Can't Get in My Car! Anyone else had this issue?
 

Hi there!. Long-time lurker; first time poster. Having an interesting (& frustrating!) issue with my 2013 G37S Coupe over the holiday weekend. Was hoping someone here could assist. Feels like it should be an easy fix...but I can't find it.

My car has had ongoing issues with both door lock mechanisms....it's been the Achilles heel on this vehicle for whatever reason. One of the door actuators has been replaced twice; the other has been replaced once. Both door locks have been having issues again recently (they don't lock/unlock using either the key fob or the in-door buttons). This has been the only mechanical issue my car has ever had - strange problem to have repeat itself. This weekend I accidentally left the key fob in the car & manually locked the door on the way out. I have the spare key fob, but I can't get back into the car. My hunch is that it is related to the door lock mechanism issues; I think the car THINKS it is unlocked...because you are not supposed to be able to lock the key fob in the car from what I've read. However, since the mechanisms are bad, they didn't actually unlock.

• The car beeps quickly like 10x when I push both door buttons to open them, but they will not open.
• Small yellow light near shift knob console illuminates while it is beeping & either of the two outside door buttons is pushed.
• The spare mechanical key will not go into the key hole all the way, so it will not open the driver side door. (Only one key hole on the car - can't turn the key either direction).
• The trunk button on the car doesn't do anything (with the spare key fob in hand).
• None of the buttons on the spare key fob do anything. No siren, no lock/unlock attempt, no trunk open, etc.
• The car battery should be good - the car beeps as noted above, & the lights on dash are on, so assume it's fine.
• The spare key fob battery was replaced. Twice. Still nothing.

This one has me stumped. Any thoughts on how to solve this issue? I hate to call a locksmith...they are notorious for damaging the car.

Thank you!!!!

You can still lock the keyfob in the car if you manually lock the door by hitting the lock button on the inside before you close the door. The car stops you from locking it with the fob inside if you use the button on the outside on the door handle. I can't help you here cuz it's out of my field of expertise. My only suggestion is to call Infiniti and see what they say. They might be able to tutorial you through the phone. I would also check to see if any fuses are bad. It's quite unfortunate that the key doesn't go all the way in. I wouldn't call a locksmith because I've seen their ways of opening doors; you're going to end up with some sort of small damage. If it's possible, try to see if clicking the unlock button twice and then holding it down to see if your windows roll down.

There is always the physical, mechanical key that can be used to unlock the door. You will have to pop off the escutcheon that covers the actual lock cylinder, but that option is there.

The yellow key light is another issue...

Thanks! Just so I'm clear, you're saying I need to pop the small escutcheon off the door/lock cylinder to get the mechanical key to work?

I've used the mechanical key many times before without any problems....so I was assuming the spare key is not going in all the way is by design & has something to do the primary fob still being inside the car?!?

Thanks! Tried the unlock button trick 2x....no luck. And I can't check the fuses because I can't get in the car. :52:

I don't think there's a problem with the spare mechanical key either...my guess it is not going in 100& of the way by design. I've used it many times before with no issues.

The mechanical key has ZERO to do with the key fob. It is only to gain entry to the vehicle when the electronics fail- as is your current issue:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.myg...e22649e1a2.jpg
You might need a small shot of WD-40 to loosen up the cylinder, but the metal key should open the lock no problem.

Thanks. Sorry if I wasn't clear. My 2013 model G37 has the lock cylinder already exposed on the driver side door. No need to remove anything there. The passenger side does not...is there also a key cylinder under there? Worth a try if yes.

Also to be 100% clear...the mechanical key worked just fine on Saturday afternoon. It did not work 1 hour later....with the fob locked inside.

Only the driver side has a lock cylinder. At this point, if the mechanical key won't work, you will either have to try manually unlocking the door (with a coat hanger) or call a cab/locksmith who has a Slim Jim tool.

I would keep trying the metal key. Try "jiggling" the key while pressing the lock/unlock buttons on your spare fob. At this point I'm out of ideas.

What is the history of this car? Bought new/used? Salvage title? Just curious why a 7 year old would have so many lock issues...

Yes, it's baffling to me why I can't get into my car....when I have a key to it. Believe me....I've tried everything. Question: Should the spare key fob do anything? I'm a bit surprised it won't. See pic below...that's as far as the key goes in. Won't rotate in either direction.

I bought the car Labor Day 2014 from a local Infiniti Dealer as a CPO at 19k miles I rolled it to 100k a couple weeks ago. It's been flawless....expect for the lock issues. The first two were replaced under the CPO warranty. The third was on me. It's an annoying problem....I left the car unlocked many times when I thought it was locked.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.myg...e2f9a2973a.jpg

I've never used the metal key, but it seems to me that key should go in a little deeper. Normally I would say "if it don't fit..." but it is your car...

Where is the fob that is inside the car? Can you get to it with a coat hanger and fish it out?

If you press and hold the UNLOCK button on the spare fob do the windows roll down?

Yes, the metal key definitely needs to go in deeper to unlock the door. Now you've got me wondering if I got the wrong spare key fob for my car at the time of purchase. To be honest with you, I don't know if I have ever used the spare. I assume I have at some point...but I don't know with any certainty. Not something you really think about until you need to. :52:

The spare key fob does absolutely nothing (even with a fresh battery). Like it is not even there. My first thought was to go in thru the trunk.....but I can't even pop it open with the spare fob.

The main fob slipped out of my pocket when I was getting out of the car. It's sitting on the driver's seat. Probably easier to unlock the lock with a tool etc. if it comes to that.

If you can get that fob out you might get lucky and be able to open the door electronically or mechanically. Right now the BCM/NATS/IVIS is reading the key inside the car, so the odds that the outside key doing anything are nil.

Perhaps you can hit the trunk switch and pop the trunk open? Aside from those possibilities the only option I see is a unlock tool.

Once this is resolved, I would raise hell with your dealership. This is a ongoing, unresolved issue that you should not keep paying for repairs that keep failing. In other words, research your legal options.

Thanks. Trunk doesn't work - that was actually the very first thing I tried. What's really got me stumped now (more than the bad locks themselves) is that the spare fob & key don't work. The fob does nothing....no lights, no attempt to lock/unlock, no trunk, no siren, etc.....and the key doesn't fit in all the way.

It's really making me question if it is the wrong key.

I'll keep you posted. Looking more & more like a locksmith......

Right now, the car is "communicating" with the fob that is inside the car. As long as that fob is inside, any fob outside of the car likely will not work.

I would still try to take a coat hanger and fish that fob out or try hitting the trunk release button- all as a last resort before calling a locksmith.

Yeah - that does make sense about the outside fob not working when one is inside. The mechanical key not working? Not so much.

Trunk won't pop open either.