I just purchase one of these.
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t45999.html

I was wondering is there a way where we can get it to work with our car keys. Or does anybody have one of these. Since our keys have a "chip" in it? Thanks!

 

I don't think you can do it. Even th guy who posted said it works with any key that is "not chipped".

 

ive actually seen a tC owner on cardomain.com that has one of these. Dont know the name or person but i know he does.

 

you could do it with a spec

 

It is do-able. I'm not sure where in the key is it chipped for our key.

 

our keys are only chipped for the reason of alarm,unlock,lock features. other than that this key should work. I am also sure that someone on here could custom fab a switchblade style key to work with all the above mentioned features. come on guys get to work.

 

That thing is awesome! I wish I had money so I could get one... Oh well. Maybe soon

 

Assuming the key blade works with our car...you can move the 'chip', or IMMOBILIZER, from our key to the switch blade with some fab work.

To locate your immobilizer, open up your key with a flathead screwdriver in the most obvious of places. (Use a good sized screwdriver or you will mar the key) When the cap is off you will see the big black part, and then a smaller black part that is embedded into the gray plastic. The big one is your electronics to control your remote entry. The smaller black piece is the immobilizer.

If you cut out that immobilizer (be careful to not cut it or you will kill it) and place it into the switchblade key, near the front of the key, it should work out fine.

Now then, the immobilizer has nothing to do with the remote entry, it only deals with the ignition of the car. The car knows certain immobilizer ID's and allows only keys with those ID's to start the car. In this manner, no one can copy your key and drive off with your car.

An interesting fact that someone may observe, the immobilizer is not connected to the key fob's battery in any way!! If you think about this for a second, if the immobilizer worked from the battery then you would not be able to start your car with a bad key fob battery. In fact, the cars ignition module powers up the immobilizer when its in range over Low Frequency.

 

now what is the distance of the range?

 

The range for the immobilizer is...not much. That said, the car only checks for the immobilizer when you put the key all the way into the ignition.

 

ah I was going to do a sweet ghetto mod cause I hate having the fob and key in one unit. Are we talking inches or not even that far? And does it constantly check for the immob or is it only when you turn on the car?

 

i remember seeing a post a while back where a dog swallowed a tc owners' key and they only way the car would start is if they doggy was in the passenger seat! so you have a LITTLE bit of play....

 

I don't really know the range, I know the one that we make is maybe an inch.

If you already have the switchblade you can test this by putting that into the ignition and watch the blinking immobilizer light. (If memory serves me right is opposite of the min/hour adjust, its a pic of a car with a key I believe)
When you put the key into the ignition and the light turns off, then its within range.

Note: Do not test this with a second key because it will also have an immobilizer. I do not know what the light does when it fails an immobilizer test.

The car will most likely test the immobilizer it at key in and ignition start.

 

will this work if you have an aftermarket alarm system for example Clifford, Viper, etc?

 

I'm not really sure. If the system bypasses the immobilizer in any way then it may work without having to move the immobilizer chip. (Like, if you have remote start)

I work on OEM systems and am a little clueless on after market systems.

 

The alarm system that i have does have a remote start and it does have a Immobilizer Bypass Module. so this means that i don't have a factory immobilizer anymore so that means i can use any key that does not have a chip or transponder? also the Alarm i have is Clifford Rsx Matrix 3.5... Please Advice

 

Let me ask this, did they have to cut up a key for this 'Immobilizer Bypass'.

Though, here is a good way to find out if you can use a switchblade without transferring the immobilizer. Drive to a hardware store. Have a key made for $1.27. Try to start your car, if it starts and stalls...then no. If it starts normally, then, yes, a switchblade key for you will work. (Though I think the immobilizer bypass compromises your security more then a fancy alarm system)

 

i had to sacrfice the valet key for the remote start, maybe this answered your question?

 

^^ that means they probably took the immobleizer from the valet key

 

Yeah, that means no matter what starts your car, it will be immobilizer authenticated.