Car immobilized and locksmith can't fix
 

I have a 2009 G37 which has now become immobilized. I had a spare key that was a 'Dorman' which came with a programmer. I used that key for several years but recently it stopped working. It wouldn't unlock the doors or start the car. My remaining OEM key worked fine. I put a new battery in the spare non OEM one, and it still failed to work.

Next I pulled the old Dorman programmer off the shelf and went through the instructions like I did many years ago. I heard all the beeps like the direction said (1x, 2x, 3x), but after the step where I put in the second (non OEM) key to program, it failed to recognize the key and would not allow On/Off function. Interesting that the locks and window roll-down feature works with either now.

I figured OK, well I'll just use the OEM one and take it to the dealer. No dice, I'm immobilized. So I called a locksmith and he couldn't get it to work either. Now both the front windows are down and I can't get them rolled up, and the symptoms are: The light at the start button stays in Off position. The dashboard shows a steering wheel locked (I think) icon, and a no key detected icon.

The locksmith told me to try disconnecting the battery terminals for several hours and try again, and before reconnecting the terminals to touch them together. He can't burn his day for free on this issue. I'm trying that, but am doubtful it's going to work.

I know this is long explanation but wondering if anyone has experienced this and solved without an expensive dealer visit. I'm sorta broke these days and now the car is bricked.

Please be kind and spare me the "you are an idiot for using non OEM" type replies. I know it probably wasn't the ideal solution but it worked for many years so I don't think this is the issue.

I don’t know what kind of a programmer that locksmith is using but they can actually clear any keys that are currently programmed. Once cleared you will need another key either a OEM or aftermarket. My brother is a locksmith and I done a few vehicles for him and one is a G37 sedan and it programmed right up. Also did the locksmith insert the key into the port on the left side when trying to reprogram it?

Any quality, reputable locksmith should be able to resolve this issue within a hour. Don't see why yours was complaining of "wasting" his whole day "for free." Nonsense... you are paying for this service (his time). Sounds to me he did not know what he was doing and/or did not want to do the job...

Find another locksmith.

Also, hate to mention this, but your car is a 2009... potential steering wheel lock failure?

OK thank you for this, he did clear the key but didn't use a different one to reprogram. Maybe that's the, umm, key. Yes he did have the key in the slot.

I will try another locksmith. It would be very coincidental for the steering lock to fail, the problem came when trying to duplicate another key so hopefully just the immobilizer SW issue. The car only has 75K miles even though it's a 2009, and has had no problems requiring service except the seemingly impossible to fix rough engine running on cold days. But anything's possible.

I agree that the issue is likely the improper/incomplete programming of the keys. I was just pointing out another potential possibility. I'm not a fan of coincidences but have seen stranger things occur.

Plz keep this thread updated.

Understood, and thanks for your input, will do.

Steering lock failure is the issue. Expensive but I have to have the car working so I'm eating the near 1500$.

https://www.myg37.com/forums/tsb-tec...lock-escl.html

How about trying to remove the fuse, and see if that works just do double check that it is the main issue and not a key programming issue.

Well it's a catch-22, you have to have it fused to get the computer to work, then after that 'maybe' you can get it to adapt to having no fuse. I just had to have the car, no time to fiddle with it.