Programming a Honda key
December 1, 2017 2:16 PM Subscribe
My Honda Fit seems to have a weird ignition. Local hardware store can’t replace keyfob/clicker. Can someone else, or do I have to pay thru the nose at the dealer?
I’ve tried googling and 1. I don’t know what I’m talking about and 2. I think my search terms are too ambiguous.
I need a second keyfob for a 2010 Honda Fit. Dealer seemed cost prohibitive, but local hardware store said they could do it for less than $150. After two visits and 1.5 hours wasted, hardware store says they can’t do it. They say that most Honda Fits have a Honda Odyssey ignitions, mine is among the 0.5% that has a CR-V ignition. They don’t have the right fob. They told me I had to go to the dealer.
Really? Are there other aftermarket routes to a functional key and fob? I’m just looking for remote locking/unlocking, and a key that will turn on the car. Is my car’s funky ignition system going to mean no one can do this, or just *this guy* can’t do this? It’s not a chip key, it’s a regular metal key with a plastic bit that has lock and unlock buttons.
What’s the cheapest way to do this?
Bonus question - why the two ignition systems?
I’ve tried googling and 1. I don’t know what I’m talking about and 2. I think my search terms are too ambiguous.
I need a second keyfob for a 2010 Honda Fit. Dealer seemed cost prohibitive, but local hardware store said they could do it for less than $150. After two visits and 1.5 hours wasted, hardware store says they can’t do it. They say that most Honda Fits have a Honda Odyssey ignitions, mine is among the 0.5% that has a CR-V ignition. They don’t have the right fob. They told me I had to go to the dealer.
Really? Are there other aftermarket routes to a functional key and fob? I’m just looking for remote locking/unlocking, and a key that will turn on the car. Is my car’s funky ignition system going to mean no one can do this, or just *this guy* can’t do this? It’s not a chip key, it’s a regular metal key with a plastic bit that has lock and unlock buttons.
What’s the cheapest way to do this?
Bonus question - why the two ignition systems?
I ordered a replacement keyfob for my 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe from https://www.keylessride.com/ - it came with programming instructions, which were super-easy (press the button under the dash, press the button on all the remotes, done)
posted by jordemort at 3:00 PM on December 1, 2017
posted by jordemort at 3:00 PM on December 1, 2017
Years ago, I ordered a fob for my used car off eBay (it was very inexpensive) and a spare, non-fob blank key just to be on the safe side. Both were less than $25.00, but I wouldn't recommend eBay these days, because eBay sucks.
Like k8t, I also found the directions to program the fob tricky, so I took it to my mechanic, and he did it for free while tuning up my car.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 3:01 PM on December 1, 2017
Like k8t, I also found the directions to program the fob tricky, so I took it to my mechanic, and he did it for free while tuning up my car.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 3:01 PM on December 1, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks for the tips so far. My concern is that if the key guy ordered “Honda Fit key” and that one works for most but not all Honda Fits, won’t I be ordering the same thing, and it won’t work on mine?
posted by OrangeVelour at 3:02 PM on December 1, 2017
posted by OrangeVelour at 3:02 PM on December 1, 2017
Best answer: I'd call the company jordemort recommend to verify what the hardware store dude told you; it could be hardware guy just doesn't know what he's doing and is too embarrassed to admit it. Jordemort's key company would know if that info is true or not, and if it is, could sell you another key. I'd imagine they have some type of guarantee, so go with them.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 3:07 PM on December 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by LuckySeven~ at 3:07 PM on December 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: What's the FCC id on the back of the current, working fob? You should be able to use that to find a replacement / duplicate.
posted by hanov3r at 3:58 PM on December 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by hanov3r at 3:58 PM on December 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
Assuming you have a working key, nearly every manufacturer has a simple, if esoteric sequence of things you do to pair a new key without a CAN interface and a laptop.
If you're willing to spend $20-$50 on stuff on Amazon and run the software of questionable provenance provided you can do it with a few clicks even if all you have is a cut key to get inside the car and a compatible real key from eBay or wherever and also get the benefit of being able to reprogram all the other stuff you normally need a dealer for on newish cars.
posted by wierdo at 7:43 PM on December 2, 2017
If you're willing to spend $20-$50 on stuff on Amazon and run the software of questionable provenance provided you can do it with a few clicks even if all you have is a cut key to get inside the car and a compatible real key from eBay or wherever and also get the benefit of being able to reprogram all the other stuff you normally need a dealer for on newish cars.
posted by wierdo at 7:43 PM on December 2, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by k8t at 2:34 PM on December 1, 2017