Does anyone know how much a spare key costs at their dealer? I need a couple for a remote starter i put in...thanks!

 

You don't need a key. Buy THIS instead. Much safer than mounting the key under the dash.

 

Hmm Didnt know about that guy when I got mine installed. I ended up using my Valet Ket which I never really and it didnt cost me anything extra.

Also a blank uncut(no point in getting it cut) key may still be cheaper, and with the right remote system and alarm wouldnt defeat the purpose of the immobilizer system.

 

I seem to remember someone saying that a new key was around $75. I may be wrong though.

I love my valet key. I lock my pass through and glove box, that way no one can get to the goodies in my trunk.

 

That's pretty sweet. If I didn't already have mine done, that's how I'd do it.

I wonder though, what's to keep a thief from buying one of these and splicing it inline with the ignition circuit before hotwiring? And if it only needs to be placed near the ignition (like the chip in the key), what's to keep them from wiring up one of these to a battery, making the whole set-up portable and just taking it with them when they go to boost a car?

 

IIRC it cost me $27 (you could probably get it for a bit less or even for free if you have connections) for an uncut coded key; of course the dealer will need your original master key (or perhaps just the keycode?) in order to code a new one.

Tony

 

Try asking your dealer for an uncut key just make sure they program the chip inside the key. That's what I did and my remote starter works great b/c the chip in the key bypasses the ignition...plus God forbid she gets broken into the theif can't start the car since the key is uncut.

 

You would think that wouldn't you. You have just given them free reign over your car. They don't need the cut key if they have the chip. All they need to do is a simple hotwire and they'e off. That's why hiding the key is so dangerous, cut or uncut.

 

thanks for the replies, much appreciated. Since the guy already installed the remote starter for both my 2k1 cl and 2k tl, i didnt have the chance to get the key done beforehand. however, the guy quoted me 25 bucks, and i told him to reconsider in the time period it would take me to finish my errands and make it over there. when i got there, he offered me 15 bucks per key, which i didnt argue about. the key is somewhere in my car, but wouldnt it take a while for a thief to find where the module is (depending on the installer, it could be in diff. locations, right?). Thanks again...

 

That's what I Thought when people kept saying "cut the key part off" or "use blank"

Since that works on RF? signals -- cant they theoretically tape the damn thing to the ignition and hotwire the car then?


What's this kit thing, how's it work?

 

I must add that when the TL is remotely started, and if the doors remain locked, the alarm goes off. I havent checked if the CL does this yet (as I just picked it up from the installer today). I also had my Infiniti I30 done there, and that doesnt sound the alarm when the car is started. The guy there told me he worked on many cars, and said most dont do that, and said that the newer acuras do this while the older ones dont (so i would presume 98 and earlier TLs). Whats everyone elses experience with this...btw, i didnt have them install the keyless off the aftermarket remote starter, but may consider this if there is no other way to actually allow the car to remain locked while warming up.

 

Damn does this mean I'm a have to get an Afermarket Starter/Alarm (I was thinking of doing so anyhow... so I guess this is gonna clinch me spending too much ) And just disable the factory then...

Damn it.

 

Pardon my ignorance but wouldn't this only apply if they happen to hit the correct frequency on the alarm to activate the portion of the brain that engages the key or if they tore the entire dash & center console apart looking for that portion of the alarm (assuming they knew it was in the car)? Sounds like you're facing an abnormally good theif (which means your car is history regardless) or a theif who has nothing but time on their hands.

 

Didn't want to burst your bubble, NSXNEXT, just making sure that you know that the valet key has the exact same key cuts as the master key. It's only that the valet key is fatter, and won't fit into the bypass or glove cmprt lock. A thief could duplicate the valet key at any hardware store and the duplicated key would open all the locks in the car, but not crank the engine. Acura had a true masterkeying system on some of it's earlier cars, but changed over to this budget saving system (like it's always been on the hondas) on our model years.

Oh yeah, adding a remote starter to a car will always make it a little bit less secure than not. If it's installed well, the difference is minimal. I won't go into the details of how to bypass a remote starter or immobilizer on the internet. This is info that I think is best kept secret.

 

Neil....help me out man. I'm getting remote start/Viper 550 done next week. Did you get your bypass part from the referred website or locally?

thanks...ken

 

AUTOTOYS.COM CARRIES A BYPASS ALSO FOR LESS

 

If the install is done correctly, and the key is hidden up high in the dash; then the thief will never even know where to get the key from, let alone take apart the dash to get it and then use it to bypass the immobilizer.

In my case after all that he still has my Clifford to get around, then realize that I have BlackJax after the car starts beeping, find the panel, and finally enter my exact code.

The clifford gives me great piece of mind RE:car theft, too bad they dont make an HID Alarm system.

 

Correct. My installer buried mine deep within the dash innards. He said there's no way anyone would take the time to find it, nor even know where to start looking. Now of course, if the installer wants to steal it.....

Nonetheless, aftermarket alarms are the way to go and IMHO Clifford/DEI makes the best stuff out there.

 

So when you bury it somewhere... i.e. up in the dash... its not making "frequency contact" until you remotely activate it? Does it then travel through wires or something? Wouldn't it always be active?

 

You're right Tommy,

The transponder signal is sent through a wire, and it only "activates" when you use the remote starter, so the regular immobilizer feature is still engaged at all other times.

 

Exactly. It only bypasses it for the remote start option. It still "checks" each key that it is put in the ignition. No chipped key=no start. And if it is already running from the remote start and you put an incorrect key into the ignition, it's like the key is not even there. As soon as the brake is pressed (to disengage the transmission lock), the engine dies.