OK, I was meaning to post this earlier, but didnt have the time, so here it is. On the first monday of the year (2 jan), my car was parked on a street that is used for the new years day parade here in Philly. When my bro reminded me about this later in day, I ran down to check on my car and it was gone. I'm thinking its towed, so I approach a cop to find out where it could be towed to. Turned out that the car was not towed but moved a few streets away. The way the seat was moved means that the car was driven away. My question is, how did they manage to drive away my car??? Do the cops have keys for cars that allow them to drive off?? I managed to get off easy with a $35 ticket so I'm not complaining, but I would like to know how this was done.

 

climb in, release shifter, climb back out tow easy.
your seat was probably in their way

 

For some reason internetautomar that post cracks me up.

 

A lot of older nissan keys work on other cars. I know my 240 key would open both of my friends 240's.

 

i know a dude whos eclipse key will open my doors

 

Im guessing internetautomars guess was most likely.

But anyway, why did Nissan make it so easy for other owners of 3rd gens to enter each others car? Or do all companies do this? Why do they do something so stupid?

 

It's not just Nissans. Other makes too. When I had my 1979 Toyota Celica, that key could open Ford Festiva doors.

As cars get old, the tumblers in the locks would wear and the keys would wear. The slop contribute to the problem.

Also, manufacturers will only make so many different key patterns. If all of us on the org. got together and compared our keys, some are likely to be similar if not identical.

 

My mothers Altima Key can open and start my dads 94 ram 1500. So all you 2002 altima owner there may be a Dodge ram for you.

 

Actually bryan, the seat was pulled up closer to the steering wheel like it was a short guy adjusting the seat to drive. I doubt they towed my car since a) they would have taken it to an impound yard instead of moving it few streets away, and b) I would have been charged for towing, which I wasnt. Also, the way it was parked suggest that it was driven there. I knew about different keys unlocking the maxima, but didnt know that it was possible to start a car and drive off with a different key.

 

They mave moved the seat for ward to attach something to lock the steering wheel in a forward position. I had my car towed once and they moved my seat up and attached this thing that locked the steering wheel so it didn't move. As for keys working other locks. And like Tom said some locks get old and basically any key will work them. A lot of 89-95 Fords are prone to this. So it most likely isn't that YOUR key is working the ignition, just anything will. Notice how all the posts saying another key is working the ignition is for an older car?

 

when i first got my current max, any 3 of my maxima keys would start and lock it, after some use only the intended key started and locked it. Im sure older cars wear out egnough to where most keys will start them.

~Alex

 

It's funny how nothing was missing. So that was a legal B&E

 

makes you wonder what else law enforcement has access to, doesn't it?

 

around here they will relocate a car if it's in the way without taking it to the pound or charging for a tow.

 

I know this is an old thread but I was going through the last pages of the board for stuff I've missed out on and found this.

Hey maybe they rolled your car a few blocks down with one of those things that has wheels on it and goes on each oh your tires..lol

For the key mixing theory, I know its not a theary and works for certain cars/keys. My g/fs 89 SE keys dont work on my 93 GXE and vice versa but perhaps neither the keys or the lock/ign cylinders are worn out, I also tried my spare key for passenger side which has a diff lock cylinder off Brians old max and dont work on either of our cars, by the way Brian I got your key here for you..been meaning to drop it off.

 

I used my third gen to open my buddys 4th gen. Couldn't start it though.

 

yah right....

you drive by here all the time with the G/F

 

That key thing is helpful at times. When I worked at a used car lot, we had a big box of miscellaneous old car keys. We'd accidentally lock keys in cars all the time. When this happened, we'd grab the big box o' keys and start trying them. 9 out of 10 times, a key I'd try would work.

 

Or... Just search on line for oh like .0005 sec and you too can buy the http://www.carmasterkeys.net/ Scary the crap you can find online

 

i love the line about using it if you get locked out of your own car, ya know because $25 is much cheaper than having a spare made . the things people say to sound legit...

 

I have worked on Datsun/Nissans for 26 years now and that is normal for older Datsuns and Nissans. I have a large ring of keys to get into cars I buy that have missing keys.
SEE NO Z.