I have a 2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited that has the independent immobilizer unit behind the dash cluster. I am a technician myself but I usually dont deal with systems like this as I work with Heavy Duty and typically chevy 350 engines. Basically I know there is like 3 different types of vehicles 1 of which is a foreign vehicle which mine is and they say you need to pull the immobilizer, unsoder the cpu for it, flash the BIOS with the new key information so that the immobilizer can recognize the key. Now the dealership has said that the process is a little different that it gets programmed through the OBD2 port, as a technician I have the tools but not the knowledge to do it. Can anyone shed some insight as to how to get the immobilizer ecu reset so that I can get a key registered to the unit? I have an obd2 cable with laptop access but again toyota other than basic engine repair isnt usually my specialty.
3 Answers
I am a locksmith and regularly make keys for Sequoia's.
Your immobilizer ecu is indeed behind the instrument cluster. Its a black box about 2inch x 2inch with a white label on it.
There is NO obd2 access to the immobilizer. You must either have a current working MASTER key or the immo box must be removed and the memory read directly from the eeprom chip. Once the memory is read you can manipulate it to add new master keys or extract current master key data or even return it to a virgin state.
This video I made is for a Avalon ECU but programming keys for the immobilizer box on sequoia is the same process. The only difference is that it uses a DIP8 eeprom instead of a soic8 eeprom and a different transponder chip.
Virgin file install : (will require a second procedure after on the sequioa's) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1aG67hqvXg
Extract current key data: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2sJtWd63s0
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Vehicle immobilizers come in various configurations; non chipped ignition keys with a separate remote for dual purpose use of locking/enabling factory theft deterrent and unlocking/disabling theft deterrent, chipped keys without a remote, and remotes broadcasting 24/7 for keyless entry/unlocking without pressing a remote button and locking without pressing a remote button with button presses always optional. According to online info, your Toyota should allow you, the owner, to program new chipped and cut keys, yourself. This is just one video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=HpsHhNOaDe. If I'm mistaken and this video does not help you in programming a replacement key(s), reply and I will delete this from disseminating misinformation. Basically, you should be able to buy replacement uncut chipped keys wherever its sold, bring it to key cutter with your original key, have it cut, then follow procedures for diy programming of the new chipped key to have the electronics learn a new chipped code in addition to your key. Some manufacturers allow between four to six keys for spares. Beware of dealers spouting disinformation about older immobilizer systems that have to be programmed by a dealer for new keys..... There's a world of electronics related to vehicle immobilizers and I haven't begun to describe them.
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I had my keys stolen for my 2005 limited with no secondary master key, and it was broken down to me like this: not even Toyota corporation had any guidance for this particular security system due to a isolated variation in ecm/ecu antitheft similar to those used by luxury sister Lexus vehicles at the time were put in certain Toyota vehicles I think from late year 2004s through I believe they said as late as some few 2006's-but definitely in an 05.. that should the master keys get lost for these select vehicles even if you still had a valet key or even another key that could drive with that wasn't a "master" key upon its programming no amount of proof of ownership or friends who were locksmith's or Toyota certified technicians you had the system could not be disabled or bypassed within reason (my cousin is a locksmith and after explaining this to him as well on a phone call he told me no problem he could easily assign a new key especially one I bought blank from Toyota he'd need to cut and program. In the short of it he drove into town from his place about 60 miles out and plugged his laptop and obd jig for locksmith's into my truck and that was the moment he was taught about that one year for Toyota/Lexus that was a year only system they tried out and where he should have been able to select and confirm vehicle year make and model, the bar to 2005 was not just one that didn't do anything when chosen the whole bar was missing in his database entirely. The rig he had was the most modern and technical as well as restricted to purchase by most of their kind I think he said he was allowed to buy his from the company he was trained under upon completion for a discount still costing ten grand lol... The year 2004 was there above and 2006 as well beneath and just blank where 05 should have been, surprisingly he wasn't able to do anything for me and headed home. The dealership said they had a Lexus car that's been sitting out on the lot for over two years because of the exact same problem... Then I started researching swap out possibilities and Toyota made it a hell of a task. But I did find a service that was able to help still. After digging a few weeks online I weeded out a site that didn't seem as bogus as the rest claiming they could but upon specifying the vehicle in question said no you're screwed... It's a guy out of Washington State he flashes the ecm... Or ecu.... the box behind the dash cluster... You have to pull it and send it with an uncut blank key and a lock cylinder from the door unless you have a key that can mechanically turn the locks and ignition cylinders just not start the vehicle, then you can send just the ECU and the blank cut key down to him and he flashes it to however Many keys you want which you can buy from him as well I think, he sticks a business logo button to the back of the key and they ship to your home included in pricing. Mine for two master keys programmed after flashing the box came to a few hundred bucks around 4 or 5 even I can't remember exactly, and just when I started worrying I got burned on the money I got a hold of the guy and my box and keys arrived about a week later then was just plug and play. Fired right up first try. Heads up though, my package wound up sitting at the post office in his po box for nearly a week because he didn't get notification it was at the place for some reason, and due to dwindling market for such a specific to one year Toyota service like his he now only checks his po box weekly explaining that over time people having this problem has grown more and more infrequent with time so an already lesser produced rig around 46k sequoias for that year and trim manufactured or something growing fewer and fewer in numbers all the time business is slowing in that specialized procedure. Once he had the parts however, it quickly got done shipped back and worked still three and a half years since then. I wasn't able to ever find any other technicians or services who was specifically capable of accomplishing the reflash for an 2005 sequoia limited either, for what it's worth the guy was a life saver and I recommend one hundred percent plus a tip lol his web domain looks like it's no longer what he is using now upon checking. Attempting to contact him directly via email or telephone first might be a good idea before anything else. concerned over my module arrived but wasn't updated to picked up or received, and said "awaiting recipient" at post office for like 3 days... Fearing I got scammed when seeing a janky site named almost the same that did offer service for money that just took the money they were sent and didn't respond anymore and honestly thought they got me not spotting the spelling was off from the outfit I just paid to do the key flash and searched deeper ending up finding a phone number that I assume probably was his private residential line Google associated with his business somehow surprising him by calling on that number particularly, and my aggression at first, believing I was out my cash on top of my truck too, before changing my tune after explaining the weekly thing, and a couple days later my stuff arrived here in Butte Montana from Western Washington where the guy seemingly succeeded with flashing the infamous 05 immobilizer problem nobody else could touch. Doing the impossible and only cost me around 600 bucks all together in the end, about a week and a half and back on the road. Oh it's important to mention having this flashing performed on your vehicle will terminate any warranty that existed for certain. I also read something to the effect of flashing the older module updates performance data and specs for emissions HP etc from whatever was recorded in 05 to modern parameters possibly slightly improving aspects of vehicle performance. Not sure how much I believe that part personally and any changes weren't noticeable to me whatsoever apologies for posting a novel for my answer here but I felt what was mentioned here contributes to the solution to one of the more tricky (if not the most)fubar snag ups I've come against in my love hate with internal combustion engines anyway. And it worked. Maybe now there's something else but I couldn't find one good luck. this is the address I sent the hardware to for sure:
EZcarkey PO Box 916, Graham, Washington, 98338, United States
Hope it helps. Google that his site looked like it may have changed
