I bought a used 2009 ES350 3 months ago. I only received one fob, and recently discovered that the valet key doesn’t work to open my driver’s door. It only inserts 1/4″ and won’t turn whatsoever. I’m wondering if something is lodged inside the lock. I’ll try using WD40 to loosen up anything inside there. Has anyone else had this situation? What was the fix?
10-31-20, 01:45 PM
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Původně odeslal Eddi1220
I bought a used 2009 ES350 3 months ago. I only received one fob, and recently discovered that the valet key doesn’t work to open my driver’s door. It only inserts 1/4″ and won’t turn whatsoever. I’m wondering if something is lodged inside the lock. I’ll try using WD40 to loosen up anything inside there. Has anyone else had this situation? What was the fix?
An 11-year-old lock will likely have some rust or corrosion inside. WD40, Liquid Wrench, or a similar product should free it up. Spray some on both sides of the key and, if possible, inside the lock-cylinder, insert it in and out several times as far as you can, and keep working it back and forth, giving it another coat of spray if needed, until it works freely.
10-31-20, 03:37 PM
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Původně odeslal mmarshall
An 11-year-old lock will likely have some rust or corrosion inside. WD40, Liquid Wrench, or a similar product should free it up. Spray some on both sides of the key and, if possible, inside the lock-cylinder, insert it in and out several times as far as you can, and keep working it back and forth, giving it another coat of spray if needed, until it works freely.
Thank you for your reply. I have since discovered that the valet key also does not work on the glove box or the compartment lock leading into the trunk. For some reason my valet key is somewhat of a dummy key, at least it is not correctly keyed to fit the locks on my car. My next step will be checking with a locksmith to see if they can make a key to work. All I need is a couple valet keys made.
11-01-20, 06:12 PM
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One possibility is that the key fob is a used replacement fob, maybe they programmed the electronics but never bothered to replace the metal cut portion? Is the metal portion cut at all? or is it just a smooth key blank?
Last edited by pbm317; 11-01-20 at 06:19 PM .
11-01-20, 06:16 PM
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Merged with above
11-01-20, 06:36 PM
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Possibly a blank key?
Původně odeslal pbm317
One possibility is that the key fob is a used replacement fob, maybe they programmed the electronics but never bothered to replace the metal cut portion? Is the metal portion cut at all? or is it just a smooth key blank?
I will head over to a locksmith tomorrow to inquire about the matter. It is possible that the key is blank and the fob is aftermarket. The backside of the fob does not have the Lexus symbol.
Also, to reply to the one that mentioned the valet key should not unlock the glovebox and trunk access, that makes perfect sense.
Thanks for the insights.
11-02-20, 06:19 AM
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Původně odeslal Eddi1220
I will head over to a locksmith tomorrow to inquire about the matter. It is possible that the key is blank and the fob is aftermarket. The backside of the fob does not have the Lexus symbol.
Also, to reply to the one that mentioned the valet key should not unlock the glovebox and trunk access, that makes perfect sense.
Thanks for the insights.
That was an older style of «valet» key, in which the whole key was separate. That valet key would not unlock the glovebox or trunk. With the new keyless fob, the valet key is now the opposite. You take the mechanical portion, which is the only thing that can lock the glove box and trunk pass through, and leave the fob with the valet. It hit me that the 09, despite being over a decade old, had the new smart key.
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11-02-20, 11:07 AM
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Success! Finally.
Původně odeslal pbm317
That was an older style of «valet» key, in which the whole key was separate. That valet key would not unlock the glovebox or trunk. With the new keyless fob, the valet key is now the opposite. You take the mechanical portion, which is the only thing that can lock the glove box and trunk pass through, and leave the fob with the valet. It hit me that the 09, despite being over a decade old, had the new smart key.
I now have a working emergency key! The locksmith needed the key code from the door in order to cut my key. I had to contact my nearest Lexus dealership which is 3 hours away. Emailed him my license and proof of insurance with Vin # and he gave me a 5 digit code the locksmith was able to use. I tested the key and it works with the glovebox and trunk pass through also.
When I had to get new (reprogrammed) keys at the dealer for my wife’s 2007 Subaru Outback, they sold me a ‘valet key’ (without a chip inside, I think). I thought a valet key would start the car but not open the glovebox or trunk (though the Outback has no trunk). But this one will open the doors, turn the ignition on, but will ne start the car.
The only point I can see is to carry it with you in case you lock the real key inside. But my wife says she always uses the pushbutton remote fob to lock the car, and the key’s with that, so she can’t lock herself out.
2271 příspěvků · Připojeno 2012
I can drive my car with my Valet Key.
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34 příspěvků · Připojeno 2013
The valet still contains a RFID chip, same as the other keys, but is cut differently to prevent access to the glovebox. If it will turn the car on but won’t start it and the other keys work just fine, they never programmed it to the car. Take it back and have them make sure all of the keys work properly with the car.
mrlynn Discussion starter
42 příspěvků · Připojeno 2008
OK, I finally broke down and called the Parts Dept at our local Subaru dealer, where I had the new keys made.
The parts guy said that they can’t make ‘valet keys’ for 2007 Outbacks. What they sold me was a ‘door key’, which has no chip, and cannot start the car. It will open the doors and turn on the ignition—so you can listen to the radio, I guess. I forgot to ask if it will open the glovebox. It cost $10. Don’t ask me why I bought it.
I’ll give it to my wife to keep in her purse, in case she ever accidentally locks herself out. She claims that’s impossible, but. . .
Thanks for the responses. False alarm, I guess.
1753 příspěvků · Připojeno 2010
They sold you a $1 key for $10 is what they did. If it were my, I’d return it. Obviously they didn’t explain what the key does very well at the point of sale. If they can’t create a valet key then they shouldn’t have told you it was a valet key.
And if I remember correctly, the alarm will go off if you unlock the car manually, after locking it with a remote, and turn the ignition on. Rendering the key pretty useless.
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mrlynn Discussion starter
42 příspěvků · Připojeno 2008
They sold you a $1 key for $10 is what they did. If it were my, I’d return it. Obviously they didn’t explain what the key does very well at the point of sale. If they can’t create a valet key then they shouldn’t have told you it was a valet key.
Well, it was several months ago, so I’ll have to chalk it up to customer stupidity.
And if I remember correctly, the alarm will go off if you unlock the car manually, after locking it with a remote, and turn the ignition on. Rendering the key pretty useless.
I don’t think so. I’ve unlocked the car manually many times, as I don’t carry the remote with me (I don’t usually drive the car), and no alarm has gone off. Then, I don’t know if this one actually has an alarm. Does have a red blinking security-system light, but no sign of what it does.
19438 příspěvků · Připojeno 2004
isn’t there still a ‘valet mode’ you place the security system in? wouldn’t the key work then?
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mrlynn Discussion starter
42 příspěvků · Připojeno 2008
Good question; I’ll have to check the owner’s manual. Although the parts guy told me that a true valet key will have a chip in it; he says this one doesn’t.
68 příspěvků · Připojeno 2016
I ran into this same issue with a 2007-ish oyota Corolla. Had what I thought was a valet key, and would crank the engine but never start it. Then I tried the glovebox and it unlocked it. It made ZERO sense.
However, yes it appears it’s a good last-ditch thing to have around in case you lock the keys in the car. The thing to do is use duct/foil tape on it and secure it behind the license plate. If you have license plate screws that are straight-slot, you can undo them with a dime or penny or whatever. After locking my keys in my truck twice in one week, I learned this simple trick from the locksmith who cut me an additional key for that exact purpose.
4475 příspěvků · Připojeno 2011
There needs to be some disambiguation between «valet» key and «non-transponder key that won’t start your car». . . we lockies just call them plain metal keys.
A valet key by definition will only operate enough locks to get in and start/drive the car. . . so no glove box, trunk, seat backs, trunk release lockout, etc., etc.
Lots of people get plain metal copies of chip keys for reasons of cost, but the person selling the key should explain the limitations. It will never start the car, it can never be made to start the car, and it’s primary use is to get you back into the car in the event you find yourself locked out. It’s handy to have if you lose all your keys as it WILL save some money and time if you hire a locksmith to replace them, but that’s about all you can do with it.
We do this every day. We hear people freak out over the cost of chip keys every day. We offer the metal key and explain the limitations clearly and concisely, and often even go so far as to demonstrate that it won’t start the car (as some folks refuse to believe their cars are equipped with an immobilizer as ‘you can’t see the chip’).
We still occasionally get people who call irate that they lost their only chip key and the key we sold them won’t start the car.
What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate. . .
Zdá se, že dostávám hodně slov typu „vejde se mi xx do auta?“ e-maily. . . Nejsem autoritou na všechno Subaru, takže vám mohu velmi dobře odpovědět špatně, protože mě nikdo jiný nezkontroluje. Nejprve prosím hledejte nebo se zeptejte na fóru. . .když vám odpovím e-mailem, nikdy se to nezveřejní a nikdo jiný nemůže mou odpověď potvrdit ani vyvrátit.
