I have a 2007 Nissan Xterra with only one ignition key, which also opens all the mechanical doors and hatchback door latch locks.

Which is the best way to get it duplicated so I can have a spare: A Nissan Dealership, an automotive locksmith, a hardware store, the internet, or something else ?

What do you advise ?

I found a good Locksmith on FB market place. Called and asked if he could program keys and he said he could. I have gone to him for several keys since them and he has been able to program and cut them all. The dealership wanted 300 and up per key, my guy did them for between 100-150 depending on key. I would search your local locksmiths.

On most newer cars, they require an OBD reader to program the key to the car. Hardware and the internet are almost certainly right out.

If it's a chip key I doubt if a hardware store can duplicate it. Personally I found locksmiths to be cheaper than the dealerships. There are two locksmiths in my town and both have done chip key duplications for me.

go to your local ACE hardware and ask if they have the tool for your brand. Most ACE's carry the tool and can program the keys.

Locksmith. Think of other duplicates you might need.

The advantage of going to a locksmith who can program remotes is that each will have a unique code. Some cars allow for programming by the user if at least two unique known keys are available. You might be able to add a third one that way. By having that extra one, you can then DELETE one if it gets lost.

I'm not saying that to avoid the locksmith long-term - it just gives you immediate flexibility to remove one from the system. Check and find out what your specific model of car requires.

I used a locksmith a few years ago when one of the key fobs for a family member's car got damaged. They were able to take the good one, cut and program a new key to replace the bad one, and remove the failed one from the car's memory.

Stores that have machines that might be able to "clone" a key might work, but both the original and spare will have the same exact coding.

That's pretty cool.

If calling local locksmiths, please do your due diligence like you should be doing for any other contractor. There are plenty of illegal operations, or others we refer to as scammers.

If your state requires a locksmith license, ensure they have that. If your state does not require it, make sure they have a local business license, insurance, etc. Look up the business in your state's database to see how long they've been in business. Might also want to ask which dealerships they do work for. Anybody who's good at automotive work will have several dealership customers.

Might give this place a look.

https://tomskey.com/collection...mote-fob-programming

Definitely not a stealership, they will charge you $300-$400 or more when a locksmith will charge far less.

There are plenty of key places online, as well as Amazon and eBay. Buy the correct key and then find a local place that will program it. You'll need to bring you current key as well so they will all be programmed the same. Programming will cost around $100.

I was at Costco this morning and they had car keys express there. I looked it up and they sell the keys and an OBD2 dongle that pairs to your phone to program the key. It might be worth checking Costco events near you if you have a local Costco.

What kind of chip?

In the old days GM had a resistor on the keyblade and it was easy for any key store to figure it out and get a corresponding blank. At least that's what I used to do when I went to Sears to make keys.

The resistor keys were cheap.

I remember them making me plastic keys in a card that I could keep in my wallet for my '85 Camaro. lol

Any locksmith worth his or her salt can make and encode that key. I say "her" because back in Phoenix my workplace made frequent use of "The Key Lady." She came out to the job site and had a van that had every bit of space taken up with key blanks and equipment and could make any kind of key, program remotes and fobs and such.

I have somehow managed to lose two of the three (two normal, one "valet) chip keys that came with my car. Some day - probably after I've lost the last one - I'll get around to getting a spare made.

So given all this, what is the better way to do it - clone an existing key without touching the car's computer by just anyone, use a professional locksmith to clone the existing key, or use a professional locksmith to pair a new key to the car's computer ? I heard there are DIY solutions, but I don't think I want to mess with that. I read on the net that cloning may confuse the car, though I'm not sure how that could happen.

You have the options but seem uncertain. The dealership will do it and stand behind their work. Depends on your disposable income. You can go into the dealership parts department ask about the cost and about the other options. The guys in parts are usually helpful.

The DIY is probably gonna end in disaster.
The best and most cost effective solution is to call a locksmith. No matter what you will have to pair it to the car. If you buy a key fob online, it's gonna be around 100 dollars, and then you will have to take it to the dealer for programming which is going to be another 100-200 dollars. If you go to the dealer, you are probably going to be starting around 200-300 dollars all in.
If you look around FB marketplace for a mobile locksmith, they will come to your car, with the tools and obd programmers and get you a new key cut and programmed in about 15 minutes. And be out maybe 175 dollars. I would, and have, chosen this method many times. The guy did such a good job on the first tricky one, I saved his contact info and he has done at least 3 others for me. This is what I recommend. Let the professionals handle it, and you will save some money, and get it done in a mostly painless manner.

I had good luck with Tom’s key as well on a 2007 grand Cherokee. They cut the key from pictures I submitted on the website and it came with something to program it.

I went to a local "Batteries Plus" and had mine done there.

Bob

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rbert0005,

quote:

Originally posted by texassierra:
Might give this place a look.

https://tomskey.com/collection...mote-fob-programming

I saw him post a video of going to the dealership to get keys replaced. They charged him maybe for 4 hours work.

He had hidden cameras in the car and it sat for most of the time. The work took I think 15 minutes. He did get his windshield washer fluid refilled as part of the 10 point courtesy check.

Then he should how he could do it far quicker and cheaper.