2000 Nissan Maxima Key Replacement in Los Angeles, CA

The 2000–2003 Maxima uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Nissan Maxima key guide.

2000 Nissan Maxima: key facts

Key type: Transponder chip key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: Varies by trim — we confirm by VIN
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Catalogs genuinely split for the 1999-2003 Maxima: Philips ID41 (NATS) in some references versus Texas 4D60 (NI02 key) in Ilco/JMA-aligned listings — both key types exist in the field, so we confirm from the key stamp or by testing the chip before cutting. Either way it is OBD-programmable with a BCM-derived PIN.

What kind of key does a 2000 Maxima use?

The 2000 Maxima is a transponder-key car, not push-to-start. The key has a metal blade that turns the ignition and a chip in the head that the car has to recognize before the engine will run. Nissan's immobilizer on these cars is called NATS, which is why you may see a small security light on the dash.

The car also has a mechanical backup key, meaning the blade can open the doors even when the chip is not recognized. That is exactly why a hardware-store copy fools people. It opens the door, it turns in the ignition, and then the engine will not stay running because the chip was never there or was never programmed.

Ignition work is the other half of the story. A Maxima of this age often has real mileage on it, and the key blade and the ignition lock wear together.

Why are the chip details not listed here?

We would rather tell you plainly than guess. The parts catalogs genuinely disagree for the 1999 to 2003 Maxima. Some references list a Philips ID41 chip for the NATS system. Others, lined up with Ilco and JMA listings, show a Texas 4D60 chip on an NI02 key. Both versions of key exist in the field, so the chip family for your particular car is not something we will state from a table.

What we do is check before we cut. We look at the stamp on your existing key if you have one, or we test the chip directly. If you have no key at all, we confirm against the VIN and the car itself in person. Either way, programming is done through the OBD port using a PIN that comes from the car's body control module (BCM). No dealer-only step is required for this setup.

Duplicate key or all keys lost: what changes?

Both are possible on this car, and the work is different enough to be worth understanding.

Duplicate from a working key: the original key has to be present. We read it, cut a new blade, and program the new chip to the car. This is the more economical route, and it is worth doing before you are down to your last key.
All keys lost: this is still doable. There is no original to copy, so we cut a blade by code or from the ignition, retrieve the PIN from the BCM, and program a new key over OBD. It takes more steps than a duplicate, and it is usually the higher-cost situation.
Cut-only copy without programming: this is the trap. It will open the doors and may turn the ignition, but the engine will not start because the immobilizer never accepted it.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

How we handle it step by step

Here is the usual sequence on a Maxima like this one.

You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the year, model, and whether you have any working key. The line is answered around the clock.
We come to you with a mobile van, or you can bring the car to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd.
We confirm ownership and identify the key type from the stamp, a chip test, or the VIN.
We cut the blade to fit the door and ignition locks.
We connect to the OBD port, pull the PIN from the BCM, and program the transponder.
We test the key on the doors, the ignition, and several start cycles, and check that the NATS light behaves normally.

What affects the price?

We do not quote numbers on a web page because the honest answer depends on your situation. These are the things that move the cost:

Whether you have a working key to copy, or all keys are lost. Which chip type your car turns out to need, since the two catalog versions use different key blanks. Whether we come to you or you come to the shop. The time of day you call. And the condition of the ignition: if worn wafers make the key stick or refuse to turn, a new key will not fix that, and the lock may need service too.

We give you the full cost on the phone once we know those details, before any work begins.

Common problems on a 2000 Maxima

Three issues come up on these cars again and again, and each has a different fix.

The key sticks or stops turning in the ignition. This usually points to worn ignition lock wafers on a high-mileage car, not a dead key.
The NATS security light stays on. The immobilizer is not reading the chip, often because it is worn or was badly cloned.
A copy opens the doors but the car will not start. It was cut without a transponder, or the chip was never programmed.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key?

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront in Westwood and mobile vans that cover 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You reach one company, not a dispatch service passing your job to whoever is free, and David oversees the work as owner and lead technician.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. You should ask any locksmith for that number before work begins, us included.

For other Nissan models see our Nissan key pages, the broader Maxima key page, or all car key services. You can also reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a 2000 Nissan Maxima key if I lost all of them?

Yes. All keys lost is possible on this car. We cut a blade, retrieve the PIN from the body control module, and program a new transponder key over the OBD port.

Do I need the original key to make a copy?

For a duplicate, yes, the original key has to be present. If you have no key, we handle it as an all-keys-lost job instead.

Why did my copied key open the door but not start the car?

The Maxima's NATS immobilizer needs to recognize a chip in the key. A copy cut without a transponder, or one never programmed, will not start the engine.

Which chip does my 2000 Maxima use?

It depends on the key. References split between Philips ID41 and Texas 4D60, and both key types exist. We confirm from the key stamp or by testing the chip, and by VIN in person if needed.

Do I have to go to the dealer?

No. This car is programmed through the OBD port using a PIN from the BCM, and no dealer-only equipment is required.

My key sticks in the ignition. Do I need a new key?

Not always. On a high-mileage Maxima, worn ignition lock wafers are a common cause. We check both the key and the lock before recommending anything.

Will you come to me?

Yes. Our mobile vans come to you, or you can visit our storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood. Call (213) 577-1366 any hour.

We cover all these cities

Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.