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Master Key, Ecu, And Other Stuff...


8chuck
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Hello to everyone here.

I am a French guy in trouble with my IS200 right now.

My house has been broken recently, and the burglars took the two keys of my car.

My Lexus dealer told me that he would have to order a new key and a new ECU in order to be able to start my car again... This costs a lot of money (something like 3000 Euros), and I am looking for a cheaper solution (if there is any).

I understood that there was something about a master key for this car, I can imagine that it is a key that is "linked" to an ECU, is that correct?

Is that possible to buy a blank Master key and then to program it from my current ECU? Can I buy a used ECU and the assiociated master key, then transfer the code from this key to a blank one (because obviously, a used master key won't fit with my current Neimann..)

So here I am : My insurance company is unlikely going to cover these costs, so I am looking for something the cheaper the better.

Thanks for your help.

Extra question : Is the ECU the same for an automatic and a manual gearbox?

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Hi there. Sorry to hear about your situation.

The problem you have is that a new master key can only be coded to your ECU using an existing master key. One of your keys that got stolen would have been a master. Don't get confused, there's not a magic master key out there that you can buy for the car and link to your ECU. That means that if you have no keys for the car then your only solution as I understand it is to have all your door locks changed, your ignition barrel changed and a new ECU. This is a dealer job and as you say costs 3000 EURO. It's £2000 in the UK.

The only other possiable solution is maybe to find an IS200 in a scrap/breakers yard and get the ECU, locks and ignition barrel and keys and fit it all to your IS. Still a massive job but should be cheaper.

Good luck.

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Thanks for this reply.

I think that it is possible to make it without changing the barells.

I don't know the proper english words for that, but in a key, we have a physical part (for the barrels) and an electronic part (the remote, of course, but also the chip that communicates with the ECU).

I have already ordered a new key, so I can open my doors and set up an anti-theft system on the wheel (because the burglars have my keys and might be looking for my car).

My question is as follows : If I buy a used ECU + his master key on eBay, is that possible to make a new master key from that one to another one that has the same physical part as my current one? This would allow me to stick with my current barrels.

Another question :

I am not sure, but I thought that there were 3 keys when I bought the car : Two with the built-in remote, and a last one without remote. Can anyone confirm?

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I am so sorry to hear, you sure don't have a spare valet key somewhere else hidden in the house? Because I had a similar issue at the beginning of the year, I got a toyota/lexus auto locksmith to comes, he got this black box that connects to the odb2 port and there he cancelled my remaining master and valet key, he gave me back both keys to try to lock the car, didn't work. Then he re-programmed it using this box, and followed some procedure. Maybe worth a try, if you still have a spare key for the barrel. Otherwise a cheaper option is to go via after-market immobiliser with by-pass for the lexus immobiliser, and with remote key start. When I did the quote up, this option was cheaper than getting a scrap car with all the barrels and ECU, then getting someone to install it.

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I am so sorry to hear, you sure don't have a spare valet key somewhere else hidden in the house? Because I had a similar issue at the beginning of the year, I got a toyota/lexus auto locksmith to comes, he got this black box that connects to the odb2 port and there he cancelled my remaining master and valet key, he gave me back both keys to try to lock the car, didn't work. Then he re-programmed it using this box, and followed some procedure. Maybe worth a try, if you still have a spare key for the barrel. Otherwise a cheaper option is to go via after-market immobiliser with by-pass for the lexus immobiliser, and with remote key start. When I did the quote up, this option was cheaper than getting a scrap car with all the barrels and ECU, then getting someone to install it.

Yes but you had a key when they came and hooked up your car.

No key, no reprogramming :(

Honestly there is nothing anybody can do, not even Lexus, without a working master key :(

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It is possible without a master key.

You can reflash the ECU to recognise a new key, so if you had keys and barrels from a scrapper it is possible.

I bought an IS300 that looked like it had a master key, as I only had 1 key for it I got another cut and Lexus Guildford couldnt program it as it wasnt a master key for the car.

An auto locksmith in Gatwick took the ECU out, reflashed it and programmed both keys to the car,- cost £170 or thereabouts..

J

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Ok fair enough... But Lexus won't do this will they? No, and why not? Because 'flashing' your ECU can lead to more problems..

Interesting statement...

So what problems will it lead to?

I had mine done 19 months ago and I havent encountered any issues whatsoever...

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Ok fair enough... But Lexus won't do this will they? No, and why not? Because 'flashing' your ECU can lead to more problems..

Interesting statement...

So what problems will it lead to?

I had mine done 19 months ago and I havent encountered any issues whatsoever...

I didn't say will cause you problems, I said could.

I don't know what problems, but this is what Lexus told me when I asked why they couldn't just flash it and re set all new keys to it.They also said they 'couldn't' flash it and that you can't do that. Again this is just what I'm told and not my opinion or statement!

I've also been through this problem so I'm just relaying what I've learnt and found out via Lexus, this forum and key specialists. I followed advice on here which LED me on a wild goose chase and I eventually ended up back at Lexus. I had a locksmith say he could do it but he couldn't. I only had 1 valet key for our old IS200 SE, so I was scared of losing it and having no keys. In the end because it was such a headache I sold the car with just the 1 key to an unsuspecting lad. I felt bad about it but he bought with 1 key and now its his problem.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello all,

I recently bought a 2001 is200, it only came with one key (not master)

The start of everyday it wouldnt de activate the immobiliser straight away, I had to push the key in and out of the ignition (loads of times) but eventually the security light would go out. Once running and warm it would start first time everytime.

Anyway today it seems it won't turn de activate at all, so I decided to investigate

When I removed the housing round the ignition barrel their was electrical tape wrapped round the barrel immobilized reciever, when I removed it tiny shards of glass came out (think it was the transponder chip)

I saw online that I can buy a immobiliser ecu and transponder for £150.......would this work?

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