Autokey.ie

mattcorker

I need to get replacement keys cut for a '99 Toyota avensis. Rang Toyota and because I don't have a spare key they said they would have to change the ecu and quoted nearly €900! Now I've found this crowd called Autokey.ie who say they can call out to me and cut and code 2 keys without changing the ecu for €300.

My question is, how legitimate is this claim and how reputable are this firm? I've had a look through the forums but haven't found much help. Most of the threads seem to go off topic fairly quickly.

Has anyone dealt with them before that can share good or bad reports?

Cheers

CJhaughey

If you buy keyblanks with the transmitter then you can code them yourself.

sumo12

CJhaughey wrote: »

If you buy keyblanks with the transmitter then you can code them yourself.

Yep, to open the doors! Won't start the car though, which is pretty vital...

BMJD

mattcorker wrote: »

I need to get replacement keys cut for a '99 Toyota avensis. Rang Toyota and because I don't have a spare key they said they would have to change the ecu and quoted nearly €900!

as far as I know, that is the case if you have no key at all

if you have one key they should be able to make a spare, I got one done for a Lexus IS200, the key cost €140 and they charged €70 to program it

I got it done because I had no spare and if I lost/broke the only key I had then it would have cost a fortune to get the ECU changed. Autokey and various others said they could make a key but it wouldn't start the car because of the immobiliser, which would have been pointless and more expensive than smashing a window :pac:

galwaytt

I got them to supply and code an OEM Saab key and it was €190 in total iirc.

Worked perfect, No issues, took 30 minutes.

biko

For people in Dublin they seem to be ok, for people in other counties go local.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Happened a friend of mine, and he just got a cheap key cut in the local locksmith, and had his immobiliser bypassed. Naturally only do this on a low value car.

CJhaughey

sumo12 wrote: »

Yep, to open the doors! Won't start the car though, which is pretty vital...

No. You can code them to the immobiliser as well as the C/L system
Keyblanks are cheap.

I don't know anything about your particular car or key, so this may offer no help to you at all, but...


I have an 04 Rav4 with remote central locking. The key for the car is essentially a normal key, but it has two buttons on it (for operating the locks).

This here:





However, the plastic casing snapped on it, so I went on to Amazon a while ago, and I bought a spare/blank one. Like this:





I brought it to a local key cutter and gave him my car key and the blank and he cut it for €20. I tried it in the car and it wouldn't work, unless the buttons were within a small radius of the ignition switch.

(that is; there's a small square piece of plastic inside the key that has the buttons on it for locking/unlocking. This has to be within about 6-8 inches of the ignition switch or the car wont start).


I found this out as I had my normal key on the passenger seat when trying to start the car with the newly cut one. I figured it out fairly fast, though.

So what might work for you, if you have any kind of a similar set up at all, is to get another key online, and get it cut. Then put your current key and the new one on the same keyring. This way you can use the new key on the car and it should work easily enough (as the current, working key, will be within radius all the time, unless you intentionally separate them).


As I say, I don't know if that helps you, and I don't know your situation, but I just thought I'd say it, anyway

mr_edge_to_you

Got my Renault Keycards repaired there a few years back. They were based in the tiniest office in the very back of some industrial estate in Tallaght. Theyve long since moves into a big unit on the Kylemore Road (I think).

The cards were repaired and had no problem with them.

Bpmull

I found autokey very good. I got a new spare key of them last year for the focus they were less than 50 % of the cost of a main dealer but were still supplying a genuine ford key. I'd use them again and they would probably be the first people I would ring if I needed another key. Don't know if this is still running but they had an offer where is you are on Facebook and had a smart phone and liked autokey at the counter you got 10% of. The guy has to see you do it but he gave me the 10% of no problem.

beanie10

I would stay away from them. I had a spare key for a caddy (without remote central locking) and wanted to get central locking key. Rang them up, gave them details of van, we agreed a price. Bit high I thought but still less than VW.
Arranged an appointment for about 12am. I rang him on the morning to make sure all was ok as it would take me 2 hours to get there.
He said all is here ready waiting for me.
When I arrived he goes "oh is that a 2006", which i replied yes as we discussed. He let a shout at someone out back asking if they could program that year of caddy.
He replied no and basically told me to go. No apologies, no offer to put me in touch with someone who could do it. So gave him a bit of an earful and reckons that I have a problem. Very ignorant and arrogant person.

A local garage later gave details of Paddy Harney in Athlone. Gentleman and has since got me 5 spare keys of different vans since. Nothing was ever a problem.
He was even telling me he could cut a spare key if you have lost all original keys. Some kind of special tool he has.

redarmy1929

CJhaughey wrote: »

No. You can code them to the immobiliser as well as the C/L system
Keyblanks are cheap.

Just a quick question

It asks for a key code number
Is that on the barrel itself?
Would it be something like 0 followed by roman numerals?

Its for a 03 Fiesta.

Cheers.

CJhaughey

redarmy1929 wrote: »

Just a quick question

It asks for a key code number
Is that on the barrel itself?
Would it be something like 0 followed by roman numerals?

Its for a 03 Fiesta.

Cheers.

Is there any numbers on the key itself?

redarmy1929

CJhaughey wrote: »

Is there any numbers on the key itself?

No, its a replacement key I have, thats the way I bought it.