Question 1

How long does the Infiniti dealer take for a key replacement on a 2006 Q45?

Accepted Answer

Longer than it should be. The Q45 was Infiniti's top-tier sedan, but that doesn't mean the dealer has your remote head key sitting on a shelf. Most dealers need to order it, and owners on Infiniti forums consistently report being told two to three business days, then waiting a week or more when the part gets held up at the warehouse. Once the key finally arrives, you still need a shop appointment for programming, which adds more calendar time on top of the wait. Then there's the separate billing: the fob itself, the cut, and programming labor are typically three different line items. By the time it's done, you've been without a spare for the better part of two weeks and paid at every step. We do the whole job at your vehicle, one visit, no parts wait.

Question 2

What exactly is a remote head key, and how is it different from a regular key?

Accepted Answer

A remote head key combines the key blade and the fob into one unit. The blade cuts into the ignition like any other key, but there's a transponder chip built into the head that the immobilizer reads every time you turn the key. If that chip isn't enrolled to your specific Q45, the car won't start, even if the blade is cut perfectly. The four buttons on the top of the key handle your remote lock and unlock functions. It's all one piece, so if the fob casing cracks or the remote stops working, you're replacing the whole unit, not just swapping a separate fob. The battery in the remote portion is a CR1616, and that's worth checking before assuming the remote side has a bigger problem.

Question 3

Why does replacing a key at the Infiniti dealer take so many separate steps and charges?

Accepted Answer

Dealer service departments bill in layers. The key fob unit is one charge, cutting the blade is another, and programming labor is a third. Some locations also tack on a diagnostic fee before any work starts. For a 2006 Q45, the key has to be enrolled to both the immobilizer and the remote receiver, and dealers typically run that through their factory diagnostic system. None of that work is difficult with the right equipment, but the dealer's rate card doesn't reflect difficulty. It reflects what the service counter thinks the market will bear for a flagship Infiniti. We skip the layers, bring the tools to Via Marina or wherever your car is parked, and get it handled in one shot.
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Question 4

My 2006 Q45 remote head key starts the car fine but the lock and unlock buttons stopped working. Do I need a new key?

Accepted Answer

Not automatically. On the Q45, the transponder function and the remote function are two separate systems sharing one physical key. The transponder talks to the immobilizer through the ignition; the remote buttons talk to the body control module by radio signal. If the car starts fine, your transponder programming is intact. Dead or weak remote buttons usually point to a few things first: the CR1616 battery in the fob, corroded battery contacts, or a cracked solder joint inside the key housing from the key being dropped or squeezed on a heavy keyring. Pop the back of the fob, check the battery, clean the contacts, and look for obvious damage. If the remote still won't respond after a fresh CR1616 is seated correctly, the remote side can be re-registered without redoing the transponder work. That's a much shorter job.

Question 5

I bought a replacement remote head key blank online for my Q45. Can I program it myself?

Accepted Answer

No. The 2006 Q45 does not have an onboard self-programming sequence for adding or registering a new key. Both the transponder enrollment and the remote registration require a professional tool connected to the vehicle. The blank you bought still needs to be cut to your specific key code and then programmed with the right equipment. Buying the blank online isn't a problem, but it gets you maybe halfway there.

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