Ls400 Mk 3 Spare Key Gone Awol - Help Getting Replacement

[Colin M]

I would be grateful for some advice on obtaining a replacement spare key for my 1996 LS400.

When I bought the car there were two keys, each having a separate key fob for remote opening etc. One of the keys and key fob has gone AWOL and despite my best efforts I have been unable to find it. The key I still have is, I think, a master key because it opens everything (and so did the other one, so I assume that was a master key too).

I don' t want to rely on just a single key and need to obtain a second one to replace the one that has disappeared.

Does anyone know the best and most cost effective way of doing this?

Any advice, as ever, gratefully received.

Many thanks.

Colin

[Malc]

You could try a specialist key cutter somewhere. I know when I had to have spare keys for my Mk2 it was easy peasy and they worked well and about a fiver each !. BUT I do understand that some marques and models require dopey priced keys to be cut coz of the electronic bits inside and I don't know if the Mk3 is of that nature.

just go ask and they will tell you if they can do it I'm sure.

if they can't then maybe it's Lexus for a new key with remote and dopey priced programming

Malc

[ambermarine]

Colin

The key itself can be cut from your original but the transmitter that is in your present key cannot be replicated unless you submit the key number to Lexus, this number usually comes on the key ring inscribed on a metal tag.

[Colin M]

Thanks both for your quick responses on this.

Unfortunately, I do not have a key number for it. There was no metal tag on either of the keys when I bought the car.

Someone has helpfully written the key number onto the opening page of the service book I have for my other LS400 (which is good because there is no metal tag on the keys for that either) but there is nothing in the service book for the car in question.

[n4chv]

Personally, I would just go to a Lexus dealer to get a 2nd key - replacement cost will be around £200 but at least you have a fully working key that's coded to your car.

Cutting the key itself can be done by most locksmiths. The problem is the electronic transponder that talks to your car.

I have heard of aftermarket companies that offer to create these for you but I don't think it's worth the time or hassle and having only 1 working key risky to say the least. If that stopped working, the only way to get the car started would be to actually break in and for someone to try and override the electronics, etc. - not something I would ever want to go through.

Before I purchased by LS430, I saw a number of cars for sale at dealers and 3 of these only came with a single key. The car I purchased came with 3 remote key fobs although the 3rd one is a skeleton fob.

[Colin M]

At long last I have today finally got a replacement programmed spare key for the car!

This has been a long running saga with more than its fair share of frustration and to prevent you having a similar experience I am setting out some information below about what is involved if you want to go down the route of obtaining an additional key from a Lexus dealer.

For a dealer to obtain a key from Lexus, you will need to take to the dealer some personal identification (driving licence) and some vehicle identification (vehicle registration document). They will take copies and then obtain a key for you, usually within a couple of days. My key cost £45.47 (including VAT).

Next the car, along with the key, needs to be taken the dealer for the key to be coded (or programmed). Before you book it in, and (with hindsight) really before you buy the key in the first place, make sure that the dealer has an INTELLIGENT TESTER 1 (IT1) machine AND the relevant lead for the machine (apparently there are three different leads for this machine, so you need to know that they have the one needed for coding). If the dealer does not have both the machine and this lead, the key for the Mk 3 LS400 (and perhaps the Mk 4 as well) CANNOT be programmed.

I found this out the hard way. When I took the car to the dealer I bought the key from, it turned out (to their surprise) that they did not have an IT1 machine. No attempt to programme using any of their other machines was successful. So I tried another dealer and asked if they had an IT1 machine. They had, so I booked the car in there. When it came to connecting up the machine, it turned out that they did not have the relevant lead. Again, attempts to programme using other machines did not work. All was not lost, as they said they could probably obtain the correct lead from Lexus Technical Centre in London and they did.

So, third time lucky when I booked the car in again? No. The machine, when connected up with the lead, would not programme the key for some unknown reason!

But the dealer helpfully suggested taking the car to a specialist key programmer that they used in cases where they were unable to programme a key. I did this and, although he was also unable to programme the Lexus key that I had bought, he was able to clone another key from the existing key that I had and this now starts the car.

It may be that the Lexus key could not be programmed because of some fault on the car - I have noticed that the Security light on the dash does not flash like it does on my other LS400, so maybe there is an immobiliser fault which prevents programming. Who knows?

Nothing outlined above is intended in any way to be critical of either dealer - both did all they could and I was impressed by the level of help and service.

In most cases, I am sure that the IT1 machine and relevant lead will be able to do the necessary key programming. But just make sure that the dealer has both before you buy the key - it might save you a lot of time. The cost for key programming would have been between £50-£60 (slightly cheaper at one dealer than the other).

Finally, a mention for John of Panick Keys who came to me on a home visit and made the spare key (cost £80). Highly recommended if you are in the Midlands area. His number is 07836 312479. For more details, see www.panickeys.com

I hope the above is helpful and obviously I hope that none of you lose your keys ...

[ambermarine]

Colin

The only good thing to come out of this saga is the security aspect of the Lexus LS400 .Any would be theives reading this are going to think twice.

[n4chv]

Sorry to hear about your experience Colin - I had a lucky escape as an LS430 I looked at buying only had 1 key and 2 Lexus dealers quoted me around £200 for an additional key which included the cost of the key and the programming part of it.

I'm very disappointed to hear that a large franchise dealer don't always have the right machinery and leads - whilst we all resent being ripped off by these big dealerships, I thought the upside to using them was that they could provide service which other smaller garages cannot provide. So much for my theory.

Most important thing is that you are finally sorted out now

[thatfatbloke]

Got my MK3 a second key cut and programmed for £45 a couple of months back from my local locksmith (see my 'Problems already' thread). Some on here of course commented on the security of doing this,but hey,it's a £625 car,why spend another third on top just for a key!.You don't HAVE to go to Lexus as some think.

[Colin M]

Thanks, guys, for your comments - perhaps the most important lesson is don't lose keys in the first place!!