Question 1

How do I spot a fake or unqualified locksmith before I get burned?

Accepted Answer

A few clear signs. First, they won't give you a firm quote for the actual vehicle when you call - just a vague "starting at" number that changes when they arrive. Second, no visible branding on the vehicle, no business name, no way to verify who they are. Third - and this is the one that costs people money - they show up and then admit they can't actually program your Q60's smart key. That happens more than it should.

For this vehicle specifically, ask them on the phone whether they can handle the 40-digit PIN security system on 2021 Infiniti platforms. A qualified tech will know exactly what you're talking about. If they hesitate or pivot to vague tool names without any context, that's your answer. A real Infiniti locksmith will be direct about what tools they're running and why those tools work on this specific system.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key and how does it work on the 2021 Q60?

Accepted Answer

Your Q60 fob does two separate jobs. The remote side handles lock, unlock, and trunk release through a radio signal. The security side carries a transponder chip that communicates with the vehicle's immobilizer every time you attempt to start the car. If the immobilizer doesn't recognize the chip as authorized, the engine either won't crank or it starts and immediately shuts down.

Programming ties both sides together. A fob that's been cut to your car but never programmed into the system is useless for starting it. And a fob that gets erased from the vehicle's memory - which happens in an all-keys-lost reset - becomes a blank that has to be re-enrolled. That's why you can't just order a fob online and call it done. The hardware is only half the job.

Question 3

What equipment does it actually take to program an Infiniti Q60 key?

Accepted Answer

For add-a-key on the 2021 Q60, professional diagnostic software with confirmed Infiniti smart key support handles it through the OBD port. All-keys-lost is a different level. The 40-digit PIN architecture this vehicle uses requires a tool setup that can extract the security PIN from the body control module - some platforms need a dedicated adapter on top of the main unit to do that correctly.

Locksmiths who frequent the professional forums are explicit about this: certain tools advertise Infiniti coverage but stall out or return errors on the PIN extraction step for newer models. I've invested in the equipment that gets through it. That's the part of the job you don't see, but it's the part that determines whether you leave with a working key or a wasted service call.

Question 4

My Q60 fob works fine for remote lock and unlock but the car won't start. What's going on?

Accepted Answer

That split behavior - remote functions working but no start - usually points to the transponder side of the fob rather than the remote side. They're technically two separate systems in one unit. The remote frequency can transmit fine while the immobilizer chip has lost its pairing with the vehicle.

It can also mean the fob is low on battery. A CR2032 that's lost enough voltage may still have enough power to trigger the remote buttons but not enough to reliably communicate the security handshake on start. Swap the battery first. If the problem continues after a fresh CR2032 is seated properly, the fob likely needs to be re-enrolled into the immobilizer. That's a programming job, not a hardware replacement.

Question 5

I bought a used Q60 and it only came with one key. Is adding a second one worth doing now?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and sooner is better than later. All-keys-lost on this platform takes longer and costs more than adding a key while you still have a working one in hand. Adding a second fob now is the straightforward version of the job. Losing your only key and starting from scratch is the hard version.

Used Infiniti owners on the forums bring this up regularly - they buy the car, skip the second key, and then end up in exactly the situation you're trying to avoid. One working key for a daily driver is one dropped-in-a-storm-drain away from a much bigger problem.

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