Transponder keys from the hardware store?

[Chuck Tribolet]

Yesterday I noticed that both my local ACE Hardware, and Orchard SupplyHardware (California chain) were advertising that they could do transponderkeys for $40 less than the dealer. I'd never seen this before (and I'm in andout of both stores a couple of times a week).

Anybody tried these?

Chuck

[fueler]

when you say "they can do transponder keys".... do you mean they sell the transponder AND cut/program them, or they just program?

I bought an OEM blank infiniti key off ebay for $40 and had it programmed at a local shop for another $40..... dealer wanted like $250 which is absurd

[Chuck Tribolet]

Sell and program is the way I read it. I'll check prices the next time I'm inand the trained guy is there (he wasn't when I was at OSH).

Chuck

[fueler]

ya ive seen aftermarket keys for less than what i paid, but i wanted the OEM key with the infiniti logo. it looks nicer than the aftermarket chinese ones.

[Chuck Tribolet]

I stopped by my local Ace after work today.

They have keys for GM, Ford, Crysler, Toyota, and Honda, and probably not all keys for any -- there were only about a dozen blanks total. No Nissan. Prices ranged from $40 to $80.

The company is called Hillman, the product is called TransponderKeys. Here'sa URL:

http://wedo.hillmangroup.com/c...urity

And the good news is that they do seem to have Nissan blanks that look right for my '01.

Do note that SOME of their keys require a battery in the key. I'd sure havea couple of spare batteries in the glove box.

I'm going to print off the stuff from their website and stop by OSH (to see if THEY have the Nissan blank), and Ace (who will happily order it -- this Aceis a locally owned forever small-town HW store).

Watch this space.

Chuck

[Chuck Tribolet]

I stopped by OSH today. They had the right blank (book says for 1999-2004Nissan PF, and some others). But their system takes a picture of the yourkey and does pattern matching on it to make sure you have the right blank.Well, the top of my key is broken off, so it wouldn't match. ;-(

BTW, the Nissan key was one of the more expensive. $89.99 IIRC.

I'll e-mail Hillman when I get a chance.

Chuck

[GRNMACHINE]

Good Info Chuck. Will check local Ace.

[Chuck Tribolet]

I never got around to e-mailing Hillman, and the second key turned up the other day.
(It was in the drybox on my boat, and had slipped inside a flat cardboard box that had
a Sudafed blister pack in it.) But Friday I noticed that there's another player hawking transponder
keys in HW stores. The Ace HW by my weekend place has keys from a company called
Hy Ko (which also makes, amongst other things, some nice solid brass house numbers)

Competition can only help.

[Pathfound49]

Yeah Chuck. Late in 'o9 when I bought my pathy, I checked out ACE and they offered the key, cut, and programmed for $89. Never did it cause I'm a cheap SOB, but wanted to confirm your message.