2000 Lexus RX key replacement | Wilshire Lock & Key

The 2000–2003 RX uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Lexus RX key guide.

2000 Lexus RX: key facts

Key type: Transponder chip key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: 4C
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

RX300: 4C chip on a laser-cut TOY48 short blade with a separate remote fob. All-keys-lost on the earliest cars can require an immobilizer ECU reset rather than a quick OBD add — we confirm by year and VIN.

What kind of key does a 2000 Lexus RX use?

The 2000 RX300 is a transponder car, not a push-to-start car. The key has a 4C chip inside the head, and the blade is a laser-cut TOY48 short blade. The remote lock and unlock buttons are on a separate fob, not built into the key. Our chip information for this year is verified against two hardware references, so we're not guessing on the chip family.

What that means for you: the chip is what lets the engine run. The blade only turns the ignition and the locks. A key cut at a hardware store with no chip in it may feel right in the ignition, but the car will not start with it. That is one of the most common problems we see with this model.

The car also has a mechanical backup key. If your fob dies, the key blade still does its job, so you aren't stranded by a dead remote the way you might be with a push-button car.

Key type: transponder with 4C chip
Blade: laser-cut TOY48, short
Remote: separate fob
Programming: through the OBD port, with no NASTF SDRM access needed

Duplicate key or all keys lost: what changes?

If you still have a working key, making a duplicate is the simpler job. For this setup the original key is needed to clone or copy from, so bring it in or have it on hand when we come to you. We cut the blade, match the chip, and program the new key to the car through the OBD port.

If every key is gone, we can still make you a new one. All keys lost is possible on this year, but it is a bigger job than adding a spare. On the earliest cars, it can require an immobilizer ECU reset rather than a quick OBD add. We decide which route your car needs by year and VIN, not by assumption.

Call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the year, model and whether you have any working key.
We confirm the details against your VIN so we know which procedure applies.
We come to you with a mobile van, or you bring the car to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd.
We cut the laser-cut blade and program the 4C transponder through OBD, or do the immobilizer reset if your car calls for it.
You test the key in the ignition, the door and the trunk before we finish.

What affects the cost of a 2000 RX key?

We don't quote numbers on a web page because several things change the job, and we'd rather explain them than guess. The biggest one is whether you have a working key. A duplicate from an existing key is usually the more economical route. All keys lost takes more time and sometimes more equipment.

The other factors are whether your car needs the immobilizer ECU reset or the standard OBD programming, whether you also need a new remote fob, and where the car is. A mobile visit differs from a drop-off at the shop. Tell us the situation when you call and we'll explain what applies to your car.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

What we confirm by VIN

Most of this year's data is verified, but one point depends on the individual car. The note on early RX300s is that all-keys-lost can mean an immobilizer ECU reset instead of a fast OBD add. We can't say from the year alone which one yours needs, so we confirm by year and VIN, and in person if necessary. We'd rather tell you that than promise a quick fix that doesn't fit.

If you want the broader picture, see our pages on Lexus RX keys by year and all Lexus key service.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for this car

We've been in business since 1987, with a storefront in Westwood and mobile vans that serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You deal with one company, not a dispatch middleman who sends whoever is free. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith you call for it. If you'd rather write than call, use our contact page. For other makes, start at car key services.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2000 Lexus RX have a push-to-start key?

No. The 2000 RX300 uses a traditional transponder key that goes into the ignition. It has a 4C chip and a laser-cut TOY48 short blade, with a separate remote fob.

Will a hardware-store copy start my 2000 RX?

No. A copy without a transponder chip will not start the car. The chip has to be programmed to the car, so the key needs to be a proper transponder key.

Can you make a key if I've lost all of them?

Yes, all keys lost is possible on this year. On the earliest cars it can require an immobilizer ECU reset instead of a quick OBD add. We confirm by year and VIN which applies to your car.

Do I need to bring my original key?

For duplication, yes. The original key is needed to copy from. If you have no key at all, that is an all-keys-lost job, which we handle differently.

Is special dealer software needed to program it?

Not for this year. Programming is done through the OBD port, and NASTF SDRM access is not required. We do not send you to a dealer for this model.

My key won't turn in the ignition. Is the key or the car at fault?

It can be either. On high-mileage cars the ignition wafers wear, and a worn or chipped laser-cut blade can also stop turning the lock. We look at both before recommending a fix.

Can you come to me, or do I need to bring the car in?

Either works. Our mobile vans come to you, or you can visit the storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood. Call (213) 577-1366 and we'll work out which makes sense.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.