A friend of mine just got her car keys stolen with her purse, now she needs a replacement key. Does it REALLY cost this much to have this done. I know the key system has a unique antitheft mechnism or something, but does this feature REALLY make this job cost this much money?

Input apprecaited.

Capitone

 

What kind of car is it?

 

It should be like 30-40 for a new key and 60ish to program it.

 

If I remember correctly if you go to the dealership with the registration and driver license they should be able to cut you a key. I believe they have that info on file base on the vin #.

 

Does her needing a key which is different from the one she lost factor into this? I mean, does this fact make a $700 price tag justifiable?

 

i had to get a new key....around $100 for the key and one hour labour ($60) to program it

 

What kind of car?

 

with the VIN they know which pattern to use when cutting the key

 

I got 2 keys for $20 each and had them programed for free.


Also, WHAT KIND OF CAR?

 

If she has lost all her keys and also the 4 digit access code to redo one, she will be forced to pay that price. On TV there was this woman who the stealership forced to pitch out $500 for her key for a Japanese vehicle. She was in Sacramento meeting legislators and complaining (she has AAA on her side) but then the vehcile manufactures are against her telling that person A cannot determine to the manufacturer without doubt is person A's vehicle. Some **** asssss privacy point of view.


I was told if she knew the access key some good lock person can redo it for $50 but then if she lost all her keys and doesnot remember her access key, she is left with no option but to pay whatever the stealership demands.

 

5th Gen GXE Maxima. I think it's 2000, maybe 2001

 

In that case tell them to stick that $700 right up their a$$

 

Buy a key on eBay and then have the dealership program it for $60, even if you lose all of your keys, $700 for a new key is not legit

 

I was looking at getting an additional key for my 2000 max. My dad works at a dealership, and we checked his cost on a key for it was $60. They do weird stuff like that... because a key for a Quest is about $30 at my dads cost. The parts guy said that once a vehicle is so old... they raise the cost on stuff like that. As far as programming goes, I know that there is an easy way to do it for an ADDITIONAL key... but since you need brand new ones... your stuck.

 

Actually you could be wrong, all that the manufacturer tells is vehicle imobilizer system has to be hacked into with some secret way, then they have to withdraw the access key (or reset the access key) and them make the key. No locksmith can do that -- I had my ignition locked up (****ting Siemens ignition sys on my 2K max) and when I had Slim Jims guy come to my home, he told me that I should memorize the access key becoz if I was on vacation and locked out of my car, someone like him can make a duplicate only when the 4 digit access key was know.

These ignition systems have been made complex for 2 reasons, one to make money out like this woman and the most important is drastically reduce vehicle theft.

My take is if one could loose 3 set of keys and not have the access code, should invariably pay for it, as simple as that - that is exactly what the manufacturer is telling too!!!

 

I'm not wrong I just went through the same thing 3 weeks ago.

The dealer can cut a key with just having your vin#, they don't have to have the 4 digit # in order to cut a key.

The vehicle imobilizer doesn't need to be hacked in any special way in order to program a key. You put the correct card in the consult and program away.

 

Did you loose all the keys and the 4 digit code?

 

Maybe they are replacing the entire system kinda like replacing the locks on a house?

 

Yup...........

BTW is doesn't matter if you have 100 keys or no keys the programming process for the keys is still the same.

 

Nonsense, then any tom di*k and harry in the stealership can keep stealing our vehicles right in front of our eyes...

 

So what advice should I give her so far as dealing with Nissan? She lives in Alabama and told me about this over the phone so I couldn't walk in and do it myself, Im in NC.

 

God are you dumb.

Yes they could if they wanted to

 

Call Dave Burnette, order a key or 2 and go to a diffrent dealership for programming.

Dave should be able to help her out with getting the keys cut.

 

Honestly are you telling the dealership that is charging this person $700 are idiots . Comeon man, if you propose to get this person a set of keys which she can stick into her ignition system for 1/10th the cost, you are the man!!!

This kind of rip off with keys is happening all over the place, check out AAA website... You could make me a believer again with respect to the dealerships if this were true!!!

 

last year they they had a survey for this kind of stuff. the most expensive key replacemnent in 2005 was for lexus is300. that only cost around $334. that's half the price ($700)of ALL vehicles tested, domestic, euro and japan. dealer is out of his f^king head to charge $700 for any kind of electronic key.

 

Was the key she lost her ONLY key? Can she no longer drive the car due to not having any keys at all, now?

 

what is this access code you guys are talking about? Are the 5th gen immobilizer systems that different than my '99 immobilizer system? I was under the impression that when you get a key programmed at a dealership, they just use the CONSULT-II to register the keys (as I had this done when getting an extra key for my alarm). cost of programming is ~$45 for any number of keys, keys are about $60 each, including cutting...

 

Its like the time I got my bumper painted for $300 dollars at a body shop. I sent my gf the next day to get the fender on her civic painted and the guy told her $1000 dollars to repaint the fender (due to the fact that they had to install a new window, and repaint the door and hood to match).

They are ripping her off because they can. They see that she's a girl and thinks she doesn't know any better

 

Give Dave Burnette a call, he will tell you the God's honest truth about programming keys.

 

First, if you loose all the 3 keys and the 4 digit access code, then you are all alone at the mercy of the nearest local dealership.

1) The above problem seldom happens and the stealership latches onto folks who come with this problem since it makes money. Note even in the dealership only a handful that are actually trained to work around this complex problem.
2) In my opinion there is nothing wrong with the stealerships charging any price becoz there is no record on charges for these seldom problems, to make some reference against other dealerships.

Finally if one looses all 3 keys and the code, that person is in the mercy of the nearest local dealer, so the dealership could go on and on knowing very well she doesn't have a choice.

IMHO, just pay it and move on, atleast you know the vehicle has been put back into shape by the right person -- never take short cuts that is a forte to only the dealerships, my $0.02!!!

 

i know we get like 2 sapres right? one regular and the valet key, so she lost both of them already?? if she pays 700 bucks for keys, im gonna laugh my *** off.

 

My God are you an idiot. Waste money if you want.

/Thread

 

Ok fellas, I appreciate everyones input, but Im getting a little confused here. Can she get a key cut that is DIFFERENT from the key she lost, if she doesn't have an access code? From what Im hearing, she can, the dealer will just use the VIN #.

2ndly, this was a recent used car purchase. She only had one key, no spare. That key and the remote was stolen along with her purse. Now she has NOTHING to open or drive the car with. Im going to suggest that she just get the ignition key changed and cut so whoever stole her purse won't return and drive off with her car. In my opinion, if someone really wants to get INTO her car, there going to do it whether everythings swapped out or not. The important thing is to insure they can't drive off with the Max. She can probably get the door and drunk locks switched out by smith and for much cheaper than the Stealership.

 

well, the question about whether she has another key has not been answered. When I bought my Max, it only had 1 key. I called up a local locksmith, and promptly drove over to his shop. I was in luck, because he had just purchased the new key programmer that interfaces with the Max. I ended up paying like $100 or so for 3 keys (including programming). He ordered the keys for about $25 a pop, and I paid like $25 or so for the programming of the keys...

IMHO, $700 is ripping you a new one. Not only ripping you a new one, but slapping you in the face with the old...Good Luck...

 

But if the $700 includes new lock and ignition cylinders...then the price sounds right...

 

and in the post above...

Back on topic...

I would say that the dealership is quoting a new immobilizer unit and a new key, new locks and ignition, programming, and labor. Were I you, I'd tell her to just get a new key made from the VIN, invest $150 in an alarm, and call it a day with an extra $400 or so in her wallet. Chances are the thief won't try to steal the car unless they are very ballsy anyway.

$700 is a lot just to ensure you're car has no possibility of being stolen using the exact same key. And like others have stated, Nissans come with 3 keys when new so there were at least 2 other keys out there that fit her car before now and she wasn't concerned.

 

#1 She can absolutely without a doubt get a key made from the dealership with just the Vin#. This is NOT in the best interests of the dealership though as they stand a very good chance of making a large profit if they act dumb about this.

#2 I agree with Barc get, the key and a good alarm. She will save money and have a remote start. the odds of this being turning into more than just a purse stealing are extremely low. Yes it could happen but probably within minutes of her purse being stolen, the keys, her purse and anything that was not cash/credit card was in the garbage can in front of the nearsest Wal-Mart.

#3 To all the yahoos who say she can not get a key from just the Vin#, how do the repo guys get keys? The dealership can cut a key from the Vin and turn it over the title owner, in this case the bank. They are not forced to by law, but they can if they want. How does a dealership get a key for an abandoned car? How does a dealership get a key for a car that is legally purchased at an auction? They are many more examples that show that this can be done.

#4 Adivce to her. Go back to where she purchased the car from. Have that dealership call your Nissan Dealership and tell them that she got only one key and to help her. if they wont call try and just get something in writing stating this. Finally just hit a few dealerships with this problem. The trick is, is that there is no "law" saying they have to help her. They are well within their legal limits to just say "Sucks to be you, your total is $700." Good luck on finding a dealership that their morals are higher than the laws, because that is what you are looking for.

Fat

 

Ahmmm,
I worked at Nissan, and work at Acura now... identical process.

They get the VIN off the vehicle, then the VIN corresponds with a KEY # (the 5 digit key code) and they are able to cut a key using the key #. After that you program the keys using a scanner. If you do have a key handy they use a programer that you stick the programmed key into, it copies the immobilizer key code and is able to transfer it to the new cut key.

With the new keyless start systems like Nissan started using, each individual key fob has its own immobilizer code. Alot of times that fob is used in conjunction of the memory seat feature. So that if you have 2 diff drivers of the same car, key fob #1 will correspond to memory setting #1 and fob #2 corresponds to memory #2. If you hit unlock with eighter remote fob, the given memory setting (for your seat, steering wheel, radio, mirror settings) will take effect. I have this on my 94 Q and its a nice feature to have, alot of newer cars also started to have this.

 

i bought 3 spare keys, each were 35 bucks, and then the guy said that he felt nice that day and would program them all for 20 bucks, home depot wanted 60 bucks and they couldnt program it

 

Barc,

not to post *****, but had I seen that post, then obviously I wouldn't have made that comment. I guess I shouldnt be on the .org at work anywho...But then again, isn't that what Systems Administrators do...I hope everything works out for your friend Capitone...