Hi.
I used that Red Key that the dealership I bought my car from said not to use. It wouldn't start my car, and the regular key wouldn't start it afterwards. I've taken it to a dealership shop and they're telling me that the immobilizer unit is "fried" and they can't reprogram it to work with my keys.
I've been told they need to order and install a new unit, which will cost me over 500 dollars.
Is there something I'm missing or did I just make a 500 dollar mistake by trying to start my car with the wrong key?

 

I found a "Honda Heaven" nearby where I live and they have a 1997 Honda Prelude. Can I pull the immobilizer unit from this car for cheaper than $500 and would it work? Please advise.

 

No I dont think you can take that unit, are your keys the ones that have the special chip in them that have to be made at a dealer? Because if there is a way you could use that one from the yard, youd have to get those specials keys cut for it which costs some money.

I really dont know anything about preludes

 

what kind of car is it???

why not just switch to an ecu that does not have the immobilizer in it? switch to an obd1 ecu and get a conversion harness.. simple.. might still be expensive but im sure less than 500 bux all your keys will still work and you can use the RED key all day long if you wanted..

 

that sucks dude .... dealerships will !@#$ you ......

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by austinrobinson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hi.
I used that Red Key that the dealership I bought my car from said not to use. It wouldn't start my car, and the regular key wouldn't start it afterwards. I've taken it to a dealership shop and they're telling me that the immobilizer unit is "fried" and they can't reprogram it to work with my keys.
I've been told they need to order and install a new unit, which will cost me over 500 dollars.
Is there something I'm missing or did I just make a 500 dollar mistake by trying to start my car with the wrong key?</TD></TR></TABLE>I have never heard of that, why would they give you a key that would "fry" the immobilizer. I would get a 2nd opinion at someplace other then the one that seams to be trying to rip you off, what is the red key for? 94

 

First, no key should fry the unit.

Second, this is not a component you can replace yourself. It must be replaced by the dealer.

 

isnt the red key just a valet key?

 

you can just disable the immobilizer and not have one...lose the security feature, but for 500 what's worth more to you? the security or the 500?

 

Havent heard of them doing physical damage to hardware, you could have just flashed the memory of the immobilizer unit using that red key. Im sure theres a reason why the dealership told you NOT to use that one hehehe. The unit would stay off til a new set of keys get programmed into it. Don't know how your particular system is set up for sure though... i know on mine i can add / delete new keys if i need to using a master access code i have to input into the immobilizer in case they get lost/stolen or whatever (my set up is aftermarket though)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by murtnabila &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can just disable the immobilizer and not have one...lose the security feature, but for 500 what's worth more to you? the security or the 500?</TD></TR></TABLE>

well i think its been proven time and time again by the ITR theft rate that the immobilizer doesnt really mean much for security.

 

Talk to some other dealerships. They might be a little more insightful and helpful. It also doesn't hurt to interrogate a few dealership reps.....plenty in the US..