My father never let anyone drive his car...now I see why. I let my son use my 2005 RL and he managed to lose the spare set of keys (driver 2 with fob). I checked around and learned that a replacement can cost anywhere between $450 and a million dollars, so I am considering alternatives. I decided that all I really need is a spare key...you know...to unlock the car and drive it in an emergency. Checking into that option, I learned that uncut keys with chip cost a few dollars on e-bay, and that a key cut and programmed by my local locksmith would cost $85...not terribly unreasonable...only marginally unreasonable . The question that I have is, I have heard that programming the second key can knock the programming for the first key out of whack. I don't want to make a bad situation worse. I was hoping this august bunch of Acura experts could offer some advice.

 

The forum where you originally posted, The AcuraZine User Help, Support & Suggestions Area, is meant for problems, comments, and suggestions for the website itself, so I moved your thread to the car specific forum applicable to your vehicle.

 

If you are taking the key to the dealer for programming, give them both fobs. The best practice is to un-program both fobs and then program them together.

 

FYI: I think you need to reprogram the car and replace all the keys/lock cylinders.

Unless you're not worried than someone can enter/steal your car with the old keys.

 

If he tells the dealer it was stolen, they can give the keys new IDs and the immobilizer won't engage with the old key.

 

If the key can unlock the door manually that will disable the alarm.

I would think once alarm is disable the key will start the car.

 

That's what I'm not sure about. I do know the alarm and the immobilizer are different units. The physical key has a chip in the plastic base that has to be very close to the steering column to start the car from what I understand.

 

You're correct, I was wrong.

The loss key will not start the car once the mobilizer is reprogramed with a new ID.

However, the loss key will remain fully functional in gaining access to the car and able to disable the alarm system manually by turning the lock cylinders but will not start the car due to the new imobilizer ID.

 

Good point.

 

Thanks everybody. I was trying to avoid going to the dealer and paying their usurious prices. It's looking like I may have to....

 

Only for the programming. Should run you $80-100.

 

I have a question since the OP has a question about a 2005 Rl and I have 05 too

Im not trying to replace the Key fob but the lock/unlock/Trunk button the aluminum shine is peeled and its blackim on eBay and im seeing 150 for a replacement.. but I just want the shell.. id swap the remote from one to the other .. can I find this cheap? I see nothing on ebay

 

You can pop the fob apart (to replace the batteries), and repaint the buttons. WAY cheaper.

 

I bought a used car with only one key so I wanted to buy an extra one. I bought one on ebay OEM for $130 had the Dealer program the keys for $169. Like someone mention, the dealer will need all keys to reprogram for all keys to work properly. I tried 5 local locksmith and they all couldnt do it. They said that if your 2005 Acura RL is equip with Proximity then they wont be able to do it, because not to many of them have the machine to program it because it costly. The dealer wanted to charge me over $500 for the key with remote.

 

my local dealer charged me $169 and program as many keys as I want. It took them almost two hours to program two remotes along with cutting two keys and program the keys.

 

Has any one had any bad experiences purchasing FOB keys from eBay .. Dealer informed me they do not always work. Isn't it just one company that makes them Oem keys

 

As long as it is an RL key that isn't broken, it should work. Dealers are notoriously bad a programming them.

 

I was considering purchasing from them. Anyone purchased from them? But dealers are the only ones that can program them right?

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/172141993951

2005-2011 Acura RL Smart Key

 

A brand new one from the dealer is $235, and you can get 5% off for being an AZ member.

FOB ASSY., ENTRY KEY (MEMORY NO.1) for 2007 Acura RL|72147-SJA-A01

Coupon code is acurazine.

 

Forgive my ignorance but does the key come with the metal key also as in this pic? I don't see it in the diagram on the link given

 

Good call. That's $35. KEY, IMMOBILIZER (MAIN)(BLANK) for 2007 Acura RL|35111-SJA-305