Copying a car key?

Question

I'd like to get my car key copied. I dont know if it has one of those fancy chips in it though. It's a 2008 Toyota Corolla S. The key just has a big black rubber grip, so I dont know. I know Walmart and home depot and lowes can copy house keys, but will they do car keys too?

Answer 1

It has a chip in it so you have to go to the dealer at a cost of over $100. per key.

Answer 2

a car key copying place has a special machine for testing if they have chips in.

they will tell you.

Answer 3

Ask toyota they should be able to tell you but im almost 99% sure it does have a computer chip in the key and its not going to be cheap to get a copy made!

Answer 4

Home Depot copies car keys.

However, it is likely that your key does contain a chip. Most Home Depot's do not stock the blanks for such a key but they can order them. The reason the blanks are not stocked is because if the key is cut incorrectly it results in a loss for the store. However, if it is cut correctly, it would save you money compared to what a dealer would likely charge.

If you ask a manager you might be able to talk them into ordering the blanks & selling them to you. If they don't want to cut them, you would have to take them somewhere else to be cut & programmed. Some Home Depots may even stock the blanks. Also the minimum order would be 2 unless you found a store that stocks them.

Answer 5

if you just want one to open your doors then you can go to the dealer and get a plain all metal key copy OEM 90999-00186

if you want a copy to do everything you need to go to the dealer and spent about  $100

Answer 6

http://autos.yahoo.com/2008_toyota_corol...

claims that the Toyota Corolla S had an engine immobilizer as standard.

Because you said that your key has a big black rubber grip, also leads me to believe that you have an engine immobilizer chip in there.

When you turn off your car and remove your key, do you have a flashing red LED on your dash or a flashing red icon on  your dash?  That blinking red light should tell you that your engine immobilizer is armed/set when you remove your chipped key from the ignition.

Yes, you can copy the key at any key copying place (like the hardware departments at Home Depot or Lowes), but the metal key will only open your doors.  Without the chip in the head of the key, and without programming the car to accept the chipped key, this newly created key will not start the car.

You may have to go to the dealer to pay their labor rates to program a new key.  If you're lucky, a locksmith may have the programming instructions and it may be less expensive to go that route.  Also check for blank keys on eBay - some sellers will include DIY instructions for programming the key once you get it mechanically cut cheaply locally.

I did find reference to this programming method for adding a new key to a Toyota Corolla.  Do note that programming the remote keyless entry fobs is a different procedure.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r1964747...

http://www.kantor.com/blog/2005/10/keys/

Good luck!  (It'll probably take a few tries before you get the timing right in the DIY instructions...)