rizrashdi
Member
So I lost one of my keys a while back and didn't want to pay the $300+ dealership fees to replace. Did some research on this site and saw a few postings of getting the parts myself ...IE: "$16.55 for H0564-1FA0B (they physical key) and $98.70 for 285E3-1KM0D (the remote) from EverythingNissan.com" Thought I'd save some money and grab one off ebay instead and found one for my '11 Leaf for $70. Came with a blank key that I could cut to match my existing. Not sure if it came from a wrecked car, an extra key or whatever.
Took it to the dealer (Mossy Kearny Mesa in San Diego) and bought the key from ebay, as well as my existing key with me. Wanted to take part in the $80'ish reprogramming fee which I've seen talked about here. Service guy came back with $110 to program and cut, figured I'd live with the $30 difference.
Some time later service guy comes to me and tells me this is not possible to do. Something about "once the key had been programmed to a car it cannot be undone".
Few things came to mind as I left the dealership
- I work in IT and have never met a computer/chip that cannot be un-programmed. This sounds like BS to me. Maybe heavy handed security feature car companies are adopting?
- If I had bought some OEM keys from Nissan or EverythingNissan.com I'm assuming I would have gotten a virgin never been programmed key for $100/$150. I thought the re-programming process involved wiping the program from any current keys that you have as well. IE: I could never use my lost key if I ever found it. Doesn't the fact that they can re-program my existing working key speak in direct disagreement to the dealership's claim of "once the key had been programmed to a car it cannot be undone"??
Am I being fed some hog wash here or is there some truth to all this? I haven't called any other dealers yet but it's on my things to do. Last resort I'll be getting the OEM FOB from EverythingNissan.com.
Anyone else run into this?
Took it to the dealer (Mossy Kearny Mesa in San Diego) and bought the key from ebay, as well as my existing key with me. Wanted to take part in the $80'ish reprogramming fee which I've seen talked about here. Service guy came back with $110 to program and cut, figured I'd live with the $30 difference.
Some time later service guy comes to me and tells me this is not possible to do. Something about "once the key had been programmed to a car it cannot be undone".
Few things came to mind as I left the dealership
- I work in IT and have never met a computer/chip that cannot be un-programmed. This sounds like BS to me. Maybe heavy handed security feature car companies are adopting?
- If I had bought some OEM keys from Nissan or EverythingNissan.com I'm assuming I would have gotten a virgin never been programmed key for $100/$150. I thought the re-programming process involved wiping the program from any current keys that you have as well. IE: I could never use my lost key if I ever found it. Doesn't the fact that they can re-program my existing working key speak in direct disagreement to the dealership's claim of "once the key had been programmed to a car it cannot be undone"??
Am I being fed some hog wash here or is there some truth to all this? I haven't called any other dealers yet but it's on my things to do. Last resort I'll be getting the OEM FOB from EverythingNissan.com.
Anyone else run into this?