Need new key cut for older car

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Hello--

I just read through the old entries tagged "key and lock" but nothing seemed quite right, so I wanted to ask here.

Lost my keys yesterday, including the only key I had to my '94 Infiniti. Sometimes it's possible to get a key made cheaply by using the VIN, but that can be difficult with an older car. Anybody know of someone who can do that?

The other option is a locksmith, of course, and I'm prepared for that to be pricey. Can someone recommend one that does good work and is hopefully on the more affordable end of pricey?

FWIW, my key doesn't have a security chip or anything.

ETA: I don't have a key to copy, so I can't really use any recs of key-copying places.

Comments

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

If there's still a dealer around, they can make a key for you. Even if it's not the dealer you bought the car from. I have a car I bought in VA and had moved a couple of times, and was living in CA when I lost the keys, the local CA (Honda) dealer not only made a key for me, but drove it to my home and didn't charge me a penny!

[soft-shoulder.livejournal.com]

I've done this before too and it was only like twenty bucks for my old cars keys at the dealer.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

The lock place near Porter Exchange, close to the 77 bus stop, is excellent. The key for my old junker had bent, and even in spite of that, the guys made one better than the original. No chip.

[ron_newman]

Do you mean Commonwealth Lock ?

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

I second those guys - If you have an obscure key, they can usually find the blank for it and make you a copy.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

No, no, I don't have the key at all. I need a new key cut for my car.

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

Commonwealth lock are by far the best place to start. Call them and tell them your problem; they'll either tell you they can it of tell you thay can't; either way, the answer will be correct.

My guess is they can't - you almost certainly need to go to an Infinity dealer with proof of ownership and your VIN.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

OOoooh, I see. Well, if any locksmith can help you, it's those guys. They KNOW locks. But if you have to replace the locks entirely, I'm guessing you're looking at a trip to the dealership.

Hondar house on Prospect might be able to help you, too - they're good with older imports.

[zuzuzanca.livejournal.com]

It happened to me too last year when I bought a '94 Infiniti from a local (http://www.arrigosawgrass.com/index.htm); the car came with just one key and I've managed to lost it. The guy from the locksmith on the street corner (no name) has made a new functional key in less than three hours. It seems the hard part is to get in the car without a key.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

They do car keys for cheap in the lower floor of Tags, though I don't know how far back their blanks go.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Call Commonwealth and ask them if they can make you a key from the VIN. Otherwise call a dealership and ask them how much it would cost.

(Then when you do have a key, get copies made :-)

[madapan.livejournal.com]

There is a possibility to make a new key based on the lock; any decent and skillful locksmith should know how to do it; anyhow, if you don't want to learn (http://www.donatecarusa.com/) fast you should pay the price.

[onnamante.livejournal.com]

My mom's '94 Infiniti HAS a security chip on the key and the locksmith said all car that have been made since '92 usually have security chip built inside the keys; however he has some "special" lockpicking tools for the tough cases, like yours.
(http://local.triangle411.com/raleigh+nc/car+rental.zq.html)

[elizabeth1988.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you can go to the dealer to get a new key cut. I have had the same problem and went to the Cherry Hill Subaru (http://www.reedmantollsubaru.com/index.htm) dealership and they were able to cut me a new key in no time.

[elizabeth1988.livejournal.com]

Hey I saw this cool thing online to donate a car (http://www.donatecarusa.com/) to charity. You can get rid of that old car for a new one. The old car will go to great use and you will be helping those in need.