So I need a replacement key. I find out my key has a chip. A replacement key is $40+, both on line and at the dealership. I guess I can live with that. What I have a problem with is, it's a $60 fee to have it programmed to work on my car. Does this seem obsurd to anyone else? $100+ just for one damn key?

I'm wondering if there is a way around the programming charge. I know there is a way to program an fob, seen that in the stickies. Is there a way to program the key yourself, or does the programming have to be done at a dealership? I haven't found anything on the Org regarding the key itself. I'm starting to get this sinking feeling that there is no way around this issue. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

do you still have one key for it???

www.streetkeys.com


Edit: just looked and no they have to be programed i guess... sorry i tried

 

you have a 99, comes with the territory

 

I do have one key for it.


So this is just a 99 thing eh? graaaaaand.


I just checked streetkeys.com. Surprisingly, it costs more to go through streetkeys than a dealership. What the heck is going on here? Did hell freeze over? When was the last time you saw the price at a dealer that is CHEAPER than a third party vendor?

These are strange times that we live in my friends....

 

yeah only 99+ have the chip in there keys

 

ya, this is normal in a lot of top end cars. It cost just as much to blow a tire as to loose the key to your car.

 

if you go to the streetkeys you probably can get a key cheaper by getting a generic key and paying them to program it than buying an OEM one and having the dealer program it

 

Dealership is an idiot. They always want a **** load of $$$ for nothing. You can get it online for $50 - yes, the one with the chip inside.

Then, once you receive the key, you go to a local key dealer (not dealerSHIP) and they program it for free - something you already payed for with the $50.

 

I know I can get the key for around 50$. What you don't realize is, that chip in the key has to be programmed so it will function with my car. And it's the programming part/fee that I was hoping to get around.

Thanks for trying to help anyways

 

just be glad you do not have a newer jetta,A friend of mine lost her flip out key wiht the built in tranmitter and to replace it was $250 or $350 (i forget) at the local dealership

 

nah...I think you just missed part of my post

 

that's still not bad. E46 M3 chipped key is $400+ at your local dealer. SL55 AMG laser cut is $900

 

I had to pay $180 at my local dealership for my key and keyfob. They didn't even program the stupid thing right and the car kept stalling. I just put up with the price because I didn't want the hassle of shopping online/shipping, etc.

 

Nah man, I think YOU missed MY point. Read the small print on streetkeys. Programming is an extra charge. If it was $50 bucks for both key and programming, I would consider that a deal, since I know how much dealers charge.

 

how do you know theres a chip in the key? the last owner of my car got a new ignition put in and it uses one of those newer looking nissan keys, does that mean it has a chip in it?

 

Dude, you're STILL missing what he said. Re-read this part again:

 

GO TO THE DAMN SITE. Programming is not free, whether you go to the dealer or not.

 

I had the dealer look up the info with my vin # to find out. I guess it has something to do with the factory alarm system you have. Unless he replaced that too, you shouldn't have a chipped key. And as far as I hear, it only concerns 99 and up model yrs.

 

what i was saying about Street keys is if you buy the generic one then have it programmed it will be CHEAPER than the dealers $100
unless the programming is $70-$80

 

That I understood man. But these clowns were making it sound like, if you buy the key, a key fairy will come by and program it free of charge.

 

hehe yeah no... i would like to meet the key fairy as i think she keeps stealing my keys.

anyways, good luck.

 

Go to the DMV my friend! I dont know about MA but NY charges $35 to program a key which is way better than the stealership.

 

If your car is equipped with the factory immobilizer your new chipped ignition key must be programmed into the car's security system by Nissan.

A key dealer can't do it
A lock shop can't do it
A garage can't do it
Your friend can't do it
Your neighbor can't do it
You can't do it

THE DEALER NEEDS TO DO IT!

 

No one was ever implying it was free, merely that there were other places you might be able to get it done besides the dealer and end up paying less for the whole deal. Calm down a little bit

But I guess that can't happen anyway, so nevermind.

 

According to what I've read on the 5th gen forum (was looking this up the other day for a friend), you can get the keys themselves on ebay for around $25 shipped, and a Locksmith CAN program the key, though it does take a decently big one, as it is a special machine. The normal charge is between 30-50 to get it programmed, but shop around, as the nissan dealer might be the cheapest.

 

I had to get one for a pathfinder not long ago. The guy at the locksmith said the charges depend on

A what car it is (of course) AND
B How many keys you currently have.

He told me that if you have two keys it's cheaper, if you have one key it's harder to do, something about getting the code or some Sh*t. He also said if you lose all the keys he could do it but it was major money. For all I know he might have to order it from the dealer, no clue. That's the input I got from a second generation locksmith. Is it correct? No idea. He was spitting out numbers that didn't appeal to me though. Made me want to get the key before we lost the only one we had left.

 

depends on the car because my Dodge magnum can be programed from the car and do not have to be hooked up to a computer to program as long as i have one key..

other cars need to have a key programmer in order to do it like alot of newer cars..

just depends on the car and the type of chip and sensor the cars have

 

That's what he told me, more or less. He was just talking about the pathfinder, I'm sure different cars require different things. They use the key(s) to make new keys, get the codes from the chip or something.

He said 2 keys made it easier to make a third. One key means they have to do something to get another code or something. I was just busy wondering why the thing is so complex. I was thinking that the keys are to make it harder to steal. Not like a thief is going to sit there and program a key from the VIN. Why is it so much harder to make a key if you only have one? I just decided to let him do what he does best and I would just leave well enough alone.

I assumed it was just another way to help them make money (the manufacturers). They make things harder to work on and we keep figuring them out, maybe this is their latest game.

 

or would you rather have someone crack ur ignition switch open and start ur car and drive away....thats why they put a chip in. obviously there are a couple ways to get around this, but none as fast. just another theft deterrent that everyone is gonna b!tch about until it actually helps them and then its a "OMFG CHIPPED KEY SAVED MY A$$" post.

 

I heard in Canada the immobilizers are going to be mandatory in the near future. I'm not sure if the U.S. is doing the same thing or not.

 

I think everyone knows why they put them in, we don't like the fact that a key is so expensive

 

Exactly.

 

I know when my keys got stolen, I had to buy 3 keys one for me, one for the car starter, and one extra. But the kicker is that they had the reprogam the whole ignition system throught the ecu. lets just say 426.32$ later. It happens

 

It sucks, but if you want another key you have to pay it

 

If you are having a key programmed, remember to bring any other keys you have with you. They will no longer work because ALL keys allowed to start the car meust be programed at the same time......

 

OK, if this post is true then why did I go to my local locksmith and they cut the key for me (one I bought from them) and then they get out a little computer thing, kinda like and OBD code read and they program your key, both of my keys work, the OEM and the new one. I had to replace mine because the OEM key broke up top where the key ring goes. I paid $55 total.