Question 1

Do I have to go to the Lexus dealer to get a replacement key for my 2009 GS?

Accepted Answer

No. A mobile locksmith with the right diagnostic equipment can register a new smart key to your 2009 GS on site, wherever the car is parked. The dealer is one option, not the only option.

The dealer process on these involves ordering the fob through parts, waiting for it to arrive, scheduling a programming appointment, and paying separate charges for the fob, labor, and shop fees. If the car is not drivable because you have zero working keys, add a tow to that list. With me, I come to you in Alpine or out in Peutz Valley, handle the whole job in one visit, and the price covers everything. Call for the number.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key and how does the 2009 Lexus GS use one?

Accepted Answer

A smart key is a fob that does two different jobs. First, it broadcasts a low-frequency signal that the car picks up when you approach or touch the door handle, so the doors can lock and unlock without you pressing a button. Second, it carries a programmed transponder element that the immobilizer checks before allowing the engine to run. Both functions have to be working, and both are tied to the specific VIN through programming.

Your 2009 GS fob has four buttons and also contains a mechanical emergency blade that slides out of the housing. That blade lets you unlock the door manually if the fob battery dies completely. It is not programmed, just cut to the lock.

If the fob is never registered to the vehicle through the diagnostic port, none of the smart functions work, regardless of how good the battery is or how correct the cut is. Programming is not optional on this system.

Question 3

How long does the dealer actually take for a 2009 Lexus GS key replacement?

Accepted Answer

Parts availability on a 2009 GS fob at a Lexus dealer is not guaranteed off the shelf. Older model years sometimes require the parts department to locate and order the fob, which adds days. Once the fob is in, the programming appointment is a separate visit. Owners on GS forums have noted that getting all of this coordinated at a dealer took the better part of a week even when nothing went wrong.

With EZ Car Keyz, the job is done in one trip. I carry stock for these. The whole process at your car, in Alpine or anywhere nearby, runs under an hour when it is a standard spare key situation.

Question 4

I have one working key for my 2009 GS. Should I get a spare now or wait until there is a problem?

Accepted Answer

Get the spare now. This comes up constantly on GS owner forums, and the owners who waited all say the same thing after the fact.

The 2009 GS is old enough that fob housings crack, buttons wear out, and batteries get neglected. If your one key fails or gets lost, you are looking at an all-keys-lost situation, which takes longer and costs more than simply adding a spare while a working key is present. Having a working key on hand speeds up the registration process and in some cases gives the diagnostic tool a cleaner path through the procedure. A spare key sitting in a drawer at home has saved a lot of people a bad morning.

Question 5

My 2009 GS starts fine but the door handles stopped recognizing the fob. What is going on?

Accepted Answer

This specific symptom, where the car starts but passive entry at the door handles stops working, points away from the key itself and toward either the door handle antennas or the body-side receiver for the smart entry system. The start function and the passive entry function use different parts of the system, so when one works and the other does not, the fob is usually not the culprit.

Check the obvious first: battery level in the fob and whether the behavior is on all doors or just one. A single door acting up is almost always a hardware or wiring issue at that door. All doors failing at once while start still works suggests a receiver or module issue on the vehicle side. Either way, that diagnosis happens at the car, not over the phone.

2009 Lexus GS
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

Background Checked | Fully Bonded

2009 Lexus GS
Key Options

Lexus Key Credentials Side by Side

2009 Lexus GS Smart Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

Save vs the Dealer on Your Lexus GS Key

Lexus GS Rapid Response, Done Right

Proven by 100+ Lexus Customers

Lexus GS Mobile Service FAQ

Lexus GS Key Service Areas

Trusted Lexus GS Key Replacement

2009 Lexus GSKey Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

Background Checked | Fully Bonded

2009 Lexus GSKey Options