Hello,

I have bought a Second Hand Honda Accord (1998 model).

I was given a bunch of keys that didn't start the engine and one that did.

I was also given a red key.

As my wife needed a key for the car I put the red key in and got the car to start with a couple of keys.

That was a couple of days ago, and now, the car doesn't start at all.

Any help at all would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Tana.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by atanabalan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I put the red key in and got the car to start with a couple of keys...</TD></TR></TABLE>What do you mean? Let me guess...

The ECU has an immobilizer, it wants to read a chip that's embedded in the key. If it doesn't see that chip, it won't let the engine start. Maybe your ECU only recognizes one of your keys. You try the 'red' key, but at the same time the 'good' key is also right there where the ECU can read it. Next time you use the red key, your good key isn't right there, so it won't start.

When you check to see which keys work, leave the other keys outside of the car. I think the immobilizer uses a little antenna near the key cylinder. As long as the other keys have immobilizer chips in them, a dealer can tell the car to recognize them, too. You'll have to bring ALL the keys at the same time.

 

Sorry, I did not make myself clear.

The 'other keys' are standard black topped; the Red key's top is... Red.

The keys all turn in the lock, but one black key started the the car; the others caused the immobilizer daskboard light to flash.
The red key got this light to flash rapidly.

I am aware of the proximity thing from previous cars and kept all keys either in the ignition or on the passenger seat. I will try keeping then at an even greater distance.

Only one black key started the car.
The red never started the car.

Using this combo Both black keys worked:
Red / Black Working / Black non-working / Red

The next time I tried to start the car, after one night on the driveway, in wouldn't start.

None of the Black top keys now start the car.

No amount of key shuffling through the ignition has helped.

Which is why I'm here.

 

Sounds like dealer hogwash to me. Go to the dealer, hand him all the keys, tell him you think it may have something to do with the immobilizer and you need it fixed. Hopefully won't cost too much.

 

on this topic, do all accords have an immoblizer/chip system, or was it added in a certain year?

 

Thanks everyone.

Looks like it's a tow to get mugged by the dealer.

Cheers,
Tana.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Viper915 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">on this topic, do all accords have an immoblizer/chip system, or was it added in a certain year?</TD></TR></TABLE>Most car companies started doing that around '97 or '98. Our '95 Integra doesn't have it, our '98 Accord has it. I imagine Honda started using them in other countries about the same time...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by atanabalan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Looks like it's a tow to get mugged by the dealer.</TD></TR></TABLE>Unless you can find a loose connection to the immobilizer antenna. It ought to be somewhere near the ignition switch. It hasn't screwed up in my cars so I don't know what else to tell you.

 

In the US the red key was for 97 Preludes only. In 98 the Accord got the imobilizer and it only used black or grey keys. The only accord I've seen with a red key was a show car that the guy had swapped over most of a Prel. wiring harness into. If you take all your keys in they should be able to program them to the car.

 

I should also point out that this is happening in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Here, my '98 Accord 1.8i came with this red master key.

It worked fine with just one black key for about five days. Five days of nagging from my girlfriend made me try this whole red-key shuffle: At least she doesn't want a key for the car now.

UPDATE:
The Dealer has come in with a price of 1020 UK pounds for a new ECU. On top of that are new locks [driver's door and ignition] and keys (red and two black) plus a couple of hours labour.
1500 + Tax.
Ouch!
Going to phone around but only Honda dealer computers talk to Honda ECUs.
Apparently, I can get a 'mod' ECU and non-Honda Locks and Keys. I think that I lose the imobilizer.

The lack of imobilizer is no great loss as no theif would pinch something this old anyway. Unless it's for a museum.

My brother claims to have been able to circumvent the immbiliser in his prelude when it played-up. Sounded like hot-wiring but with different wires; unless someone-else says that it can be done I won't try that - yet.

Antenna connections seem fine and distance didn't start my Honda.
Neither did my cursing or kick.

Thanks for all the help so far.

Tana.

 

If I remember right, the red key is only used in the process of programing the rest of the keys to the ECU. The red key should never be put into the ignition switch for any other purpose.

edit&gt; At least here in the USA on the Prelude.