Just got finished watching Dateline.

They demonstrated how easy it is to steal a car.

1. Go "shopping" for the car you want.
2. Jot down the VIN.
3. Go to the dealership and give them the VIN to get "your" key cut.

4. Go back to "your" car and drive away

It is against the law to cut a key w/o proof of ownership/ID but....

That's why I keep an index card over my VIN on the dash .

Good Idea. Never thought of that.

Our cars have a chip in the key that requires setting the frequency before it will start the car from what I understand. I'm sure there are ways around it but it's not as easy as dateline makes it sound for our Acuras.

I do the same.

I've even heard of people taking part time jobs at a dealer to get all the info they need.

Name
Address
Vin
and a cut chipped key.

Yea, when i got a spare key for my car, it only opened the doors. The car won't start. You have to program it so it know you have another pair of keys to start the car. So it's not really that easy.

haha thats only if you had walmart traced your key. when the dealer cuts a key with a vin, it is pre-programmed and ready to go.

what happen here is with a vin, they can get a key code. key code comes with progaming code and cut pattern.

very scare indeed. great idea, i will have my vin partially cover too, but i wonder how that goes with a parking meter man or the cops.

My father once got a ticket for having his vin number blocked from view.
The stupidiest ticket i've ever heard of.

I saw this topic on a news magazine show last night.

I think i had a harder time getting my radio code from the dealer then the reporter had getting keys made.


Esti

Literally handing out keys to thieves.

Its amazing how ignorant and careless some dealerships can be.

Oh yea... and i wonder how many people will get the idea to steal cars in that fashion NOW that they saw/heard about that show.

You have VIN etch on every piece of glass on your car, that won't work.

exactly. They say that of course all the theives know this already so they're not telling them anything new, but what about punk ass high school kids that watch that and decide to go give it a try?

I don't, it's a different #.

wrong

As jts1207 said - WRONG. With VIN you can get key code. Key Code just gives you cut of key and no frequency. If you don't have an original when you have your key cut, they have to reprogram your car to match the frequencies - just like the remotes.

Like I said before, I'm sure it can be done - but not as easily as dateline makes it sound.

mofo's can get my key made all they want. but people sure are going to be looking at them strangely when they are under the hood trying to disconnect the alarm.

oh and i dont know about your acura's but i know hondas dont need a key to be stolen. just jam a screwdriver into the ignition and turn.

your car chopped?

Why are you guys worried about your car stolen? No insurance?

At most it should be an inconvenience...hell, I'm in a place where my car will most likely NOT get stolen but at this point, I kinda wish it would.

You're wrong on that buddy. Have you got a spare key yet and try it out on your car? It will only get u the cut but your car won't start unless it's set for it. ALLOUT is right.

older hondas maybe, not the new ones

No etchings on my windows, but yeah if I get pulled over I will get a ticket. At least the theives around me won't get my VIN # though . I got a bunch of engine mods that I don't think the insurance will cover fully, so I stand to lose out.

I thought etching on your windows was a dealer option for more $$?

damnit i need an index card...

In order for a factory key to actually start an immobilizer equipped TL or CL you will need to add the key to the car's list of known keys .This requires the use of a PGM FI tester the correct data card and information from the Honda/Acura IN online network .The information that is obtained from the Network is a specific code that changes daily .Without this specific code even if you have all of the other parts and keys etc you will still not be able to start the process of adding more keys to the memory of the ECU in the car .ANd yes that code really changes everyday ( I tried an older code it would not work) .SO I think short of a tow truck your cars are safe from ost conventional atacks on the security system .The ECU by the way in your car also knows what the code of the day is .How this works is not known to me but believe me it is indeed as I say it is .


Jens

thanks for the insider jens

Damn Jens, if you made that up it sure sounds conviencing to me

Good news for us then.

The codes are rolled every time you lock/unlock the car, not on a daily basis. Getting the VIN and the key from the dealership will work on cars without security systems and/or immobilizer systems. It'll be pretty damn hard on our cars.

Your average highschool kid isn't going to have the social engineering skills to pull this off. Especially ones who aren't clever enough to figure this out on their own.

I hope this coverage gets people to bitch to their dealerships about this and at least ask for some proof of ownership.

In the meantime, i'm going to try and get a key for my grandmother's car at my local dealership. We'll see what happens.

i think were safe..

I guess the index card can come off the dash. Good to know about the rolling codes, thanks Jens H.

I do believe what Jens posted, but I still have my VIN covered for extra security.
You never know when someone may have a way of beating the technology or maybe has connections inside the dealership to get CODED keys made.

Shawn S

Don't believe everything you see on TV.

I have read in some shop manuals if you have a key that's not programmed, & you have 1 that is, you can tape the heads of the keys together then the new key will start the car using the chip in the old key. Of course you would have to have the orginal key though.

Dateline also has a habit of scare tactics. What they were talking about mostly is cars that don't have chipped keys. Like your old 96 civic, accord, or the ever popular theif magnet the 91-93 Toyota camry.

My vin is covered with a label also, & I don't have the vin etching on my windows.