As I said in my previous posting I have lost all my keys except for my red maintenance key. I was told at first by an employee at a Honda dealership that all I needed to do is bring the red key and my VIN # to a dealership and they can make me a new key that would start the car. That was the first of many lies. Then they changed their minds and said the car needed to be at the dealership with the red key so they can program the car to recognize the new car key(s). So I had my car towed to the dealership. I never spoke to the same person, it was always a different employee. No one knew jack **** about my car. Then they said they need another car key one that works in the ignition in order to program me a new key that will start the car. I told him I only had the red maintenance key, he said they had to order a whole new immobilizer for $550. At this point I have already been without my car for 3 weeks, and have been driving a PT Cruiser since then, and I can't figure out which is a bigger piece of **** the PT Cruiser or the Damn Worthless Piece of **** Red Key. So I decided to leave my car at this dealership where one Red Key can cause almost a months worth of headaches and hassles. I did not want to waste the time and/or money that would involve me towing my car to a different dealership. All I want is my Prelude back!!
The name of this dealership is Hardin Honda in Anaheim, CA. If you own a Prelude I don't recommend that you ever take your car there for anything even a car wash or an oil change.They are complete idiots. Preludes have only been out of production for just over a few years, yet no one in the service department knew anything about the damn RED KEY!!! The red key is completely worthless unless you have a key that will start the vehicle. If you make a copy of the red key it can be used to unlock your car, and run any of the electronic devices in the car that run off the cars battery. BUT it WILL NOT start the car, you will hear a weird buzzing sound but the engine will not start. Supposed the 5th generation Preludes 1998-2001 are the only cars Honda ever made with this system. It is completely retarded and pointless. The red key WILL NOT start the car, and if you try to start the car it will blank the immobilizer costing you $550 for a new one. The point of this posting is surprisingly simple. First off don't be a dumbass like me and lose your car keys. Second if you are ever in California stay the **** away from Hardin Honda.

 

I suggest you call a few other honda dealerships and try your luck there. I too live in CA and im sick of gas prices and nothing over 91 octane and the fact that no one has ever even seen a prelude around here. best wishes to you man. try fladeboe honda and see what they say.

 

That is incorrect.... READ MY REPLY FROM THE ORIGNAL THREAD:

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=870598

 

Wait a minute, did you try starting your car with the maintenance key? If so, you are fucked up the anus.

Do you have the car manual? Did you read the part where it stated: "Do Not Use Maintenance Key To Start Vehicle" ?

Always read your car manual before attempting anything.

If you did try starting the car w/ the red key, it does screw up your immobilizer. You'll need to reprogram the immobilizer/keys. Therefore they're not charging you for a new immobilizer, they're charging you for the reprogramming.

 

I've never tried starting the car with the RED key as the sales guy when I purchased my 'lude specifically told me not too EVER do that!

The RED key is used to tell your immobilizer to wipe it's memory and prepare to be instructed to accept a list of keys that are allowed to start the vehcile.

Without the RED key, you need to replace the immobilizer and get a new RED key.

So, putting the RED key in the ignition wipes the immobilizer.

The process required to tell the immobilizer to work with new keys goes something like this:

- Put the RED key into the ignition.

- Hook up the Honda OBDII scanner and run an initalization program.

- Call HONDA and get a special code that will allow you to reprogram the imobilizer for a certain window of time (1 hour).

- Run the OBDII program, and insert each key that is allowed to start the car when prompted.


Once again, you need an origianl type key with a code in order to tell the immobilizer the keycode. Once THAT key is programmed into the immobilizer as "OK" to start the car, Honda parts can make exact duplicates of that key using one of the newer T5 keys.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gerhard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've never tried starting the car with the RED key as the sales guy when I purchased my 'lude specifically told me not too EVER do that!

The RED key is used to tell your immobilizer to wipe it's memory and prepare to be instructed to accept a list of keys that are allowed to start the vehcile.

Without the RED key, you need to replace the immobilizer and get a new RED key.

So, putting the RED key in the ignition wipes the immobilizer.

The process required to tell the immobilizer to work with new keys goes something like this:

- Put the RED key into the ignition.

- Hook up the Honda OBDII scanner and run an initalization program.

- Call HONDA and get a special code that will allow you to reprogram the imobilizer for a certain window of time (1 hour).

- Run the OBDII program, and insert each key that is allowed to start the car when prompted.


Once again, you need an origianl type key with a code in order to tell the immobilizer the keycode. Once THAT key is programmed into the immobilizer as "OK" to start the car, Honda parts can make exact duplicates of that key using one of the newer T5 keys.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You are correct sir. You must be from PO.com. I think I seen you there, correct?

 

Sticky Tires... $550 for reprogramming the immobilizer??

I think they are trying to scam him into buying a new immobilizer.

It's only an hour worth of labor to reprogram the car.

The Black key will cost about $10.55 from Manchester Honda.

(I'm on the phone with them right now.)

According to Manchester the keys they have IN STOCK are no T5 keys. They are the type of key that you need!

So, I'd call Jesse at 866-735-5713, parts, and have him send you a new key (or two). Have him ship is overnight to you. (Remind him that you do not want a T5 key, but the kind of key that came with the car!)

Then, walk your *** into the Honda dealer and make a scene.

"I WANT THESE KEYS CUT TO MY RED KEY'S PHYSICAL CUTS, AND PROGRAMED USING MY EXISTING RED KEY TO START MY CAR!!"

They should only charge you an hour for labor.

Gerhard

 

PS, Sticky, I'd like to make you an offer... but I need to speak to the wifey first...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gerhard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">PS, Sticky, I'd like to make you an offer... but I need to speak to the wifey first...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sure, just PM me.

 

Gerhard, What if i dont have a red key, or anything,

BUT i still have 1 black key that i use to drive the car.

Is there anyway they can copy it?

 

Yes, with the VIN # and ID they can duplicate that one w/ a T5 key.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sticky Tires &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wait a
Do you have the car manual? Did you read the part where it stated: "Do Not Use Maintenance Key To Start Vehicle" ?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

****, mine even came sealed in a blister pack with instructions to NEVER PUT THIS KEY IN THE IGNITION printed all over it.

What more do they have to do to indicate that you shouldn't use it?

 

Exactly... My RED key is still in the blister pack...

ANY factor origianl Prelude key can be copied to a T5 type key.

PS If I only had one key I'd get a copy made with a T5 key.

 

i told your *** to get the title and id and the vin and go to them smack them across the face and say, listin here dick wad i know you can make me a key with just this vin so how about you cut me this key before i smash your ******* skull in with a lead pipe, you dont need the other **** they are trying to rip you off, kick some *** and scream and yell about horrible service to people buying cars, they will shut you up anyway they can, hopefully by cutting you the key, i know for a fact that the bastards can cut it for you they just want money, and if you pay your not going to get a new one they are gona cut the key and say oh yeah we put a new one in there my friends that used to work at honda say it is ****. just bitch loudly about the service and you will get what you want