cfiiman

That's awesome about the shop not charging you, I'm gonna take a bet and say that would never happen at our beloved Lexus dealers lol. Good luck with it.

Jeff, I agree with you that dealers may want the higher priced business, glad I could be of help to anyone that might run into the same problem.

Well it IS a master key, so they can make new ones off of it, just thought I'd post in case it comes up in the future. Thanks Thomas for your help.

Well, I got a call from another dealership that actually took the time to look into it yesterday, seems like you were right Thomas. They said that the "credit card" key if it has a gold triangle on it (which mine does) that it IS a transponder master key and can reflash other keys. So I called my dealer and talked to parts, and again they acted like I was wrong, so I asked them to please call the other dealer who looked into it and he can tell them the technical in's and out's of it all. Then the parts dept. called me and told me to bring the key out to them so they could check and make sure before they "wasted their time" with it, but it seems like to me it would be a bigger waste of time to swap computers and everything if it didn't have to be done. I just wish they were a little more appreciative of my finding instead of acting arrogant like they know everything. So I am taking it out there today, we'll see if it is what I hope it is.

Thomas I just visited the site and here is what I read: The Toyota / Lexus Dilema ---- With the exception of the 1997 LS 400, the first years of transponder based Toyota and Lexus cars had no provision for addiing keys when all keys are lost, or if the owner has only a valet key. The programmed key information is stored in the main computer of the car, and to add additional keys requires an existing programmed master key. If no master key is available, the factory service procedure is to replace the main computer at a cost of $2,000.00. This design proved senseless, and even got some bad press on the national level. The negative publicity regarding the key problem eventualy led them to institute a program of free computer replacement (except labor charges) if this situation occurs, but the program only applies to certain owners. Keys are lost to cars every day, and necessity led to development of methods to assist vehicle owners when this situation occurs. Specialized technology now allows certain locksmiths to remove the main computer, "reflash" the chip which stores key data, and program new keys to the car. We were the first locksmith in Kansas City to acquire this technology. We now have the most sophisticated equipment available for this process. The vechicles which need to be reflashed when no keys or only a valet key is present are: '98 -02 4Runner 98-04 Avalon 98-03 Camry '01-04 Highlander '98-02 Landcruiser '00-04 MR2 spyder '01-02 Sequoia '98-03 Sienna '9-03 Solara '98-04 ES 300 '98-00 GS 400 '01-04 GS 430 '01-04 GS 300 '98-00 LS 400 '99-02 LX 470 '99-03 RX 300 '98-00 SC 300 '98-00 SC 400 '01-04 IS 300 So it appears to me they "can" reflash without a master, can you tell me how in the hell if they can my Lexus dealer can not? That just floors me that a locksmith company has the "technology" and a freaking dealer that actually sells the cars can not? I plan on calling them but this seems outrageous to me that my dealer is telling me it can not be done without switching the computers. Why is there so many conflicting stories on this? Thanks for all your help.

Thomas, thanks I will call them tomorrow, the only problem I see is that my dealer has their head up their !Removed! and won't believe anything other than, "the computers have to be switched b/c you HAVE TO HAVE a master key".

I would take it to a reputable body shop, they will not charge you a thing to examine it and tell you, and if it is a good shop, not sleazy, they will be honest and tell you if it can be pulled out and smoothed out or if it needs to be replaced.

Thomas, thanks for your reply, how sure are you on this, b/c my dealership's master technician and head parts guy says that Lexus USA is wrong and I have to have a Master to flash a new key. I totally get what you are saying about the chip being inside the credit card key, but isn't it also inside the valet key I have, and it can not flash new keys, what is the difference? Please let me know. Thanks,

According to Lexus USA they say that it can be, every other model can not, but the 02 RX300 can flash a new key using the credit card key in the owners manual. I am having problems with my dealer doing what they said and getting me a key so I called Lexus USA and that is when I was told that the credit card key has the "chip" in it and it will flash new keys. Can someone who knows verify this?

LOL, that is awesome, I thought about the face to face thing but I feel that might be a little too confrontational?? Anyway it is now 6pm and no call so I seriously doubt he plans on calling me, big suprise, I will be calling in the morning to "see what happened" to my phone call, I get the run around again I guess I'm going to ask to talk to his manager I don't know what else to do. I should've got the damn key before giving them the money but you would think a Lexus dealership wouldn't be such a pain in the !Removed! over a key.

UPDATE: Just wanted to give a quick update on my key situation. It has now been a week and they said it would be a "couple of days" and I called my salesman this afternoon. As soon as I said hi, he said he was about to tee off and could he call me back, I said that would be fine but I am wondering what is going on with my master key, he said to not worry about it and he would call me back. I seiously am losing faith with this guy b/c every time I call him he is busy, with somone or tee'ing off. I am fairly sure I will not be getting a call today, hope I'm wrong, but if not what do I do? Am I being unreasonable here? I figure a week is more than enough time to figure out if they can get a master from the original owner like they said, or decide to get me a new one (which was the original deal they just decided to change which does irritate me some). At what point do you try to go over the salesman's head like you all suggested and try to talk to someone else like the manager that also said he would get me the key? Any advice is appreciated b/c I am in new waters with buying from a dealer and I really don't know how to make them do what they said they would do.

Cogratulations, the o/d turns the overdrive off so your tranny effectively becomes a 3 speed instead of a 4 speed. As mentioned above is a good start for the other problems. Engine sign means the computer has thrown a code where some parameter is out of sync with what it is "suppose" to be doing, get the car scanned at an autozone or take it to a shop and they will tell you what it is. I would say the gas consumption has something to do wtih the code as 10mpg is half what it should be. Good luck.

Step, thanks for the advice, that is exactly what I will do, I would never get irrate, it just doen't do any good, hopefully they will contact me before I contact them next week, we'll see, I'll keep everyone posted.

I cleaned mine the other day, and I only use Zymol on leather, they make a 2 step, cleaner and conditioner, I do not like armorall b/c it attracts dust, look into the Zymol you will like it.

Sounds like a good idea,hopefully they will do the right thing here. I figure if they try to weasel out I would probably just file a claim with the BBB and hopefully they would "then" try to resolve it, but maybe it will turn out ok, I just have a weird feeling with the way they are just brushing me off saying "don't worry about it", and they have already "changed" the deal by trying to get me a used key and not a new one, I don't know.

So as some of you know I just bought my 02 RX at my local Lexus dealer. Well in the rush of getting the papers signed I forgot to have them write in the contract that they promised me a new master/transponder key. I called them the other day and they said "yeah we are working on getting an original from the former owner, it may be broke and we'll have to see what to do, yada yada yada" which wasn't the deal but as long as I get a master I don't care. Well I have a feeling that they are going to just conviently forget about their promise to get me one of these and that was the only reason I came up to their asking price. I am going to give them a week, even though I should have known something by today, which I do not, and then call them, I guess I'm just preparing for the, "yeah sorry we couldn't get that for you" when they promised me a new one in the first place. So seeing how I do not have it in my contract, but just verbally from the salesman and the manager at the dealership, what should I do if they try to weasel out? I would just by one but when I called they said without the master they have to swap computers and I have to buy 2 keys at 250.00 each. They also said my sub key will not be able to "flash" any new keys I buy. I just don't want this to go on beyond a week b/c you never know who will quit at a dealership, am I screwed here?

I see no one answered this for you so I thought I would chime in. I'm new and have not had service performed yet on my RX, but from calling around before the purchase and reading online it appears that Lexus dealerships are anywhere from 1/3 to 50% more than an independent in most cases. The important thing is to get someone that is competent to work on the car, if you can there is no problem using someone other than lexus, some people have posted having really good luck with toyota, same service (camry driveline) and lower price, good luck and let us know what you decide.

I'm very interested in what you have said, please report back when you get yours and let us know how you like them.

Funny, I just bought my RX yesterday, today I hear the servos too, I have a 2 month warranty but this seems like something I can do so I will be giving it a shot myself.

Yep, definately a hanging pad, although 500 seems outrageous to me but then again I've only owned a lexus for a matter of hours lol. I imagine you could get all the parts to replace yourself for much much less, it is not hard to do, again never done it on a lexus, but have on many many other cars. Good luck.

It really isn't that bad, just a couple dents and a long scratch in the rear quarter, I'll post some tomorrow in the sunlight.

Well as promised here is a couple of photos

I have not done it yet on my RX300 but I plan to, I have however done it on other vehicles. Yes, you need a ballast, it is what ignites the bulbs you have, I doubt very seriously non hid rx300's have one ready in case you wanted to upgrade. They sell kits everywhere, especially on ebay (where I have purchased them before) that come ready with everything, ballasts, bulbs, wiring, etc. Now the question becomes, do you want the projection beams too? You can install just the bulbs but your chances of bliding oncoming traffic is very high b/c you have no "cut off". I have been looking for aftermarket projection beams for the rx300 and can not find any, so it is a gamble going with just the bulbs into the current housing. I am willing to try it, but I imagine I'll be upgrading the lamps as well, I did this to a cobra I have and I had to upgrade the housing, it was just too blinding. Does anyone know if a set up projection beams will fit into the non hid vehicles? If so there is the ticket to go after. Hope this helps some.

afpj, no I haven't, but I will today in this thread since you want to see them, I am the same way, big DIY'r and I am excited to share photos!

RX, lol, I understand, and I just want you to know you were not one of the "old crusty guys" I was referring to lol. You have always been helpful, in fact your post in another thread was what prompted me to make sure of the "service history" as you pointed out. I feel like I have done everything I can do to ensure an informed purchase, it just simply comes down to if I have my mind set on an RX300, I have to buy one and take a chance as you would with any vehicle used. I guess I can look into an extended warranty but I doubt one is even available, and it sounds like even when you have it the dealers try to screw you by saying stuff isn't covered.