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Car Key Replacement and Safety Tips

56K views 39 replies 33 participants last post by  SlickVersa 
#1 ·
1. It is expensive to replace the car key for newer model vehicles. Some dealerships charge $200 and up to replace a key. The expense is not from cutting the car key, which only costs a dollar or two in time and parts, but from programming the electronic chip in your vehicle's key. If you have a perfectly cut key without the programming for the chip, you can put it in the ignition and turn the car key but the car's engine will not start.


2. A more economical option is to buy your replacement car keys from a locksmith. They have the same key programmer as the dealership but will charge up to half the price to replace your key. As with a car dealership, the most important part of getting your car key replaced is making sure the chip inside the key is programmed properly. Make sure you test your key several times before leaving the locksmith or as soon as you get home with your new car key. Call the locksmith immediately if you have any problems unlocking the door or starting the car. If the car does not start it may mean there was a problem with the programming or even the cutting of the key and you will need to get the replacement car key replaced as soon as possible.

3. Make sure you buy your replacement key from a reputable dealership or locksmith. Ordering a programmed replacement car key online is possible, and can be up to half the price of a locksmith, but do your research. Check online reviews of the company you are purchasing your keys from. An important part of programming the chip in your car key is giving the make, model, and VIN number of the vehicle to the person programming your keys. Verify the locksmith company before you give information to program the keys for your vehicle or you may find yourself without a key and without a vehicle.

4. When you buy replacement keys for your car it is like shopping for anything else. Call around and get prices from multiple dealers and locksmiths. Find the best price from the most reputable company and you will find yourself with a replacement car key at a great price.
 
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#4 ·
Are you talking about the "Intelligent Key" or the regular "keyless entry" key?

I bought a new 2013 Versa SV sedan with keyless entry a week ago. I've had several plain, metal duplicate keys made. I paid between $2 to $4 each for the duplicates. They work flawlessly: they open the doors and start the engine just like you would expect.

I have no doubt the dealer will charge an arm and leg to replace the key with the electronic chip and such. But you can drive around all day with a $2 hardware store key. I know. I've done it.
 
#5 ·
Hi Dennis,
I, too, can verify what you said. I just bought a used 2013 Versa SV that only had 1 key (with 3-button remote built-in). I went to Pep Boys to see if they could cut a duplicate. They insisted it wouldn't work but I figured it would be good as a spare to open the door in case I locked my key in the car. Pep Boys didn't even think it would open the door (which it almost didn't because it was a pretty poor duplicate), but not only did it open the door, it started the car and let me drive. So it would appear that at least for some late model no-frills vehicles, the "chipped" key is not enforced? Or maybe it is just an urban legend to justify the dealers and locksmiths charging $100-$200 per key? Or maybe I'm just lucky that for my car, the plain key with no electronics works just fine?
 
#6 · (Edited)
I have a 2014 Versa SL with a standard key(no remote). When I called the dealer to get copies, they quoted a price of around $50 to cut and program a new key. I went to Walmart where they have a device that checks the key to see if it has an electronic chip. They said it does not. They cut a new key for $1.50 and it opens the door and starts the vehicle just fine. Everybody, including my mechanic, tells me that this is not possible. My mechanic insists that there is something in the vehicle that is giving the ignition a signal to start.
 
#32 ·
Apparently everyone else keeps things that are better what to me because I can't find nowhere that will cut me a key without a key fob for my 2012 Nissan versa. I don't have anything for them to match it up to is what they're saying so the only way I can get one is supposedly if I pay $200 or more to the Nissan place. Walmart said I would have to have another key for them to make a copy off. I thought maybe I could find a pre-cut one online but I can't seem to find that either. And a lock smith is saying they would have 2 charge me the same 4 a non chipped key because they have 2 come out 2 the were the car is 2 make it. I was just wondering if anyone new if that's true, do I have to come out to where the cars at to make the key?
 
#8 ·
1. It is expensive to replace the car key for newer model vehicles. Some dealerships charge $200 and up to replace a key. The expense is not from cutting the car key, which only costs a dollar or two in time and parts, but from programming the electronic chip in your vehicle's key. If you have a perfectly cut key without the programming for the chip, you can put it in the ignition and turn the car key but the car's engine will not start.


2. A more economical option is to buy your replacement car keys from a locksmith. They have the same key programmer as the dealership but will charge up to half the price to replace your key. As with a car dealership, the most important part of getting your car key replaced is making sure the chip inside the key is programmed properly. Make sure you test your key several times before leaving the locksmith or as soon as you get home with your new car key. Call the locksmith immediately if you have any problems unlocking the door or starting the car. If the car does not start it may mean there was a problem with the programming or even the cutting of the key and you will need to get the replacement car key replaced as soon as possible.
Locksmith have the key price half of the dealer but as you said earlier , first test the many times that it must be programmed properly or not.
 
#10 ·
I went through this checking things a bit back. Found a list showing that not ALL Nissan come with the chipkey but it's according to what was on the list. Nissan dealers let you think ALL have them to get unnecessary programming charges in some cases. It's the new world Trump way.

Don't know either if these are like Fords in that if you respond BEFORE you have the need you can program keys yourself, you have to have two known good ones and a blanked chip but edge cut third, owner manual has a halfway simple procedure for programming a third yourself if you have the two. If you wait until you lose one you are out of luck though, the programming needs TWO known good inputs before it will release to do the third one.

I drive older cars and don't theft protect as they are dog cars. The Ford chip easily removes from the key to then bind it within an inch of the transceiver ring and then you can buy keys for $2 all day long as the chip is right there and keep your mouth shut. You still have to have a key to take car just like oldschool. They can bash the ignition cylinder out of it obviously, I say get with it, the car not worth the effort. I don't think Nissan chips come out of the key though. Haven't tried yet anyway.
 
#11 ·
Luckily my versa s just needs a metal key like my home. :grin

I had a 2010 honda and it had a chip in the key and the key doubled as the keyfob. I found a few dealers online selling the blank fob for a reasonable price. I would just need to get it cut and programmed. Other online sellers sell the blank and empty shell that you had to put the guts in for even less.

Got the dealer to cut it and a few "beach" keys.

Supposedly the early 2000 honda use a programmable chip key and home depot or lowes can program a new key for you as well as cut it. The later ones use a side cut key and the chip in the key has to be programmed to the car.
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a 2016 Note SV with keyless entry. For a backup key I went to WalMart and had a key made for $1.75. It opens the doors and starts the car fine. It has no buttons but works great as a backup or 'hide-a-key'.
You have done well and given me the idea of getting the spare one.I recently have one from but soon get one more spare for emergency issues.
 
#14 ·
When testing, make sure to leave the original key away from the car. I don't know the range the chip works at, it easily should work and invalidate your test if the original key is hanging on the same ring as the one you are testing. It may work at greater ranges, even to anywhere in the car or just outside.
 
#15 ·
As Cobb alluded to we have discovered our base modal 2016 sedans do not have any type of chip in the key whatsoever. This made my life a lot easier installing the remote start (no transponder bypass) and makes replacement keys cheap! On the downside both Cobb and I are planning to install our own power lock kits to gain keyless entry feature and that will be a few hours of dinking around on a sunny Saturday BUT $20 for a 4-door lock kit off amazon and $10 for a 12 pack of beer to help the job along and we will have gotten away a heck of a lot cheaper than buying an SV :)
 
#25 ·
This is another reason I love my new to me 2015 Versa 1.6S. All it uses is a simple $2 key!!

The 2016 Nissan Quest in my sig has the push button start with the FOB. Hundreds of dollars at the dealer, or $25 online for an aftermarket FOB, but getting it programmed takes two computers plugged into the diagnostic port. I sat in the van with a locksmith when he programmed one for me. Wow! A 5-10min easy job for him, but the cost of the equipment to do so?
 
#26 ·
Just had some copies of the ignition key made for my 2015 Versa 1.6 S. Right off the bat the locksmith asked if I had the car with me "This is about $100 chipped key" he claimed. I showed him the other plain metal key I have and use for this car. He then went to check and was flabbergasted that a 2015 model year vehicle would only use a $3 key. I think it's awesome. So did he!
 
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#27 · (Edited)
When I bought my '16 Versa SV it only had one key come with it. I ordered 2 blanks off eBay for $13.29 and took them to the local hardware store and ask them if they would cut them for me since they don't do transponder keys. They only charged me $1. plus tax each to cut them and I programmed them myself using the info in this video. I didn't try either of them to see if the car would start with them prior to programming them. As it ended up I got two extra keys for $15.41 maybe more than would have actually been necessary but not so expensive I regret buying them and all my keys have the option of using them to electronically open the doors and trunk.
 
#28 ·
I have verified my '11 S DOES have a chipped key, it is molded into the plastic fob surrounding the key metal. I cut it carefully off and the car will not do anything with the plastic removed, put it back on the key basic metal shape and then the car starts again. I also verified the transmitting distance there, unlike a Ford where the car will start with the chip around 6 inches away from the immobiliser coil the Nissan chip has to be closer than 1 inch to send a strong enough signal to trigger the computer.

So they are doing different things to different year models.
 
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