My girlfriend has a 1999 Maxima and in this year the ignition key has a security chip.

A few years back she had an automatic starter installed and at that time they took her spare key and taped it inside the dash (no idea where they actually put it) so that it would active / turn on the car when the car was started remotely.

She now only has one key to use in the ignition and wants to get me a spare key. She had asked several times to dealership and installers and they all said that she would need to get an entire new set of keys to have new chips installed if she wanted a spare.

In theory to me, I would think that if I had a spare key made without a chip, the car would still start because there is a key taped inside the dash that activates the car at time of ignition.

Am I thinking about this correctly? Do you think this would work?

Thanks for any answers!

-Steve

 

That will probably work. Did the dealerships/installers know that a spare with the chip is taped in the dash?

 

You should be right, spend 3 bucks and get a new non chipped key made and find out.

 

Yes. The installer was the one that taped the key in the dash in the first place.

Thanks for confirming my thoughts guys. I'm going to run to best buy and talk to them quick and probably pick up a key without the chip. What do I have loose... $3 bucks at most.

I'll post how it works out.

 

I was thinking of doing that for my car since the winters here are bad. Let me know how that works for you and i may follow suit....

 

That doesn't work.

The key isn't taped under the dash anywhere, it's in a security module that came with the remote start system. The key is in a box under the dash and the signal from that hidden key is only transmitted when the remote start is activated.

If you can get the original paperwork from the installation you should see the additional module which needed to be installed in order to make the remote start work and keep the vehicles security system operating correctly.

 

^^ +1.

If you want to permanently do away with the transponder setup, you can wire up the bypass module (with the extra key) to become active everytime you have the ignition on....that way you can cut as many keys as you want, and not have to worry about that stupid transponder.