Dead Infiniti EX: Key Sensor or Electrical Nightmare?

Hey there! I can relate to this issue. I have some experience with cars and had a similar problem with my 2008 Infiniti FX Diesel last year. The symptoms were exactly like yours starting issues, warning lights, and funky central locking. Turned out the insertion slot was defective, which was messing with the key recognition system. Took it to my trusted mechanic at AutoTech (been going there for years), and they diagnosed it right away. The repair, including parts and labor, set me back about 290 Euro, but it fixed everything perfectly. Could you share more details about your car's mileage and whether you've had any previous issues with the key system? This might help determine if you're dealing with the same problem.

Hey Mike, thanks for sharing your experience! My car has 98383 KM on the clock, and I actually just had it serviced last month. It's interesting that you mention the insertion slot because mine feels a bit loose when I put the key in. Never had any key-related issues before though, which makes this whole situation kind of weird. Your FX story definitely gives me some hope that it might be something relatively straightforward to fix. I'll probably take it to my local Infiniti specialist to check it out. Did your car also have that slight delay when trying to start it before it completely failed? Thanks again for the help!

Hey again! Yeah, I totally remember that starting delay you're talking about! My FX actually did the same thing for about a week before it completely gave up. It would take like 2-3 seconds longer than usual to recognize the key, and sometimes I had to jiggle it a bit to get it working. Super annoying! With your mileage being similar to what mine was (mine had about 105,000 KM when this happened), and that loose feeling you're describing with the insertion slot, it's sounding more and more like what I dealt with. The fact that you just had it serviced and never had key issues before matches my experience too these things sometimes just wear out with age. Quick tip from my experience while you're waiting to get it to the specialist, try not to force the key if it feels resistant. I made that mistake and apparently made the slot issue a bit worse (my mechanic gave me an earful about that ). Let me know how it goes at the specialist. If it is the same issue, it should be a pretty straightforward fix like mine was. Fingers crossed it's nothing more serious! Cheers, Mike

Thanks Mike! Really appreciate all the detailed info and tips. You've definitely helped calm my nerves about this whole situation. The bit about not forcing the key is especially helpful I've probably been guilty of that already! I've scheduled an appointment with the Infiniti specialist for tomorrow morning. Your experience has given me a much clearer idea of what to expect, and honestly, if it ends up costing around what you paid, that's way better than what I was fearing. I'll make sure to update you on what they find out. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience it's been super helpful! Best, Alex