My son lost the only key for my 98 camry xle v6. It sounds like there is no fix for this except to replace the computer. It seems I should be able to buy a junk yard computer with appropriate key and swap them out. I have a cut non chip key that fits but no chip. If I get a junkyard key & computer set It seems I should be able to buy a new chipped key, cut it to match my non chiped key and program the computer to recognize the new key. Which computer do I need to replace? Where is it? Does this sound doable? If so, another question. what would keep me from removing the chip from the junk yard key and epoxying it to the steering column to eliminate this crazyness and expense if the son does this again. It seems that all I would need is an old fashioned cut key without all of this chip crazyness. Make sense? I tried two dealers and they were of no help whatsoever. Their response, you need to replace the computer it will run about $2000. The car is to nice to junk. THANKS IN ADVANCE

Catfish

 

Might also ask at the Toyotanation website.

There were some year of cars that required replacing the computer. However there may now be internet companies making keys, reprogramming chips, etc that have a work around for this problem.

Start calling internet sites that program keys and also deal with programming the computer.

If you go the junk yard route find out if the car has both a master and valet key. To program extra keys via the computer you need the master key.