Question 1

Do I have to go to the Nissan dealer to get a replacement transponder key for my 2002 Maxima?

Accepted Answer

No. A mobile locksmith with the right equipment can cut and program a transponder key for this car on site. The 2002 Maxima predates some of the newer security architectures that require factory-level credentials to access, so the programming process is well within reach for a properly equipped locksmith. The dealer route means scheduling an appointment, possibly arranging a tow if you have no working key, and paying dealer labor rates for a job that can be done in your driveway. We handle it in one visit, right where the car sits in Rose Park or anywhere else in Oxnard.

Question 2

What exactly is a transponder key and why does the 2002 Maxima need one?

Accepted Answer

A transponder key has a small chip embedded in the head of the key. When you insert it and turn the ignition, the car's antenna ring around the cylinder reads the chip wirelessly. If the chip responds with a signal the immobilizer recognizes, the engine is allowed to start. If the chip is missing, unprogrammed, or registered to a different vehicle, the car either won't crank or it starts and shuts right back off within a couple of seconds.

On the 2002 Maxima, this is a turn-key ignition setup. There is no remote entry, no fob battery, no lock or unlock buttons. The key does one job: it starts the car. The transponder chip is what separates it from a plain metal key that would fit the cylinder but leave you going nowhere.

A correctly cut key with no chip, or a chip that was never programmed, will feel identical in your hand. The ignition cylinder won't care. The immobilizer will.

Question 3

How long does the dealer process actually take for a 2002 Maxima key replacement?

Accepted Answer

Longer than the job itself justifies. Dealers schedule key programming as a service appointment, which means you call, get a quote, and find a window. If the car is not drivable because you have no working key, add a tow to that. Most dealers block an hour or two even though the actual programming portion is a fraction of that. You're paying for their scheduling buffer, not just the work.

With EZ Car Keyz, the job is done at your location in Rose Park. One visit, no tow, no waiting room.

Question 4

My 2002 Maxima starts fine, then dies after a second or two. Could it be the key?

Accepted Answer

Yes, that specific pattern, starts and immediately stalls, is a classic sign the immobilizer is not recognizing the transponder chip. It happens when a key has been cut correctly to the ignition cylinder but the chip was never programmed, lost its registration, or the chip itself has failed. The cylinder reads the cut and lets the engine crank. The immobilizer reads the chip and shuts it back down before you can even put it in gear.

It also happens with worn or damaged key heads where the chip has cracked internally. The key looks fine. The cut is fine. But the chip is dead and the car behaves exactly like it is being stolen every time you try to start it.

If this is happening to you, the fix is reprogramming or replacing the key, not chasing fuel or ignition components. I've seen people replace sensors and parts on these before someone finally checked the key.

Question 5

I bought a replacement key blank online for my 2002 Maxima. Can you just program it?

Accepted Answer

Depends on what you bought. If the blank has the correct transponder chip type for this application, yes. If it doesn't, programming won't help because there's nothing for the immobilizer to talk to. Not every aftermarket blank sold online for this vehicle actually carries the right chip, and some are listed as compatible when they're cut-only blanks with no chip at all.

Bring it. I'll check it before we go any further. If it's good, we cut and program it on the spot. If it's not, I carry the right blanks and we swap it out. Either way, you're not making a second trip.

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