliHobbes]

Is it possible for an emergency locksmith in sheffield to do remote fob replacement for me or i should contact the Lexus Dealer for it.

[ambermarine]

This is a complicated subject and will have several obstacles to your locksmith which coding is one and he will probably not have the ability .there are several post in the club archives on this subject check them out and review your options.