Qx4 transponder keys - programming question

[qx4mama]

Hi, I am very, very new, and although I have a vague knowledge of cars, I'm not a car person, so please forgive me in advance if anything I ask is stupid, or if I require very specific step-by-step instructions.

I found this forum, and specifically this thread, when I was searching for information regarding keys and key fobs for my daughter's 2001 Qx4. I have read through all or most of the posts above - they begin in 2011, I think, and run through 2014. I'm not sure if some of the links above are outdated, and I'm a little bit confused as to what I would need to do.

I bought this car from a co-worker, who had bought it from a used car dealer. It came with one programmed key, with fob, and one un-programmed key, which is useful only for opening the doors. I don't know if the fob ever worked for my co-worker, but it does not work for us, and we have tried new batteries, just to be sure. In case the keys are ever lost, misplaced or stolen, it would, obviously, be a very good idea to have a spare key that will actually make the car drive. Obviously, the fob will make locking and unlocking the car convenient.

I saw the links for key programming toward the top of this thread, from back in 2011. Using the $80 from the dealer to have the key cut and programmed, would that include the actual key, or is that an extra charge? Assuming the price stayed the same (I know in 6 years it may have increased), $80 (or $60 at the Nissan dealer) to have it done by the dealer as opposed so some of the other quoted prices didn't seem so bad. If there is an additional price for the key, that's different.

As I said, the fob has never worked. I checked the chart referenced above, and it appears that I have the correct fob - the truck has a born-on date of 7/00 and the fob I have is a Model/ A, so I have the OEM #. There was a link to an ebay seller, but it would appear that several years later, that seller no longer has these fobs. Is there currently some other reputable seller where I could purchase a fob? I see that Auto Zone and Advance Auto appear to sell them for about $70. Are these reliable? What happens when you buy a fob from anywhere? How do you program them? I have seen someone's thread about programming.

If you've read all of this, I really appreciate it and appreciate your patience with all of my questions, and I really appreciate answers!

[donald]

I would try to re-program your keyless fob.
The instructions on this blog seem familiar as to when I did mine:
*edit*
this is the exact site I used for programming my keyless remotes:
http://www.programyourremote.com/classi ... YzEOVWGON0

I ordered my extra keyless entry fob from eBay from a reputable seller, and it still works fine. Just make sure the model number matches to the one you have currently (assuming re-program is successful).

The cost I shared originally was just for the cut and RFID programming on the key. No key was provided.

As to cutting keys, you have choices
Obviously, i went to eBay to buy my blanks and took them to a dealer to cut. Some dealers are reluctant to cut keys that are not OEM, so you may have to just call around. If I remember, I had to "fib" to my dealer, saying that "the blanks were provided from the previous owner and he said he got them from a dealer".
I decided to go with the fib, because when I first called them they told me they would not cut aftermarket keys. So, i let a week pass by and walked into the dealership myself (hoping they'd not remember my voice) and ask for a cut. They did ask if these were OEM, and I said "yes, I just bought the car ..." blah blah blah.

As far as cost goes, give the dealership a call and see how much they charge. They seem to be differ from dealership to dealership.

Good luck.

[Blindaviator]

I haven't looked much into the keys for these but if the programming is similar to what Ford uses then you have to have at least 2 fully programmed keys to add another... If you have only 1 key then only the dealer can program the 2nd key into the computer...

Are these the same way?

[qx4mama]

Thanks for your responses! I am unsure about the necessity to have two fully programmed keys to add another. Here is what I have ended up doing.

I called the Nissan dealer here in Myrtle Beach regarding the key. The Infiniti dealer in Charleston was going to charge me $203 for the key. I looked up online, and the Infiniti dealer in Raleigh will charge $150 for a blank master key. I do not know about programming - assume I would have to call them. The Nissan dealer in town will charge me $105 for key, cut and programming. The key will just say Nissan on it instead of Infiniti.

I looked again at Advance for the fob, and it looks like they would charge $92, and I honestly don't know if that fob would be the right one. It doesn't look the same as the others so obviously I'm reluctant. The Infiniti dealer in Charleston told me they would charge me $103 for the fob and $50 to program it, and I would have to have the vehicle there. I did find another completely separate post by someone on the NICO forum who had ordered his from a dealership 1.5 hours away, and they mailed it to him with instructions for programming, so I am tempted to think the parts guy in Charleston is full of it or doesn't know what he's talking about. I looked online through Infiniti and ordered a fob from the Infiniti dealer in Raleigh, NC (2.5-3 hours away), and they are charging $76.50 + $16 shipping (UPS Ground). The price comes roughly to the same as Advance, but it's from the dealer.

Hopefully this will all work out for me the way I would like, and I'm hopeful there will be programming instructions with the fob. I will definitely check out Donald's programming instructions if necessary, and I may try them with the existing fob that doesn't work, just in case. I suspect the one we have is already dead, but I don't think it can hurt to try?