Question 1

What if I need an Infiniti key after hours or on the weekend?

Accepted Answer

Call us. Infiniti dealer service departments keep regular business hours, and key programming is not something the service desk handles over the phone or after closing. Infiniti Roadside Assistance can help with a lockout and get your car towed, but the actual programming waits until a technician is available and the key is ordered and on hand at the dealer. That can mean days, not hours.

I work evenings and weekends in the Live Oak Park Area and the rest of Fallbrook. If your 2003 Q45 leaves you stranded on a Saturday night, you don't have to sit on it until Monday.

Question 2

How long does programming take once you are on site?

Accepted Answer

For a standard add-a-key on the 2003 Q45, where you have at least one working key already, the whole visit runs about 30 to 45 minutes. That includes cutting the blade, programming through the OBD port, and testing every button.

All-keys-lost is a different job. The immobilizer needs PIN-level access to accept a new key with nothing enrolled, and that process adds time. Figure 60 to 90 minutes on site for that scenario. I won't quote a hard number until I know which situation I'm walking into, but I'll tell you upfront when you call.

Question 3

Can you make a key faster than the dealer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's not close. The dealer has to order a VIN-matched key, which takes days to arrive, then schedule you for a programming appointment on top of that. On older luxury vehicles like the 2003 Q45, dealers sometimes treat these as low-priority jobs and the wait stretches further than you'd expect.

I show up with the blank and the tools. One visit. The key is cut and programmed on site, and you're driving the same day. For add-a-key that's 30 to 45 minutes. For all-keys-lost it runs longer, but it still happens in a single visit rather than a week-long back-and-forth with a service department.

Question 4

I bought a replacement fob online. Can you just program it to my 2003 Q45?

Accepted Answer

Maybe, but check the factory FCC ID on the fob before you buy anything. The 2003 Q45 uses a specific remote-head key where the transponder chip and the remote circuitry are in the same housing. If the fob you bought doesn't match the factory FCC ID for this vehicle, it won't pair correctly no matter what tools are used.

If you've already bought one and it matches, bring it along. I can attempt to program it. If it doesn't match, you're looking at the right blank sourced from a reliable supplier. Either way, don't pay for a second fob before confirming the first one is the right unit.

Question 5

My 2003 Q45 starts fine but the remote buttons stopped working. Is this an immobilizer problem?

Accepted Answer

Probably not. If the car starts, the transponder side of the key is communicating with the immobilizer just fine. The remote functions and the transponder run on different systems inside the same housing.

Start with the CR1616. A weak battery can still allow a start while the RF signal for lock and unlock has gotten too faint to reach the receiver. Swap the battery first. If fresh power doesn't fix it, the issue is more likely the receiver module or the fob's remote circuitry rather than anything immobilizer-related. That's a different diagnosis than a key-not-detected situation, and it changes the repair path entirely.

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