How effed am I if I've lost the only key to my '99 SE?
 

:mad: I have just one key (chip key) and one remote for my 1999 SE, and since it's my only vehicle without spare keys I'm always very careful with it. Kept meaning to get a couple spares, but anyway... I am thinking the key & remote may have fallen out of a coat pocket. I've looked EVERYWHERE they should or could be. The car is in my driveway and is blocking another car in the garage that I will need to get out in a few days. What are my options? Can a locksmith (a) create a new key and (b) code the chip so the car recognizes it? If it's dealer only, how could I have it flatbedded to a Nissan dealer when it's currently locked and in Park? Suggestions welcomed.....thanks!

not sure on the 4th gen, its been a while since I had my 95 but the majority of the hondas/toyotas actually have an override to where you can insert a flat head or another sharp object somewhere around the gear shifter... there is actually a small hole that is covered with little plastic door you insert the tip of screw driver and you have the ability to move the shifter but keep in mind that the steering wheel will still be locked and the only way to unlock it is with a key or you remove the entire key cylinder and ignition switch

Yes I know about the shifter override (assume the Max has one), but that would only be any good if the car was unlocked :)

Sounds like a good tow guy is your only option to get it to the dealership.

A local locksmith can make a key and program it. They have a tool that can "read" the tumblers in the lock and then cut a key from it. I had that done on my 97. To reduce my costs, I took the passenger door cylinder to the locksmith so I wouldn't have to pay the service call fee. Since you can't open the doors, you'll have to have him come to your place.

Yeah a good Locksmith should be able to do it, but that fee is probably be up there, GL...:D

lol completely forgot about that... call the dealer with the vin and they will be able to cut a key so you can at least unlock the door

ive had so many people lose their only key and then buy a new ingition thinking i can just swap them out without the old key. and then they get pissed when im like dude youre ****ed. better call a locksmith and drop over 2 bills.

HAVE SPARE SETS OF KEYS PEOPLE. aint a hard concept lolololol :p

Yeah but '97 doesn't have a chip. Thanks Nissan for the extra security on my '99 - much appreciated (sarcasm) :rolleyes:

Hopefully a lesson learned. Always have spares laying around....

The chip in the key has nothing to do with cutting the key. The locksmith reads the lock cylinder and then cuts a key. In your case the key blank has to have the proper chip in it. In my case, I didn't need a key blank with a chip in it.

I think it's not the end of the world, get AAA plus, wait 7 days, and the locksmith is covered. Then you will have up to 4 tows for 100 miles if you need 'em.

Think about people who lose the fob to their BMWs, or those who bought their car used and lost both fobs. The car has a max of 10 before you need a new DME. A locksmith can't help those poor mofos.....

Locksmith is your best bet. 99 and above have the chip thingy in the key. 98 and below you can just get a copy of your key made in walmart for 2 bucks (that is if you had a key).

Part the car out, then purchase one with a full key set.
You'll probably come out way ahead.

Just sayin...

I just bought a 99 SE with a chipped key, guess i better get me a spare key eh.

^^^

yeah don't try to start it more than 3 times without first unlocking the doors.

You sir are about as "effed" as monica lewinsky on presidents day.

Why can't it be started with locked doors?

UPDATE: talked to a locksmith yesterday who advertised 24/7 service, and he said they could handle it. Showed up (with two vans!) about 1:00 pm, and after 15 or 20 minutes he came to the door saying "woops", apparently '99 is a "one year only" deal that takes some kind of special equipment to program that they don't have. He said '00 and up is different and they can do those no problem. Hrmph. At least we made it to the Super Bowl party on time (go Rams! LOL).

So today I took the title to a Nissan dealer, hoping they could make a key from the VIN. Parts chick showed me three different styles of key, and I picked the one that matched my car. She said they had ONE of that key left, and that it would cost $179.93. Sheesh reminder of the time I had the Infiniti dealer make me a spare key for my i30. They are REAL proud of their keys. Then she said she had never done a key from a VIN before and she left to get her manager. Several minutes later she came back and said "I've got some really bad news". Apparently '99 is just too old, and Nissan has deleted ALL the records for my VIN. That really pissed me off, I mean '99 is well within the computer age so how much memory would it really take to keep VIN/key code records at a minimum?!?

She ended up being very helpful, though, by giving me the name & number of a locksmith that they use. She said he actually has more records than Nissan, even going back to the '80s. I played phone & text tag with him through the day (busy guy), but he was finally able to make it to me about an hour ago (10:30 at night!).....now that's dedication. The guy is some kind of miracle worker because it took him 10 minutes to have 3 working keys (2 chip keys + a dummy key that will at least get me in the car if needed). Cost was $220, which by this point seems like a bargain.

Now off to eBay to get a $15 remote :)

Unbelievable...Nissan deleted records or dealer didn't know what they were doing? It's a '99 Nissan. For $220 you could lose a BMW fob and get it replaced....ah well least it's back on the road....

Did the $180 the dealer wanted include the programming?

Good question - never got that far....

I've owned BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes - trust me the $220 for 3 keys "from scratch" AND programming was not that expensive. And I'm pretty sure none of those would make a house call at 10 at night :D

I guess I was fortunate to have a '98. I think I had 5 keys for that car.


Wow, that is awesome. What state are you in? If he's in my neck of the woods, I'd like to have his contact info, just in case.

Sorry, I'm calling BS on the dealership here. I just got a key cut for my 99' from my VIN on Tuesday at a Nissan dealership. I have the 202$ receipt to prove it. Nissan did not delete all the records. It is common for them to screw up when cutting the key. Maybe thats what happened.

Related question from a non-Maxima kind of guy: Where does the '99 Maxima store the codes from the keys? Is it in the ECM? Or is it in a separate security computer?


With another make I work with, you can swap in another security computer and matching key and you're off an running. But, their security is separate from the ECM so you don't have to worry about anything else. I'm thinking that if the code is in the ECM then you need a perfect match on the car equipment and that the VIN would be off (a problem in States that inspect with a hookup to the computer).

Thoughts?

From what I have read, when guys replace the ECU, they have to get the keys programmed in again.

St. Louis, MO

Well she said up front that they had only one key like mine left, so if they messed it up maybe they did lie - dunno. This is a Nissan dealer that recently moved.....wonder if i woulda had better luck at one that's been there since '99 at least.....

I don't know. I just wanted to let you know that a dealership SHOULD have been able to cut the key for you. Like I said I just had it done.

if u have pop a lock or some sort of lock smith they will come to you cut your key there and reprogram it for around 190 bucks...cheaper then a tow truck and a program from the dealer

i have 3 remotes and 5 keys!!! never hurts to be prepared.....:wall:

But don't you have a 95?

i know he's got a chip in the key, but i would've got at least 1 spare key in the event that i lost the original. you see what position he's in now, right? hope he gets it done cheaply somewhere.

Hindsight makes fools of us all.

talked with a locksmith today and learned a trick, get a blank key heat it up with a lighter get it all black with carbon build up then insert it into the cylinder and try turning it. The pins of the lock, or w.e. they call them should rub off the carbon leaving shiny spots on the blank of where the key needs to be filed down.

um, thats great. you got little files to saw on that key with?? :wall: