Key does not turn in the ignition

COLLINR

MEMBER
2009 NISSAN MICRA
1.2L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
105,000 MILES

K12 Nissan Micra 59 Reg. I've got an issue where the car key no longer turns in the ignition. Tried everything!

i'm at the stage where i've removed the ignition unit from the car having great fun with the shear bolts.

Not sure though where to go from here. I'm thinking the best option will be to buy a second hand unit from eBay and fit that but I know the car won't start with the different key etc.

I can't remove the barrel from the existing unit as it looks like a sealed unit so I have no choice but really to get the second hand unit. If I change the transponder unit from the eBay part to the old one including the black ring and swap the internals of the old key into the new key will the car work?

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

We don't have a manual on this vehicle but the USA version of this system is called NATS and the way it works is the ring that you have on the ignition switch is just a receiver of the signal given by the key. So it then sends that signal to the BCM and ECM where they need to agree that the key is a programmed key to this vehicle and it is okay to start.

So if you get a used ignition switch and keys to match it then that will not work. So the key to get this to work is the key. You need to be using a key that is recognized by the BCM and PCM so I would go ahead and replace this with the used part and then just get a key and program it to the vehicle.

Two things that I don't know. First, if you transferring the internals of a key over would work. Second, is if this vehicle is the same as the USA version. This will work for the USA version but if your system is different then it may not work.

Here is a guide that may not help you at this point but it will help others that visit this page:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/ignition-switch-wont-turn-stuck

Below you will find the detail on the NATS system for your review.

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