Replacing worn-out key fobs is a common issue for 2007 Toyota Rav4 owners. If your key fob buttons are failing, you might be considering your replacement options. One owner decided to explore a cost-effective route by purchasing blank key fobs online and seeking local locksmith services. Here’s a firsthand account of the key replacement experience and the subsequent challenge of programming the remote functions for a 2007 Rav4.
Key Replacement and Unexpected Immobilizer Behavior
Initially, the owner contacted a dealership for key fob replacement but found it to be expensive. Locksmiths offered a more affordable alternative: buying blank key fobs and having them cut and programmed. The owner opted for blank keys from Amazon and visited a locksmith. For a reasonable price of $15 per key, the locksmith expertly cut the keys. Surprisingly, these newly cut keys not only worked in the car doors but also started the engine without any programming. The locksmith mentioned that some vehicles might not have the immobilizer feature enabled, which seemed to be the case here. Despite the expectation of needing programming to start the car, the 2007 Rav4 ran perfectly with the unprogrammed keys. This provided functional spare keys capable of starting the vehicle without any complex procedures.
Remote Programming Challenges
With the keys successfully starting the car, the next step was to program the remote buttons for locking and unlocking. The owner attempted the widely circulated manual programming sequence involving key insertion, removal, and door closing/opening repetitions. Despite following the instructions available on numerous websites and videos, the programming sequence proved unsuccessful. This led to an interesting observation: when an original key is inserted with the driver’s door open, the car doesn’t register the key’s presence in the ignition. This raised a question: Could the car’s system need to detect the key’s presence for the remote programming sequence to even initiate? Is it possible that the standard insert/remove method for remote programming only works if the car recognizes the key in the ignition in the first place? This observation highlights a potential factor often overlooked in standard remote programming guides for the 2007 Rav4.
