Question 1

How long does an Infiniti dealer take for a key replacement on a 2004 Q45?

Accepted Answer

Longer than most people expect. The remote head key for this generation is not something dealers typically keep on the shelf. They usually have to order the blank by VIN, and that wait alone can run several business days. Owners on Q45 and G35-era forums have posted about being told two to three days, then having to follow up repeatedly before the part arrived.

Once the key is in, you still need a shop appointment for programming. The transponder side and the remote side are handled through their diagnostic equipment, and that takes time to schedule separately from the parts order. Add it all together and being without your car for the better part of a week is not unusual. I do the whole job on site in one visit, no drop-off, no waiting on parts to ship.

Question 2

What exactly is a remote head key and how does it work on this car?

Accepted Answer

A remote head key is a single unit where the key blade and the fob are built into one piece. The head of the key contains a transponder chip that the immobilizer reads every time you turn the ignition. If the chip is not recognized, the engine either won't crank or it starts and immediately stalls. That immobilizer check happens before anything else.

The same key head also handles the remote functions through the four-button panel. Those are programmed separately from the transponder. Your 2004 Q45 uses this setup, and both layers have to work correctly for the key to do its full job. A correctly cut blade alone won't start the car. A programmed chip without the right blade profile won't turn the cylinder. All three pieces have to line up: the cut, the transponder enrollment, and the remote pairing.

Question 3

Why do Infiniti dealers charge so much and break the job into separate fees?

Accepted Answer

Because they bill each step as its own line item. Parts, cutting labor, and programming labor are typically invoiced separately at the dealer. Some Q45 owners have reported being quoted a diagnostic fee before any actual key work even started, just for the shop to confirm what key the car needs.

I quote the whole job as one thing. You call, I show up, it gets done. No diagnostic charge stacked on top of a parts charge stacked on top of a labor charge.

Question 4

I bought a replacement fob online for my 2004 Q45. Can I program it myself?

Accepted Answer

The remote functions on this generation do have an onboard self-programming sequence that some owners have used successfully, so it is worth looking into for the fob side. However, the transponder chip inside the key head is a different story. That side requires professional equipment to enroll to the immobilizer. You cannot do it with an ignition-turn sequence.

So if you bought a pre-cut, pre-chipped replacement key hoping to do the whole thing at home, you will likely hit a wall on the transponder enrollment even if the remote side cooperates. If you want to try the remote-only sequence yourself first, that is a reasonable first step. But if the car won't start afterward, that is the transponder side telling you it needs a proper programming session.

Question 5

My 2004 Q45 key turns but the engine cranks and then immediately stalls. What is going on?

Accepted Answer

That pattern points straight to the immobilizer. The car sees the blade profile, lets the starter turn, but doesn't recognize the transponder chip inside the key head, so it cuts fuel and stalls. It's one of the more confusing failure modes because the key feels like it's working right up until the engine dies.

This happens with worn or damaged chips, with keys that were never properly enrolled, and occasionally after a battery disconnect scrambles the system's memory. It also comes up when someone tries a copy key that was cut correctly but never had the chip programmed. I diagnose and handle this on site. If you're seeing crank-then-stall on your Q45 in Imperial Beach, that's the call to make.

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