Have any of your purchased a spare key from your dealer? If so how much did it cost? Also, have any of you purchased a key from e-bay? If so how much did your dealer charge you to program it? Any feedback is appreciated!

 

My dealer quoted $50 for the key and programming. I put this in a thread in February when I found out and got a few replies that that was the going rate.

I always hide a key on the outside of the car in case I lock my keys in or lose them when away from home, and i'm using my valet key for this.

I went to Lowe's and made a spare key. It won't start the car, but I keep it in the garage in case I don't have mine handy and want to turn on the ignition to check the MID or something like that.

 

I just remembered something else my dealer told me. If you lose both keys, or lose your key and are away from home and don't have another key to copy from, the charge is - wait - ok you can look now - $400.00.

 

The correct key with the proper immobilizor would be the only one able to start the car. Acura dealership should give each owner their 4-digit key code, you could use it to duplicate your key in any Acura dealer after proving your onwership. Right?

 

The key code only tells them how to cut the notches in the key. The key lists for $31.25, because it has a transponder in it to communicate with the immobilizer unit.

There is a letter stamped on the key, which probably indicates the transponder code, but that letter is not recorded anywhere. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to record the letter somewhere along with the key code.

So, adding the cost of the key with the cost of cutting it would probably add up to $50 if done at the dealer, which seems like a lot for just cutting the notches, but that is how dealers make their money.

Maybe there is an additional step for linking the new key to the immobilizer unit which is included in the total cost.