Question 1

How do I spot a fake locksmith before I get ripped off?

Accepted Answer

Three things to check before anyone touches your CT.

First, a real business name with a physical address and consistent reviews on Google. Scam operations run dozens of phone numbers and fake business names that all route to the same call center, and the reviews are either nonexistent or clearly planted.

Second, ask for a firm estimate over the phone for your specific year and model. If they won't give you a number until they're standing next to your car, that's the setup for the bait-and-switch. A legitimate locksmith knows what a 2017 Lexus CT Smart Key job involves before they arrive.

Third, ask for their California BSIS license number on the spot. Every locksmith company operating in this state is required to carry one and give it to you on request. No number, no job.

Question 2

What exactly is a Smart Key and how does it work on the CT?

Accepted Answer

The Smart Key on the 2017 CT is not just a remote. It contains a transponder that communicates with the vehicle security system to authorize the engine to start. When the system sees a fob it does not recognize, it refuses to run - even if the key blade physically turns the cylinder, because the CT does not use a conventional ignition cylinder in the same way a traditional turn-key car does.

The fob also has four buttons for remote functions, and the door handles have capacitive touch sensors for lock and unlock when you're carrying the fob. All of that is battery-dependent, which is why a failing CR1632 can cause symptoms that look like an electronics problem before the fob goes completely dark.

What scam locksmiths sometimes do: they tell you the key can't be programmed and push for unnecessary module or lock replacements. A qualified locksmith programs the replacement fob through the diagnostic port without replacing any hardware.

Question 3

What equipment do you actually use to program a Lexus CT key?

Accepted Answer

Professional immobilizer programmers that communicate through the OBD-II port and run the security authorization sequence the vehicle expects. For the 2017 CT, this is a well-supported job - the platform is common enough that most serious Toyota/Lexus tools handle it without drama.

If a locksmith can't tell you specifically what tool they use on your year and model, or they claim they need to take the car somewhere else, that's a capability gap. The job is done on site, in your driveway or parking spot, start to finish.

Question 4

I only have one key left for my CT. Should I get a spare now or wait until it fails?

Accepted Answer

Get it now. Add-a-key when you have one working fob is noticeably faster than all-keys-lost, and costs less. When you have a working key present, the programming sequence uses it as part of the verification process and skips several steps.

All-keys-lost on a Smart Key vehicle requires a full security reset through the diagnostic port, which takes longer and involves more steps. Some owners on CT forums have posted about waiting days at the dealer for an all-keys-lost appointment because it needs to be scheduled differently than a standard spare. A spare made today while you still have the original is the better move.

Question 5

My CT's door handle touch-unlock is flaky - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Is the fob failing?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. If the start button still reads the fob normally and the remote lock and unlock buttons work from a distance, the fob is probably fine.

Touch-unlock on this generation uses capacitive sensors built into the door handle. They're sensitive to moisture, grime buildup, and even heavy hand lotion. Wipe down the handle area and test again. If the problem is isolated to one door only, that points to the handle sensor or that door's wiring rather than the fob itself. If both handles are intermittent at the same time, then a low CR1632 is the first thing to swap before chasing anything else.

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