2000 Toyota 4runner
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

2000 Toyota 4runner Remote Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

I got a call from a guy parked near the shops in the Cedros Design District in Solana Beach. He'd already been through it once before I showed up.

He had found a locksmith through a sponsored ad, the kind with a $19 teaser rate. The tech who showed up had no marked vehicle, quoted him a new price the moment he saw the 4Runner, and handed him a fob that barely responded past arm's reach. The engine start was cutting in and out, which told me the transponder work was either skipped or done wrong. He tracked down EZ Car Keyz through Google and wanted to know how to tell a legitimate operation from a bait-and-switch.

I gave him my BSIS license number, LCO#6792. That is the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. It means a background check, insurance, and a registered business address. He pulled it up on his phone while we talked.

The fob the other guy had given him had the right shell but the remote function had never been properly synced to the vehicle. The transponder was the bigger concern. On a 2000 4Runner, if the transponder is not enrolled correctly, you get an engine that catches and then kills itself within a couple of seconds. That is exactly what he was describing.

I worked through both sides on site. Remote re-synced, transponder re-enrolled, ran every button, confirmed clean starts back to back. He watched the whole thing from maybe three feet away.

The dealer had quoted him more than twice what I charged, and they wanted the truck brought in. He was already parked. The job was done where he stood.

BSIS Licensed

LCO#6792

CA Bureau of Security & Investigative Services

NASTF Certified

National Automotive Service Task Force

Fully Insured

Liability & vehicle damage coverage

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