Hello everyone! Just bought my first Acura yesterday. It's an 07 TL Type-S in Red Moroccan Pearl. I love it so far.

I have a quick question about the key. My car came with a single switchblade and I'd like a backup. I know I can buy replacements on ebay for ~$75 but what all is required to make the key work? Can the fob be programmed DIY? Does the key blank have to be cut by the dealer with special equipment or can a hardware store cut it?

Lastly, do I have any non-switchblade options? Is there a separate Acura fob I can buy and program and just have a basic key cut? I have a feeling it can't be that simple. Haha.

Thanks,

Zach

 

There's plenty of information already out there on this topic but i'm not the type to throw that in your face.

Some dealers will match the online price of the oem key (just ask for wholesale price) and also cut it to spec for free. You would however have to have Acura (or maybe a honda dealer) program that key's transponder to your car. That is normally around another ~$50.

Note: If you can find a key online that can be cut for your car and then have Acura/Honda program it for you, that may be another option.

 

Hi Catzor. Welcome to the forums. The expensive part isn't buying the key, it's having it cut and matching the transponder to your car itself.

 

I would go with another switchblade key if I were you because the pricing is very competitive with a separate key/fob. I have a 2006 TL and found this out recently and actually went with a switchblade key instead of going a fob/key route. The expensive thing for me was having to pay extra for the milling which you don't have to do.

 

I apologize for posting without searching. I've read up a little more on the subject, but still have one question left. When I go to the dealership to have the transponder matched to the car, will they modify the transponder in the key, or the immobilizer in the car? If it's the latter, my current key won't work, right? That pretty much defeats the purpose for me as I'd still only have 1 key.

 

No, they'll match the key to the car's ECU. That way both of your keys will work.

 

Catzor when you go to the dealer- bring ALL your keys including the Valet key. The dealership needs to reprogram all the keys at the same time. I just went through this process a few weeks ago. My dealer had me going in < 1 hour and that included a car wash. The reprogram/cut cost me $89.

 

apparently there is a programming procedure you can do yourself. the DIY is here on acurazine. I've never tried it but seems like it works. As far as the cutting goes...depends on your dealer. There is a nearby honda dealership around me that does free cutting(not programming) for hondas. Perhaps if you know the right people, you can get a free cut at acura too. So the only real cost would be buying the key.

I used to have an 06 accord and got free key cuts at a nearby honda dealership when doing the switchblade key mod. I referred other ppl to them too and they all got free key cuts. I found it weird that dealerships in other states charged so much, but then soon I realized that dealership is a rare one for doing free cuts.

 

Hope someone knows the answer to this.....
When I bought the car it came with 1 switchblade key and the viper fob and The switchblade key works with the viper alarm.

If I buy another switchblade key and get it programmed to the car, will I lose the ability to use the switchblade to work the viper.