Cheapest way to replace a key

brembo26

Could someone please point me in the right direction to replacing a key on a 1997 corolla. It must be chipped as i got a key cut today and it will turn but wont fire. I really need to sort this for a little money as possible

brembo26

Would I be right in saying I can change the ECU, Ignition barrel and door barrels and all will be well?

George Dalton

Ring a locksmith and get them to cut and code a key for you. Simples.

Where are you located?

hertz

Yes a good locksmith will have the technology to chip the majority of the popular car makes in the country. Failing a locksmith the main dealer is your next best option.

brembo26

Yea but I dont feel like paying between €350-€500. Any ideas on my above post?

Thanks for the input lads

CJhaughey

Does the key you got cut have a chip that can be programmed? Toyota usually have a feature that allows keys to be coded from the car, most late 90s Toyotas can do it.

Supergurrier

Don't leave it downstairs :pac:

brembo26

CJhaughey wrote: »

Does the key you got cut have a chip that can be programmed? Toyota usually have a feature that allows keys to be coded from the car, most late 90s Toyotas can do it.

Nope, never taught to ask cause i didnt think it was chipped. if i had one with a chip is this actually possible? The car is a uk import if that makes any difference?

brembo26

Its not chipped anyway.

George Dalton

brembo26 wrote: »

Yea but I dont feel like paying between €350-€500. Any ideas on my above post?

Thanks for the input lads

Who quoted you that kind of money?

Mr Benevolent

€350 is ludicrous. I had a spare key cut for €100 (2002 Corsa), and the guy came to me.

paul127

Cut two unchiped keys hide the key with the chip in the car and now the two unchiped keys should work

brembo26

George Dalton wrote: »

Who quoted you that kind of money?

Collerans locksmiths in Galway, rang toyota as well just to sus out the situation and they were looking for €600 haha :-P

Whats your opinion on how too sort it?

brembo26

paul127 wrote: »

Cut two unchiped keys hide the key with the chip in the car and now the two unchiped keys should work

I need to get a chipped key first though!

George Dalton

brembo26 wrote: »

Collerans locksmiths in Galway, rang toyota as well just to sus out the situation and they were looking for €600 haha :-P

Whats your opinion on how too sort it?

A reasonably priced locksmith ideally! I would have thought €150 should easily cover it, €200 max!

tuxy

paul127 wrote: »

Cut two unchiped keys hide the key with the chip in the car and now the two unchiped keys should work

Do immobilisers work from that kind of distance?
Defeats the purpose of having an immobilisers if you do that.

brembo26

what do you think of swapping the locks and changing the ecu?

tuxy

brembo26 wrote: »

what do you think of swapping the locks and changing the ecu?

Sounds like a good way to go if you want to spend more money.

George Dalton

brembo26 wrote: »

what do you think of swapping the locks and changing the ecu?

Too much money and effort.

brembo26

George Dalton wrote: »

Too much money and effort.

was priced €100 for the locks and ecu and ill change them myself, they are coming out of another scrap corolla?

George Dalton

Sounds nice in theory but speaking from experience I'd rather spend an hour on the phone trying to find a cheap locksmith than several hours fighting with lock barrels and ignition switches :pac:

brembo26

I dont mind putting my hand to anything mechanical, if it takes me a day to do it once it works i dont mind. Will changing the ecu and all that work? No other work required after that?

George Dalton

To be honest I don't know as I am not familiar with older Toyota immobiliser systems. We have seen a few develop faults but rather than get involved in any messing about with them we use a local mobile locksmith who can delete the immobiliser from the engine ECU altogether which is the most sensible solution for older cars such as yours IMO.

brembo26

any recommendations in galway?

George Dalton

I'm afraid not but there must be someone over that way who can help you out. You could try ringing around a few local garages to see if they know of anyone.

Toyotafanboi

George Dalton wrote: »

To be honest I don't know as I am not familiar with older Toyota immobiliser systems. We have seen a few develop faults but rather than get involved in any messing about with them we use a local mobile locksmith who can delete the immobiliser from the engine ECU altogether which is the most sensible solution for older cars such as yours IMO.

when you say "delete" the immobiliser, do you mean that an "un-chipped" key would start the car? how much does that usually cost?

Senna

Do you have the original key? even if its snapped etc?

brembo26

The key was stolen, i have no chipped key. I want to replace the chipped key for as little as possible.

brembo26

Unfortunately I feel its gone to a stage that my X-mas plans are out the window...

Toyotafanboi

brembo26 wrote: »

Unfortunately I feel its gone to a stage that my X-mas plans are out the window...

you're absolutely blowing this out of proportion.

have you completely lost the key or is it just broken?

i can-not, no way, no how see toyota wanting €600 for a new key for a fecking 97 corolla.

a year or two back i had to get one from toyota for my 01 corolla. it was a remote central locking key, cut and coded, from main toyota dealer i think it was a shade over €100 at the time.

brembo26

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

you're absolutely blowing this out of proportion.

have you completely lost the key or is it just broken?

i can-not, no way, no how see toyota wanting €600 for a new key for a fecking 97 corolla.

a year or two back i had to get one from toyota for my 01 corolla. it was a remote central locking key, cut and coded, from main toyota dealer i think it was a shade over €100 at the time.

Its a plain oul key, its a 97 uk corolla. its chipped and been quoted 350-500 for a replacement off a local locksmith. toyota quoted me 500-600 for a replacement. I dunno wether to write the car off or do as I said for €100...

brembo26

my key was stolen by the way, i dont have any key what so ever. I ended up getting a key that will open the door and nothing else.

tuxy

I think you need to ring more lock smiths and main dealers. Come to think of it I remember getting a key for a 98 corolla a few years ago. It cost about €50 for the key with immobiliser from a main dealers then I just when to a hardware shop and got it cut.

brembo26

Hi all, I was talking to a lad in relation to my problem with the chipped key.

He makes out its the fuel pump that cuts out when the immobilizer kicks in. Would this be true? If so would it be possible to bypass in some way?

Thanks again for all the replies.

tuxy

I've no idea but I'm interesting in hear any other quote you got for the key. Hard to believe the cost would have inflated that mush.

brembo26

I will update when I get more quotes for the key, just trying to get as much information as possible if worst comes to worst.

I also think that them prices I was given are ridiculous for such a basic car.

Tried the basic key I got cut again once or twice and on the first swing after leaving the car idle for a few hours its like it tries to fire up but then back to just continuously swinging over and over and over and over :rolleyes:

brembo26

tuxy wrote: »

I've no idea but I'm interesting in hear any other quote you got for the key. Hard to believe the cost would have inflated that mush.

Quick question actually, what crowed did you get your replacement from?

tuxy

Ivers and Cullinan Toyota Nenagh.
I did have the original key, I don't know if that makes a difference.

brembo26

:rolleyes:
That's what I've been saying. I do not have any original key to get a copy made from. My original key was stolen.

Looks like ill have to go the messy route of changing the ecu, ignition barrel and door barrels. (Could anyone confirm this will work though?)

tuxy

So that's defiantly why it's so expensive? Toyota have no way of easily getting the correct code to put on a new key?

brembo26

Yeah that is why its so expensive

In fairness to the lad I rang in the Toyota main dealer he was the one who told me about changing the ecu and so on. So hopefully by going on what he said I should be able to sort this mess out for the €100 mark.

Believe it or not it was hard enough to locate the bits I need from a breakers yard. Only place I have so far is a place in Kilkenny but have to wait until the 3rd of January before I can order them. Fingers crossed it works out though.

brembo26

Hi all, I have an update for anyone who is interested

After all the talk about changing ECU's and so on the car is still parked in the same spot in the driveway...

So basically after nearly 4 months I said screw it and stripped out the center console and removed the immobilizer box.

Brought it to a lock smiths yesterday with the key I got made for the door barrel and should be ready today sometime.

Any idea on what the cost will be since I done all the stripping and driving myself?

Surely I saved on some labor?

Cheers!

mgbgt1978

Did the Locksmith not give you some idea of price before you left your stuff with him ?

brembo26

Got it for €110, happy days, driving sweet as a nut

Thanks for all your help guys