2000 Lexus LS Key Replacement

2000 Lexus LS: key facts

Key type: Transponder chip key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: Varies by trim — we confirm by VIN
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Final LS400 year. Industry references list the Texas 4C chip on the long TOY40 blade, but catalog coverage for the LS400 is thin — we confirm from the key stamp or VIN. All-keys-lost on cars this old can require an immobilizer ECU reset.

What kind of key does a 2000 Lexus LS use?

The 2000 LS is a transponder-key car. It is not push-to-start. There is a metal blade that turns the ignition and a chip inside the head that talks to the car's immobilizer. If the blade is right but the chip is missing or wrong, the key may turn but the engine will not run.

Industry references list the Texas 4C chip on the long TOY40 blade for this car. Catalog coverage for the LS400 is thin, though, so we do not treat that as settled. We read the stamp on your existing key or run the VIN, and we confirm in person before we cut or program anything. More on that below.

There is also a mechanical backup key for this car. If you have one, it is worth knowing where it is, because it can matter for how we approach the job.

This is the final LS400 model year in our records, so these are older cars. That affects what tends to go wrong with the key and the ignition:

Worn ignition wafers on high-mileage cars, which make a good key feel sticky or refuse to turn.
A worn or chipped laser-cut blade that stops turning the lock.
Non-transponder hardware-store copies, which will not start the car no matter how smoothly they turn.

Duplicate or all keys lost: what changes on this car?

Duplication on this setup needs an original key. If you still have one that works, copying it is the simpler job. We cut a new blade and program the new chip to the car. It is usually the more economical route compared with starting from nothing.

If every key is gone, replacement is still possible. We make a key from the VIN and the lock, then program it to the car. The catch with a car this age is that all-keys-lost can require an immobilizer ECU reset before a new key will be accepted. That is an extra step, and it is why we ask you to call rather than guess at what the job involves.

Either way, programming on this car is done through the OBD port. It does not call for NASTF SDRM access, so there is no special secure-data gate to wait on. We bring the equipment to you in a mobile van, or you can come to the storefront on Wilshire Blvd in Westwood.

How we handle a 2000 LS key job

The order of work is the same whether we come to you or you come to us.

You call (213) 577-1366. Tell us the year and model, how many working keys you have, and whether the car still starts and turns over.
We confirm the key by the stamp on your existing key, or by the VIN if you have no key at all. We do not rely on the thin catalog entry alone.
We check the ignition. If the wafers are worn, we tell you before cutting, because a new key in a worn cylinder can still fail.
We cut the blade, then program the transponder through the OBD port. If all keys were lost, we handle the immobilizer reset first if the car needs it.
We test the key in the door and ignition, start the car, and check any spare you ordered.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the cost of a 2000 Lexus LS key?

We do not quote numbers on a web page, because several things move the cost and we would rather explain them than guess:

Whether you have a working original. Duplicating from a key in hand is generally the lighter-cost option; all keys lost is more involved.
Whether an immobilizer ECU reset is needed, which is possible on all-keys-lost jobs for a car this old.
The condition of the ignition. Worn wafers may need attention in addition to the key itself.
Whether the car can be driven to us or we come to it with a mobile van.
How many keys you want made, including a spare so you are never in the all-keys-lost situation again.

What we confirm by VIN, and why you call us

This year's chip data is unverified. The 4C chip on the TOY40 blade is what references suggest, and we say so plainly instead of promising it. When you call, we confirm from the key stamp or VIN, and we tell you honestly if something does not match. If a car ever needed a dealer-only step, we would say that rather than leave you waiting.

Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, plus mobile vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You reach one company, not a dispatch middleman, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, every day.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith, including us, for their license details before work begins.

For other years and models, see Lexus LS key information, all Lexus key services, or our full car key page. If you would rather write first, use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2000 Lexus LS have a transponder chip in the key?

Yes. It uses a transponder key and is not push-to-start. Industry references list a Texas 4C chip on the long TOY40 blade, but because catalog coverage is thin we confirm from the key stamp or VIN before programming.

Can I get a copy of my key cut at a hardware store?

A hardware-store copy without a transponder chip will not start the car. The blade may fit, but the immobilizer needs a programmed chip, so the copy has to be programmed to the car.

Can you make a key if I lost every key to my 2000 LS?

Yes, all keys lost is possible on this car. On a car this old it can require an immobilizer ECU reset before the new key is accepted, which we assess when we see the car.

Do you need my original key to duplicate it?

Yes, duplication on this setup needs an original key. If you only have a worn one, bring it anyway, because it still gives us the key stamp and a blade to work from.

How is the new key programmed?

Through the OBD port. This car does not require NASTF SDRM access, so programming does not depend on that kind of secure-data credential.

My key turns hard or sticks in the ignition. Is the key the problem?

It can be either one. Worn ignition wafers are common on high-mileage cars, and a worn or chipped laser-cut blade can stop turning the lock. We look at both so a new key does not fail in a worn cylinder.

Do you come to me or do I have to bring the car in?

Both work. We have a storefront in Westwood and mobile vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Call (213) 577-1366 at any hour.

We cover all these cities

Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.