Mechanical Key RFID?

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sirpurrcival

Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2017
Messages
11
So, I managed to lose my mechanical key from my fob last night. I have never used it for any reason. I talked to Nissan and they tell me that the mechanical key is RFID chipped an would cost $35.00 for the key and $75.00 for the programming. The thing is, my other Key fob has a mechanical key and other than get me in the door, it seems to do nothing in terms of starting the car. So I am questioning the chipped aspect of the mechanical key. I see many replacement mechanical key blanks on things like Amazon and Ebay for considerably less $$$. Most of them seem to indicate that they are not chipped. So I guess the real question is whether or not the "mechanical" key is more than just a mechanical key. For example, if a non chipped replacement were to be used, with the door not open?

Addtnl. Info: 2015 leaf with 4 button fob.
 
Thank you. What is very disconcerting is that I talked to my local Nissan dealer (their parts person) and it appears that I have gotten the wrong information. Very costly wrong information. I find that very disturbing. To be out something like $110.00 for something that might cost me $10.00 is not at all acceptable.
 
sirpurrcival said:
Thank you. What is very disconcerting is that I talked to my local Nissan dealer (their parts person) and it appears that I have gotten the wrong information. Very costly wrong information. I find that very disturbing. To be out something like $110.00 for something that might cost me $10.00 is not at all acceptable.

Welcome to the Nissan (and many other brands) dealership (aka "stealership") network.
 
The dealer may have just made a mistake. It was common for mechanical keys to have RFID chips in them before 'keyless' starters were used.

I'm not 100% sure but I do think that the key for a Leaf is purely mechanical since AFAIK its only real use is to open the doors when the 12V battery is dead and the car's electronics don't have power.

If the FOB opens and starts the car without the key present it's probably safe to say the key doesn't have any RFID capability.
 
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