duplicating 2008 smart key?

[Barcelona Red]

OK, so I lost one of my smart keys for my 2008 Prius.

After reading a bit about this, I can only assume that I have a SKS key since just touching the door handle with the key in my pocket opens the door and don't have to insert the fob into the dashboard.

I made an appointment with my dealer (Toyota Sunnyvale) to get another key. They said the part (the smart key itself) will be $233, and labor to get it programmed will be $130. So, we're talking about $370.

I read in a Yelp review Share With Friends | Yelp that someone got their key duplicated for a $50 charge. Is this even an option? Or, is the dealership my only option?

[firepa63]

The dealer is your only option if you want a fully functional smart key.

[RobH]

You can beat those prices by a lot. Check out the following threads:

Smartkey programming deals in LA area???
Smart Key Repair or Replacement Options
Finally! How to program a non-SKS key/fob. Detailed!

Bottom line: buy a new keyfob from a place like parts.com, and get the car programmed for it at Luscious Garage in SF or Art's Automotive in Berkeley. Luscious wanted $30 to program a fob the last time I checked, and Art's did several keys for me for $46.

Any good independent shop that services a lot of Toyotas should have a MasterTech 3100 scan tool that can be used to program a fob. A really modern shop might even have a TechStream tool.

[ETP]

Originally Posted by RobH

You can beat those prices by a lot. Check out the following threads:

Smartkey programming deals in LA area???
Smart Key Repair or Replacement Options
Finally! How to program a non-SKS key/fob. Detailed!

Bottom line: buy a new keyfob from a place like parts.com, and get the car programmed for it at Luscious Garage in SF or Art's Automotive in Berkeley. Luscious wanted $30 to program a fob the last time I checked, and Art's did several keys for me for $46.

Any good independent shop that services a lot of Toyotas should have a MasterTech 3100 scan tool that can be used to program a fob. A really modern shop might even have a TechStream tool.

looks like you can do it yourself by the links you posted. So why wouldn't everyone just do it with a blank FOB and skip the overpriced dealer. Do the procedures work that are posted?

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by ETP

looks like you can do it yourself by the links you posted. So why wouldn't everyone just do it with a blank FOB and skip the overpriced dealer. Do the procedures work that are posted?

You can't do it yourself with a smart key. You can self-program for a dumb key, which will work with the SKS (Smart Key System). If you use a dumb fob, it won't work from your pants pocket; you will need to insert it into the slot. It also won't activate door unlocking with a touch on the handle.

Just to clarify one previous comment, no one "duplicates" a smart key. A new smart key is registered with the car. In other words, the car is programmed to accept the new smart key. The small mechanical key inside the smart fob is duplicated in the convention way. As a warning, only a new smart fob can be registered with the car. If you buy an old one from EBay, it won't work. You might be able to program it as a dumb fob, but the smart functions will not work.

Tom

[firepa63]

Originally Posted by ETP

looks like you can do it yourself by the links you posted. So why wouldn't everyone just do it with a blank FOB and skip the overpriced dealer. Do the procedures work that are posted?

You can program a fob yourself to be a non-SKS fob, but it will only start the car by putting the fob in the slot. It will not unlock the doors.

[ETP]

Originally Posted by firepa63

You can program a fob yourself to be a non-SKS fob, but it will only start the car by putting the fob in the slot. It will not unlock the doors.

Cheap spare then at least!

[uart]

Quick question. Reading through some of those links I notice that most smartkeys have three buttons (Lock, Unlock and that other red button). Mine is the normal "black logo" FOB but it doesn't have the red button.

What is the red button for?

[firepa63]

Originally Posted by uart

Quick question. Reading through some of those links I notice that most smartkeys have three buttons (Lock, Unlock and that other red button). Mine is the normal "black logo" FOB but it doesn't have the red button.

What is the red button for?

Alarm.

[uart]

Thanks.

So I'm guessing that if I got one off ebay that was the same as mine but with the added red button then the other functions (apart from the alarm) would still work the same way with my car?