Honda Civic Key

smidgy · 13-09-2008 9:16am #1

Hi,

I got a new key cut for a new Honda Civic myself after the dealer quoted me 360 euros for one. Its just the blade with no fob part. With my home made key it will enter the ignition and turn it ok but the car wont start - it keeps cutting out. Is it that the key isnt a 'Perfect' match or do the electronics in the real key send a signal down the key to the ignition to tell it to turn off the immobiliser?

I have bought another used key from a crashed Honda civic which has the electronic fob in it - if I put the newly cut blade into this key will it work ok?

Regards,

S.

Captain Slow IRL · 13-09-2008 9:42am

No. If that was the case, any key would start any car - and that doesn't sound very appealing if I want a secure car!

Key has to be supplied and coded by honda, unless you can find someone with the correct equipment to do it for you.

omb0wyn5ehpij9 · 13-09-2008 10:33am

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

No. If that was the case, any key would start any car - and that doesn't sound very appealing if I want a secure car!

Key has to be supplied and coded by honda, unless you can find someone with the correct equipment to do it for you.

+1, that is exactly it

JHMEG · 13-09-2008 1:22pm

I recently had a similar experience.

The car isn't starting cos the key is missing the immobiliser chip, which you are going to rectify with the other key you have bought.

Once you've done that you have to bring all keys to a Honda dealer as to program in the new key all old keys have to be wiped from memory and reprogrammed in. You have no choice in this: it has to be done by a dealer.

smidgy · 13-09-2008 7:13pm

Thanks for that guys. I just put the key together, so i have one full key now. Better head off to the dealers with it so ...

Thoie · 13-09-2008 7:19pm

My car has a separate little key which switches off the immobiliser and alarm in the engine. If you're not that concerned about security, you could leave those permanently off and just use the "blade" bit.

Mr.Diagnostic · 13-09-2008 7:32pm

OP, look for a recommendation for a specialist locksmith that is local to you. You will save a good bit this way. It is quite possible to get this sorted without the need to visit a dealership.

eringobragh · 13-09-2008 7:43pm

Someone posted this link up here before so i saved it as an email just incase I ever needed it. He got his key done at a fraction of the stealers.

http://www.thelockhospital.com

Cant recommend them personally though as i've never dealt with them

JHMEG · 13-09-2008 7:51pm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

It is quite possible to get this sorted without the need to visit a dealership.

Not in this case unless the locksmith has the same computer that the Honda dealers do.

eringobragh wrote:

Someone posted this link up here before so i saved it as an email just incase I ever needed it. He got his key done at a fraction of the stealers.

OP has a complete key. He now needs to the immoboliser/ECU to recognise it.

eringobragh · 13-09-2008 8:05pm

OP has a complete key. He now needs to the immoboliser/ECU to recognise it.

My bad. I presumed OP had a key that worked and needed one cloned.

Mr.Diagnostic · 13-09-2008 8:24pm

JHMEG wrote: »

Not in this case unless the locksmith has the same computer that the Honda dealers do.

I suspect if I said it was bright outside at midday you would disagree with me.

In general there is a lot that can be done with control systems like immobilisers that the dealers cannot do. This system is one of those systems. The honda dealer computer is, like all dealer systems, only capable of doing what Honda wants the dealers to be able to do. There is loads more possible.

Fact – I have a good locksmith in MSN right now who has confirmed that he can do all Honda keys no problem.

OP. email the the ALA (automotive locksmiths association), tell them where you are and ask if they have a member close to you who can do it.

JHMEG · 13-09-2008 10:42pm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Fact – I have a good locksmith in MSN right now who has confirmed that he can do all Honda keys no problem.

You might ask him how he does it.

Having gone through the procedure of getting a new Honda key myself recently I found most places couldn't even cut the blade and I ended up getting it done in Germany. It was coded free of charge by a dealer nearby.

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

OP. email the the ALA (automotive locksmiths association), tell them where you are and ask if they have a member close to you who can do it.

Also have priced it from the dealer you bought the car from. It's quite possible they won't charge anything.

VH · 13-09-2008 11:18pm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

In general there is a lot that can be done with control systems like immobilisers that the dealers cannot do.

curious - more info?

Mr.Diagnostic · 13-09-2008 11:42pm

JHMEG wrote: »

You might ask him how he does it.

Having gone through the procedure of getting a new Honda key myself recently I found most places couldn't even cut the blade and I ended up getting it done in Germany. It was coded free of charge by a dealer nearby.

Also have priced it from the dealer you bought the car from. It's quite possible they won't charge anything.

Well that’s fair enough. You had a problem with a Honda key and you didn’t find a solution for it outside the dealer network. That grand because you tell us the dealer s do it free of charge

Its slightly strange why the dealer quoted the OP €360 for something that is free though. It’s a shame you didn’t tell the op that earlier. Its also a shame that you didn’t consider that some people could know better that yourself and the dealer.

You are of course correct. It is completely impossible for anyone other than a dealer to code a Honda key. You had better tell advanced diagnostics that the tool they sell the locksmiths does not work. In fact you had better tell the locksmiths that too, as they have been using the tool to code Honda keys for years in error.

So, to get away from the topic of JHMEG’s massive knowledge of all things Honda and back to the OP’s problem, the OP can go to the dealer and get it done free

or pay dealer prices, or find a specialist who will do it cheaper.
I sincerely hope the OP will post back that the dealer did it free, though I wont hold my breath

unkel · 13-09-2008 11:49pm

Lots of sarcasm there

Mr.Diagnostic · 13-09-2008 11:52pm

VH wrote: »

curious - more info?

This is a complex subject but in general the manufacturer will only allow the dealer to do what they want them to do. For example, BMW’s dealer tool will check the VIN that is programmed into a cars control modules and if it is wrong will stop the dealer tool from proceeding with coding or programming. So its impossible to fit used control modules. In fact the VIN is stored on an eeprom and can be rewritten. The dealer cant do it but it does happen.
Another example. Its not possible to code keys or any security modules into VW’s without access to the VW server because you need a security code that even the dealer cannot access. Strangely enough the code is contained within the car on an eeprom, if you know where to look.

JHMEG · 13-09-2008 11:54pm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Its slightly strange why the dealer quoted the OP €360 for something that is free though.

Ok MrD, looks like you're just in from the pub.

Anyway, the dealer quoted the OP 360 euro for *everything*. I was quoted a very high price for *everything*, and hence I bought the blank, had it cut and have what I would call friends in a local Honda that coded it out of good will. I buy lots of stuff off them so they'll get it back off me one way or another.

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

It’s a shame you didn’t tell the op that earlier.

No guarantees they'll do it out of goodwill. But it's worth a try, esp if the OP bought the car from them.

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

Its also a shame that you didn’t consider that some people could know better that yourself and the dealer.

I'm all ears, and would love to know. I asked you above.

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

So, to get away from the topic of JHMEG’s massive knowledge

I'm speaking from experience, but I accept you are the expert, tho you didn't reply to my ECU repair thread.:P

Mr.Diagnostic · 13-09-2008 11:56pm

unkel wrote: »

Lots of sarcasm there

I actually edited it to remove most of the sarcasm

In fact it is often more difficult to be polite that it is to figure out why i bother posting here.

JHMEG · 14-09-2008 12:02am

unkel wrote: »

Lots of sarcasm there

I post on here once in a blue moon. All my posts were polite. This is what I get.

Mr.Diagnostic · 14-09-2008 12:20am

JHMEG wrote: »

tho you didn't reply to my ECU repair thread.:P

But sure why would you need any input from me. Google is your friend, find a used ECU and as we all know the Honda dealers program for free.

eringobragh · 14-09-2008 12:27am

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

But sure why would you need any input from me. Google is your friend, find a used ECU and as we all know the Honda dealers program for free.

lol :pac:

JHMEG · 14-09-2008 12:31am

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

But sure why would you need any input from me. Google is your friend, find a used ECU and as we all know the Honda dealers program for free.

MrD - you either have something helpful to say or you don't. Bags of sarcasm do you no justice.

VH · 14-09-2008 1:30am

unkel wrote: »

Lots of sarcasm there

and Mr.Diagnostic has a chip the size of jupiter on his shoulder

JHMEG · 14-09-2008 12:17pm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

But sure why would you need any input from me.

My bad for assuming you'd know anything about it.

Also your buddy on msn -- he's fictitious? You didn't answer that question (let me guess: he won't tell as it's a secret)

MrD all you have done is thrown muck at me. You haven't backed up any of your arguments.

smidgy · 14-09-2008 2:46pm

I did not buy the car from the dealer, I brought it in from the UK just the other month - its still under warranty so the dealer had to fix up some stuff on the car out of the goodness of his heart...He'd probably think I'm a smart ass arriving with my homemade key after he quoted me 360. I'll keep you posted ... thanks...

smidgy · 14-09-2008 2:55pm

Im going to try the ALA (thanks for the pointer Mr.Diagnostic) - will keep you posted of the details

VH · 14-09-2008 4:07pm

smidgy wrote: »

I did not buy the car from the dealer, I brought it in from the UK just the other month - its still under warranty so the dealer had to fix up some stuff on the car out of the goodness of his heart...He'd probably think I'm a smart ass arriving with my homemade key after he quoted me 360. I'll keep you posted ... thanks...

would you post a pic of the key you made - sounds interesting

jockser101 · 14-09-2008 5:46pm

i can code keys on all honda cars infact all cars including the merc electronic keys

mr d speaks the truth

eprom reading,ecu repairs,key coding,

all done in dublin

the honda key is a very easy job to sort

VH · 14-09-2008 5:56pm

interesting - ball park prices for coding in keys?

Mr.Diagnostic · 14-09-2008 6:05pm

VH wrote: »

and Mr.Diagnostic has a chip the size of jupiter on his shoulder

You asked a question and you got a polite question so whats the problem?

The only chip on my shoulder is an eeprom

VH · 14-09-2008 6:09pm

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

You asked a question and you got a polite question so whats the problem?

The only chip on my shoulder is an eeprom

have you heard of bypassing an immobiliser by tapping in a PIN on the brake pedal?

jockser101 · 14-09-2008 6:26pm

all keys are different and situations differ but to sort the civic problem would cost 120.00 aprox using a genuine honda key and coded with the genuine tool

smidgy · 15-09-2008 7:48pm

Here is pics of the key - it looks mighty similar to a genuine honda key as you can see

VH · 15-09-2008 8:08pm

looks good - any chance you'd take the lid off and post up a pic of the inside

jockser101 · 15-09-2008 10:38pm

what makes you think its not a genuine honda key?

and why do you need a pic of the inside?

VH · 15-09-2008 11:00pm

smidgy made the key and that's why he says it looks genuine

I want to see inside cos i'm curious

jockser101 · 15-09-2008 11:19pm

humm,
from the post it seems he used a key from another civic it dident say he made it??

and if its from another civic why would it not be genuine

anyway depending on the year of the donor car it might be possable to programme the head from the donor car

but these cars use 2 types of transponder information and one can not be coded to the other

in short if the doner car uses the same transponder info then its possible to code it to the car

otherwise the doner key will have to modifed to enable programming

VH · 15-09-2008 11:29pm

it's the blade from one key and the head from another which he bought

jockser101 · 15-09-2008 11:33pm

yes i know read the above reply

smidgy · 18-09-2008 7:43pm

yeah theres not much to the inside , there is just one big unit that you put in and i transferred over the light (diode) also, any idiot could do it, you need a very small phillips screwdriver which i picked up in homebase for a fiver

Honda Civic Key

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