I guess I've committed to the car--got rid of the dealer inventory tag ring tonight and popped for a couple 'Nissan Maxima' leather key rings. I also want a couple cut-to-code OEM keys made. Anyone know which Nissan keys fit our cars? I have 1 Ilco chrome copy and 1 original glued-together triangular blackhead at the moment. Do the later oval blackheads fit? Or if I'm feeling really fancy, one of those stainless steel GTR keys that were popular 8-9 years ago?

 

I think Nissan didn't start using key codes till the 90s (if you lost your key pull the pass side lock out of the door and take it to a locksmith) found that out when I bought my 87 that didn't have a key for it, as far as the oval heads i do think they work, think I had one for my 87...

 

I'm pretty sure they were using them then...I believe the owner's manual says something about the "X" number stamped on the factory key is the key code along with the tag on the backside of the glovebox.

When I was cleaning the car out last year, I did find an old chrome OEM Nissan key stamped X5644 under the backseat. Doesn't fit any lock on my car and doesn't match the tag on the back of the glovebox so mine's either been rekeyed or a sales person in the backseat during the test drive lost it...it looks brand new. If anyone needs an OE Nissan key X5644...PM me..I'll give you a good deal.

Thanks for the info on the oval blackheads. NOS ones pop up on ebay every now and then and it seems like they should fit...groove pattern looks about the same but apparently the shank depth is different on some of them which yields a different bitting.

 

Any key from around 1980 to '94 should fit. If you want one of the OEM oval ones, I have 3 of them, I could probably part with one for $25.

Or if you've got money to blow: http://forums.maxima.org/other-sale-...key-blank.html

 

yea on the long ones you just put the tip in (sorry it was there, had to use it) as for the code yes there is one, buuutttttttt from what I was told when I had to get a key for my 87, is that nissan didn't start the data base for the keys till the 90s. Car was bought at auction and started with a worn nissan key (ignition doesn't have all the tumblers) but couldn't unlock my doors, and the person I got the car from wanted his worn key back cuz it worked in most nissans of that key style