In article <n1ce24tsk2htoi1355tgms7sd153efc87f@4ax.com>,
Dick <w6ccd@k7yca.org> wrote:

> We lost one of the keys to our 2003 Accord EX-V6 last year. As a
> result we had to go to the Honda dealer, and pay $100 for a new key,
> and re-programming of all the keys. This is supposed to be a security
> safeguard. Today, we found the long lost key. Just for my amusement,
> I tried the key in the Accord to see what would happen. To my
> surprise (and chagrin) The key would not only unlock the doors
> (manually), but also start the engine! The only thing that was
> disabled was the remote control. What was the point of paying all
> that money if the key would still work to steal the car?

The $100 got you a new key with the ignition security code copied over
from your remaining factory key, and the service guys added that new
key's remote transmitter to your car's remote unlock system. (In a
Honda, for remote lock/unlock you program the car's computer to
recognize the remote transmitter code; it can keep track of up to 4
remote transmitters that way.)

The charges break down like this:

* $X for the key itself
* $Y to copy your existing key's ignition security code over to the new
key
* $Z to have your remote unlock system recognize the transmitter code on
the new key

They did NOT reprogram your car's computer (and keys) with a new
ignition security code. That gets to be very expensive.

For the record: you can buy an appropriate remote transmitter off of
Ebay or keylessride.com and program it to your remote unlock system
yourself. But you asked them to do it, so they charged you $Z for that.

Back in 2002 when I bought a new Honda van, I wanted a couple more keys
made. It was $25 each for the key, cutting it, and copying the ignition
security code over. Nowadays it's probably $50, and another $50 for the
10 second dance of mating up the transmitter to the remote unlock system.