1998 Toyota 4runner
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in Ventura County
Locked Out? | Help is On the Way
Whether you lost your only key, it was stolen, or it just stopped working, we handle it. No existing key needed. Our technicians program new keys directly to your vehicle's computer.
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1998 Toyota 4runner
Key Options
Dealer-grade key for a fair, honest price
Stranded? Dealer vs Mobile Locksmith
Emergency key replacement: mobile locksmith vs dealer
1998 Toyota 4runner MECHANICAL-KEY Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional
A guy at the library near Promenade Park in Ventura flagged me down in the parking lot. He had a 1998 4Runner that another locksmith had already tried to program a key for. Full price paid, key in hand, engine cranked but killed fuel after two seconds flat. Classic immobilizer rejection. The other tech told him the transponder ID box (89780-35020) was fried and left.
The ID box was fine. I checked it first thing.
What happened was the previous locksmith did not complete Toyota's registration sequence. On these third-gen 4Runners, the immobilizer needs a seed calculation and a timed countdown before the 4C transponder commits to permanent memory. If you rush it or skip a step, the key writes temporarily and then the module dumps it on the next power cycle. Looks like it worked, until it does not.
I used my TOY43 Lishi to verify the blade cut matched his cylinder, then connected through OBD with my IM608. Cleared the failed registration, ran a clean reset with the full security sequence, and waited out the timer. The IM608 screen confirmed the new key was stored permanently in the immobilizer.
He turned the key and the engine held. No two-second crank-and-die. No fuel cutoff.
I showed him the confirmation screen because that is the proof the job is actually done, not just attempted. He had already paid someone once for a guess. This time he got a fix.
Save vs the Dealer on Your Toyota 4runner Key
Get your key for hundreds less than the dealer. Same quality, same result, better price.
Toyota 4runner Rapid Response, Done Right
Rapid response in the field
Toyota Keys: From Panic to Five Stars
Emergency rescues that earned five stars
“Fast, affordable, and a great price. Marco did an amazing job and made a key for our Nissan Kicks quickly and professionally. Everything worked perfectly.”
“I got locked out of my vehicle and also lost my key. Marco came out, made a new key for my Toyota, and got me back on the road. He was professional, friendly, and clearly knows what he is doing.”
“My ignition would not turn in La Jolla and I thought I needed a tow. EZ Car Keyz repaired the ignition on the spot and also made a spare key for safety. The technician worked carefully and confidently.”
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