yea i am buying a 97 prelude sh from a friend anyway he only has the red key to the car he lost the other ones well he tryed to start the car with the red one and the car dont do anything at all dont crank just this little green key light just flashs i read when i searched that the red key resets the immobilizer so is that why the car wont crank and what that green key light flashing is ?? and what do i have to do to get this car to start again and roughly how much would it cost and do u think the immobilizer is the reason its not cranking thanks in advance

 

the red key is for you to bring to the dealer in case u lost all other keys.. u bring it to the dealer and they cut u a new key.. i forgot what the red key does but i know its BAD

 

someone told me that the red key messes up the ignition or something but i thought it was some bull **** and the other thing i heard is its for dealer to make you a key

 

you should not have inserted the red key. now you have to replace your entire immobilizer unit. you have to tow it to a honda dealership to install a new one

 

i read that they can just reprogram the unit to except a new key i dont see how i would have to buy a whole new unit ... does anyone else know if this is true ?? if i really do have to buy a whole new unit or if i can just get it reprogrammed by honda ??

 

bump

 

I bout my prelude without the red key and then proceeded to lose my current key. The dealership told me i had to get it towed there so they could "reprogram it" i thought it was a bunch of bullshit. Got the car there and they used the red key to wipe the immobilizer unit and then flashed a new key and charged me 145 bucks. the green light it the unit doing its thing.

 

The red key is used to code new keys, and to code the ecu and immobilizer. Do not use it to start the car. You will need to get the car to the dealer and have them make a new key and code the ecu/immobilizer. The charge should be anywhere from .5-1hr labor to do the coding.

 

call a locksmith and tell him you have a red key and need them to come program a key to your car. they will comne to you and make a key for less than having it towed to the dealer.

 

A locksmith can't program the key/immobilizer.. just like a BMW dealer can't program Honda keys. The locksmith can only cut keys.

 

yea i found out today that there is a recall on my car(97prelude SH) for the ignition switch which would explain why its not even cranking and the reprogram is going to cost 140 and the key is 29.oo so its not that bad

 

Sounds like bad idea for Honda to make this...?