Alert! Keep your I-Key and Cellphone Seperate!

[Jaesin]

Just saw this on Giz, I don't have the I-Key, but I'm sure some of you do.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/fat...3.php

Just something to be careful about,

[Ever Victorious]

Says it only affects Altimas and G35s. I wouldn't want to try it, personally.

The V has an advantage over these cars, though... there is a physical key that can be released from the iKey to manually unlock the car and turn it on. The Altima does NOT have this.. which makes me laugh, since it's the higher end model.

[GoodbyeCavalier]

i keep my ikey close to my phone all the time, my phone is on my belt though. I've never had any issues.

[Demonspawn]

cell phone in right pocket keys in left guess i dont have to worry lol

[versaspeed.com]

"Nissan North America has claimed that owners of the 2007 Altima and G35 should make certain that their "intelligent key" is kept at least "one inch away" from their cellphone at all times, as getting too close for comfort could cause the keys to be "erased, rendering them unable to unlock or start the car." Interestingly, a Nissan spokesperson stated that the company found "incoming and outgoing calls had the potential to alter the electronic code within the I-Key," and as if that weren't tragic enough, the keys seemingly can't be reprogrammed afterwards. The firm assured everyone that the issue was only in "a very small percentage" of the total keys (and cars) sold".

We don't have to worry.

[Demonspawn]

i have not done any research on how these key fobs work but my guess would be RF right?

and if so why would a cell phone have anything to do with unless if for some reason the cell phone is close to same frequency which is possible but i cannot see why it would erase the mem in the key fab.

damn now i am going to have to get the spectrum analyser at work out and see if i can see something. my curiosity is sparked!

[marleyfan]

cell phone in right pocket keys in left guess i dont have to worry lol

Hope that doesnt disable anything in between them.

[Demonspawn]

Hee Hee Hee!

[KimberKenobi]

Glad it was only on a few cars.. my 'kik and my i-key ride in the front cup holder together... consistently...

[Rockhound]

Says it only affects Altimas and G35s. I wouldn't want to try it, personally.

The V has an advantage over these cars, though... there is a physical key that can be released from the iKey to manually unlock the car and turn it on. The Altima does NOT have this.. which makes me laugh, since it's the higher end model.

Strange that the Altima wouldn't have the hidden physical key...I know the G35 does however. The G35's I-Key fob is identical to the Versa's, save for the Infiniti logo.

Yesterday, we were out driving, and when we were going to leave the car, my fiancee turned the car off only to have the car emit strange beeps and flash the key light on the dash. The beeping was similar to when you try to lock the I-Key in the car or leave your lights on, but neither was the case. Interestingly, she had received a call on her cell phone, which was in the same pocket of her purse as the I-Key (despite my warnings on the matter). When we started the car back up, everything was fine and we haven't experienced any more issues, but it would seem that the cell phone was having an adverse effect on the key.

[COVersaSL]

The dealership's finance manager told me about this when I was going through the paper work on my car, kind of as a disclaimer, and said that Nissan would be sending out new fobs when the issue was resolved.

Rockhound.. your fiancee probably didn't turn the ignition switch to lock??

[MinisterofDOOM]

Strange that the Altima wouldn't have the hidden physical key....

Since the Altima has push-button start, there's no keyhole to use a traditional key in. There's a regular keyhole on the driver door, but it's the only one.

[Rockhound]

Rockhound.. your fiancee probably didn't turn the ignition switch to lock??

Dunno, but she turned the car off the same way she's already done countless times before, but it immediately started beeping before a door was even opened. No matter where the ignition switch is, it shouldn't beep at you until you open the door with your lights on, or if it's not in "lock" and the door ajar chimes are activated. Neither was the case, and it was a very rapid beep, similar to the sound it emits when you try to lock the I-key in the car.

Then we got out of the car and the beeping continued, and the doors wouldn't lock via the entry buttons by the handle. We got back in, started it up, and it hasn't happened since.

[Rockhound]

Since the Altima has push-button start, there's no keyhole to use a traditional key in. There's a regular keyhole on the driver door, but it's the only one.

Aha, so that's why, forgot about the push button start. I kind of like having a backup plan with the "real" key.

Do Altima's come with some sort of emergency-entry key for that one key hole?

[scott@westcovinanissan]

All I-Keys come with a "hard" key. On the back of the I-Key there is a little switch that you have to push the "hard' key comes from the top (or bottom depending on how you are holding it) where the key ring is.

Here is a direct quote from NNA regarding 2007 Altima I-Keys:

"We want to bring a matter to your attention regarding the 2007 Altima Sedan that we believe requires disclosure to you customers prior to sale, and will minimize or eliminate the chance that it may affect your customers."

"Nissan has received reports that some cell phones, when touching the Intelligent Key (I-Key) when receiving or sending a call, may alter the electronic code contained in the I-Key If the I-Key is damaged, the doors will not lock or unlock with use of the affected I-key, and the engine cannot be started with use of the damaged I-key. If your customer experiences this incident with one of the two I-keys, the second I-key may be used to start the vehicle."

"Nissan is working with our supplier to develop a modified I-key to prevent this from happening, and will provide your customers with these new keys, at no cost to them, in early fall 2007. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."

Hope this helps you guys and puts you minds at ease to know that Nissan is working to correct this problem.

thanksscottwcn

[Rockhound]

/\ So the Altima does have a real key? We're aware of where you access the real key, but it was stated earlier in this thread that the Altimas equipped with push-button start and I-key don't have a pop-out key.

Your quote says nothing about the physical key existing within the Altima's I-key, so can you verify that? It just reinforces the already stated fact that cell phones can interfere with I-keys. I'm just curious.

Also, are all I-key equipped cars going to receive new keys, because I'm assuming that they are all similarly vulnerable to cell phone interference.

[scott@westcovinanissan]

Your quote says nothing about the physical key existing within the Altima's I-key, so can you verify that?

Also, are all I-key equipped cars going to receive new keys, because I'm assuming that they are all similarly vulnerable to cell phone interference.

I don't know what kind of verification you would like but here are the part numbers for both the I-key fob and "hard" key; hope it helps.

fob:285E3-JA000key:H0564-JA00A

As for other cars with I-keys, there has been nothing said to us from Nissan. But as soon as I hear anything I will be more than happy to post info if you would like.

[Rockhound]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be a doubting Thomas...it was stated earlier in this thread by presumably knowledgeable individuals that the Altima I-key lacked the pop-out key, which made sense considering the Altima can be equipped with the push button start.

That would be great if you'd pass along any info about the Versa's I-key...it seems strange that only certain models' keys would be susceptible to the phone interference, so it'll be interesting to see how this develops. Thanks.

[scott@westcovinanissan]

Don't be sorry Rockhound, thats why we are all here we have questions and are looking for answers. I hope that my answers are helping your questions and not making more. But if there is anything I can help you with please let me know.

scottwcn

[COVersaSL]

HMMM... dunno since the door wasn't open or anything? Your car has a poltrygeist.

[Ever Victorious]

HMMM... dunno since the door wasn't open or anything? Your car has a poltrygeist.

Poultrygeist needs to be marinated for at least an hour before you throw it on the grill.

[CodeRed]

Poultrygeist needs to be marinated for at least an hour before you throw it on the grill.

LOLOL hahaha... that actually made me laugh....

[COVersaSL]

I am glad someone got it.

thx EV

[Rockhound]

Actually, COVersa was COrrect, not about the poultrygeist, but that we just didn't have the ignition switch completely in the lock position.



My wife was driving the first two times it happened, and she swore she turned it entirely off, and then it started beeping. Last week I was driving the Versa, and when I shut the car off, it started beeping at me, so I reached up and clicked the ignition switch all the way toward me, and lo and behold, it clicked into 'lock' and the beeping ceased.

It didn't make much sense how the I-key would be temporarily affected by cell-phone interference but then return to proper working order, but I didn't realize how much 'play' there was in the ignition switch before 'lock' was reached.

The more you know, I guess.

[ErikM]

FWIW, the dealer told me to keep my Versa's iKey away from my phone, even though according to this the Versa may not be affected.

[brettv]

About the altima. A friend at work bought one, apparently it has a hard key. Also, there is a slot inside the car where you are able to stick the whole i-key dohickey in if it doesn't work then the car will start. This is what i have been told and have not done any research on it. Obviously i don't think nissan would hang you out to dry if the i key thing didn't work.

[iluvmyVersa08]

how do u use this? i don't think my car came with this?i bought a new 08 SL with every possible option (5 months ago) and i don't think I have this. is this only in the states?

[srellim234]

We were warned emphatically about this potential problem by the dealer when we bought our Versa over a year ago. Both the salesman and the parts counter guy own Versas; they talked about it like they had already seen a Versa I-key wiped out by a cellphone.

The owner's manual does caution against having the I-key near a magnet on the keychain and indicates that battery life of the I-key and performance may be interrupted when in close proximity to electronics such as CB radios and cellphones. Those warnings alone should be enough to keep the cellphone away from the I-key.

[darkwind25]

how do u use this? i don't think my car came with this?i bought a new 08 SL with every possible option (5 months ago) and i don't think I have this. is this only in the states?

Unfortunately,,,,but it's true.....I've had my V since April 4 and it seem only the american convience packages come with the I-key.The canadian ones don't.

[brownbrix]

Is it possible to get this feature added to existing cars

Unfortunately,,,,but it's true.....I've had my V since April 4 and it seem only the american convience packages come with the I-key.The canadian ones don't.