On Sun, 11 May 2008 15:26:25 -0400, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
<elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:

>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.

They didn't just copy the remote unlock system to the new key. They
changed the remote program for both keys. The service advisor told me
they had to reprogram all the keys and the car. This is evidenced by
the fact that the old (previously lost) key will no longer unlock
remotely. Nothing works anymore on the remote buttons. They told me
at the time that if I ever found the lost key, I might as well throw
it away as it would be useless. Obviously not.

Something I haven't figured out yet is why, if they only copied the
ignition security and remote codes to the new key, did I get charged
for programming 3 keys, which included the valet key without any
remote buttons? It may be time to go back and have a talk with my
Honda dealer.
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