Long story short - TA keys where stolen with my laptop bag out of my rental car while I was in AZ so when I got back to CA I had to get my car towed to the dealership to get keys made and starter kill disabled. They quoted me 150.00. I get a call 30 min. later and they said now the price is 515.00. Why you ask.. they said the ingnition cylinder needs to be replaced to match the VATs key. Also stated that a new key made with the original unique key code and my matching VIN will not start the vehicle due to something within the ingnition cylinder??? I'm not getting this.
Has anyone ever had to replace keys and get this kind of hassel?? Can some shed some light here on how this system works and a possible cheaper route for my little problem here?

 

Wow. I'd rather get Tunercats and disable the vats. Still would be less than half of what theyre asking.

 

All they should have to do is read the VIN to get the right key and key pellet code and cut a new key. That is all. You are being seriously ripped off. Report these people to their regional manager.
The reader in the key cylinder is a dumb device and only reads the pellet in the key. It is NOT matched to the key except for the key profile, itself (like any other key).