New key

oulu

Have 98 nissan micra with one key so need a spare, car only has immobilzer , the key I have has a central locking system, what price would I have to pay for spare heard I need this key to be programm in, sounds it might be pricey ,cheers

mmenarry

Go to a decent locksmiths, they can do you one (but without an alarm button) for 20-30 euro (more if they're greedy)

Way cheaper than a nissan dealer.

The key has a transponder chip in it, with a code that is picked up by the fuel pump. No code, no fuel.

M.

colm_mcm

I think you still have to bring it to a dealer for the ECU to recognise the new key.

david powell

A decent lock-smiths will be able to cut the key and program the emobiliser in it for most cars, there's one on plesent street just off camden street, give them a call and they will tell you what makes / models they can cut keys for.

For most cars every key has the same emobiliser code in it, but people like BMW have a different code in each key, so you have to go to the dealer to get a new key. the thinking here is if keys are stolen or someone has a key and you don't want them to take your car you can bring the car to the BMW dealer with your remaining keys, and he will erase the missing keys from the emobiliser ECUs memory. So the person with the other key may be able to open your car but won't be able to start it.

mmenarry

Tips for other people looking for chipped keys for their cars:

BMW- have scrambled codes, so locksmiths can't do them
Ford- keys typically use the ingition system to recode the blank key, so whatever you do don't lose the red one!
FIAT- Blue key with red "bit" in it is needed to recode the new spare key, so don't lose that one!
VAG (VW, Audi) - Dcenet locksmiths will have the coding unit that is required to be attached to the engine to recode keys, but the majority won't
Nissan- Straightforward, never had any problems coding keys for these
Toyota - no problems
Honda- no problems

Dealers will always charge a fortune for transponder keys, I have never seen a dealer charge less than €70 for one.

You have two options really:
1. Get a locksmith to do the ket, they will be cheaper than a dealer
2. An option we gave people who wanted the peace of mind of a spare key, but didn't want to pay full whack- get the locksmith to cut a non-transponder key to match (this will open doors, etc, but not start the car), and ask them to write down the transponder code from the old key. That way, you can get a transponder key cut in the future if you lose the old one.

colm_mcm

with Toyotas, do you not have to individually program each key in by a procedure involving turning the original key in the ignition a couple of times, opening and closing the door, then turning the new key in the ignition a couple of times?

CJhaughey

Yes toyotas need to be reprogrammed via the method you just alluded to above.
Ebay sometimes has cheap transponder keys available.

colm_mcm

CJhaughey wrote:

Yes toyotas need to be reprogrammed via the method you just alluded to above.
Ebay sometimes has cheap transponder keys available.

doesn't Nissan NATS use the same system?

mmenarry

Beware of buying blank transponder keys from ebay (or anywhere else), they aren't really going to save you any money!

The cost of cutting the key isn't the blank, but the transponder coding machine.

This is going back a few years (about 5/6), but these are the rough costs involved:

Bog standard key blank: €1
Transponder key blank (including chip): €4.50

The real cost are the cutting and coder machines:
Cutter (normal, same as for house key): about 2K
Side cutter (Citroen, Merc, Opel): ABout 7K
"Tibbe" cutter (Ford): about 2K
Transponder reader/coder: About 12K
VAG engine coding machine: ABout 5K

So even if you have a blank, you're not actually gonna save much.

M.

CJhaughey

Yes maybe not for the example you have outlined above, however if you have a toyota you can reprogram the key yourself as long as you are able to open and close the door and turn the key in the ign.
this represents a good saving over the dealer cost for the same thing.

colm_mcm

dealer cost isn't exactly high though, unless you're getting the remote key

vengeance52

i priced gettin a 2001 mondeo key cut, without the remote it was 70 and with remote 130 from the dealer.

They told me they would have to program the new key and that alone cost 50.

-V-

tapest

New Octy with central lock + alarm, manufacturer fitted. Last thing salesman said, replacement key cost € 280 - € 300
t