I didn't have to take mine to a dealership, I found instructions at a forum such as this....I have a 1995 4Runner, with the am/fm/cassette.....if your display sais "SEC" and/or you have a red light showing (possibly key shaped like mine was) on the radio, then this is what I did.
The following instructions also worked for a 2003 Camry in Australia with a 6 stacker CD model radio.
1. hold down "ff" (fast forward on the tape deck) and preset "1" (on the radio buttons) at the same time...this should bring up the code entry mode - you should see either three or four dashes. If you have a radio with a CD press "SEEK" and preset "1" together.
Note: if it doesn't work, you need to turn the ignition key off and on for every re-try after a failed attempt.
2. Now _ _ _ will be displaced on the LCD screen indicating a 3 digit code. If _ _ _ _ it is a 4 digit code. The code will either be the last three or four digits of the radio model code on the faceplate of the radio (normally written in small writing so look hard), OR the last three or four digits of your vin number. (On the 4Runner, it happened to be the last three of the vin number.). For the Camry it was neither. So if you see three dashes, you need three digit...four dashes, etc.
3. Using the radio preset buttons, use the first button to enter the first digit, second for the second, etc... just keep pushing each button until the right digit is displayed.
For example the Camry code was 809. To enter the code
Press 111111111 (that's Preset 1 nine times and 8 _ _ should be displayed.
Press 2 (that's Preset 2 once and 8 0 _ should be displayed.
Press 3333333333 (that's Preset 3 ten times and 8 0 9 should be displayed.
4. Once you have your code displayed, push and hold either "scan" (on a radio with a CD), "sdk", or "T1" in LESS than 9 seconds (depending on your radio model)...this WILL turn the radio OFF. ( on mine, the only one of those three I had was "scan".)
5. Now, you should be able to turn the radio ON with the normal power button and normal operation should resume.....well, mine did at least.
Note: The Instructions state not to get more than 9 wrong attempts entering the code. If you do, Toyota will need to remove the radio to fix the problem. If you can't guess the code, contact the dealer the vehicle was originally purchased from and they should be able to give you the code, some give the code for free.
If another key combination worked for you, then please update this post as i did for the Camry.
Hope this helps, good luck!!
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