Needing a spare key programed

I just recently bought a 2011 Toyota tundra but it didn't come with a spare key so I'm just curious to know if I could program the key instead of having to pay 65 extra dollars to have it programmed by the dealership.

 

Days of pressing the brake three times, flashing the lights twice, opening and closing the door are gone.

You will need a computer, special programming cable and software to do so, yourself. As well as being somewhat computer savvy and willing to spend the time in setting it up and learning how to use it, a somewhat steep learning curve.

This setup can be useful in doing additional work as well as diagnosing problems, but if you are not mechanically inclined to work on your car, not worth the trouble, in my opinion.


Greg

 

Well my brother is a Ford mechanic and he is actually the one who told me that I might be able to find a way to program my truck key by using the internet since all of his programming stuff was for a Ford. Do you know how costly it is to buy the cable and software for a Toyota? If it's not too much more, than do you think that it would be worth it in the long run since my brother does have experience reading codes and all that jazz with Ford or do you know if the codes would be similar enough that a person who is use to only reading Ford could figure out what's wrong with a Toyota?

 

You can download TechStream, Toyota's software for communicating with all of the computers on your Tundra. It can be found for free, someone here may even have a link to a site where you can get it. The cable isn't very expensive. The last time I checked it was like $25. You'll need a laptop running Windows (mine is set up on a spare with Windows 7 but it probably works with 10 now). You can also find how to install and get it running with not too much searching. With it you can do simple things like program keys and FOBs as well as change the TPMS sensor IDs all the way up to very complex stuff.

The newer the Toyota the more it can do. I've used it to remove the annoying seat belt noise since my mailbox is at the bottom of my driveway and it takes about 2 minutes to drive up with the stupid think beeping at me on my wife's RAV4. I also changed how many times the turn signal flashes when you tap it and I turned off the daylight running lights. I've used it to read codes on my 2000 Tundra (bad ABS sensor). Chances are good that your brother would be able to use it to do a lot more than that. It's up to you if it's worth it.

 

Depending on where you’re at, you might find someone else on here willing to do it. If you are/were near Portland OR area, I’ve got one of the knock-off cables and used it to do all the things mentioned above AND program a new key (I did one of those volkswagen-style switchblade keys).

 

Save yourself the hassle and pay a dealership or competent technician. I had the same problem ...bought the cables for a bootleg Techstream etc.This was after I tried the "closing the doors , press this x times" method which was a complete waste of time.Ultimately I paid a garage ,not Toyota, to do it and ,phew, calm restored.