The "hoops" in the plastic housings on both of my OE ignition keys are broken and therefore I can't attach them to a key ring anymore. The keys are fine. It's just the hoops that are broken.

Does anyone know of a spot in the key's plastic housing where it might be OK to drill a small hole so I can get them on a key ring again?

This seems like pretty insignificant reason to have buy new keys and them programmed.

 

Seeing you're a 99, just drill in the top corner opposite of the chip. I've seen and heard of the top of the keys breaking off and people drilling them with no problems.

Just stay clear of the chip!

 

Where exactly in the key is the chip?

 

damn son that sucks. I would be nervous as hell to drill especially with u being a 99.

EDIT:

Isnt there a plastic or rubber cover that u could put over the key somehow that has a hole already.

Drilling should be the last resort.

 

i worked on a 2000 max yesterday with the same problem...the top hook part of the key broken off. be careful, good luck

 

It's in one of the corners on the edge where the metal shaft of the key comes out. If you look at your key from the metal shaft end, you will see the one corner has something pushed in it. Just stay a half inch away from that corner.

 

is there a little blue notch on the bottom corner of the key like in the 2001+ maximas? theoretically wouldnt the location you would want to drill be opposite of that blue tab?

 

Look on the side of the key that is near the part where the metal blade comes out, its on the bottom side of the plastic part (which side depends on which way you're looking at the key).

Just drill the top near where the old ring was and you'll be fine.

 

i bought my 1999 with a key already drilled in the middle. see pic below.

 

Underneath the black plastic covering, it's just an ordinary key w/ it's own slot. So instead of actually drilling through the key, just make sure you drill just below the top of the Nissan logo, that way you'll hit the slot of the actually key. I used a Dremel and drilled at 2 O'clock in reference to the circle of the logo. Then used tin-snips to remove the nubs that were left where it broke.