I have Honda Civic. Need a new spare key made.
Just curious if anyone knows cheapest way?
I need the new electronic thing inside as I left the old key.
Only option to go to Honda dealer and fork out few hundred dollars?
Honda Civic New Spare Key
yjun355 on 01/09/2018 - 08:03
Last edited 01/09/2018 - 09:51 by 1 other user
Last edited 01/09/2018 - 09:51 by 1 other user
Comments
Yikes, so expensive for a new key! Is the electronic thing inside the key similar to those nfc tokens (they sometimes use them at gyms, etc.) if so, I think you can clone them.
RFID is the technology. Earlier implementations of immobilisers were susceptible to replay attacks and could be cloned but modern implementations use rolling codes.
Go to a local key cutting kiosk or locksmith. They can do the immobilizer chip and remote lock/unlock in a lot of cases. Even Facebook marketplace has backyard operaters who can do it. Definitely cheaper than Honda. However if you don't have any of the original electronics for them to clone it might be harder.
Thanks a lot. That sounds good. I do have the original key. I didn't realise that someone can just clone it. I'll go to locksmith.
Any idea on roughly how much it should cost?Just depends on the shop/car but from my experience anywhere from $50-150ish.
I would go to a dedicated automotive locksmith. Cloning is ok and works, but it doesn’t take your old key out of the system. So, if the last owner still has the old key, they could possibly use it to take your car.
What a locksmith can do is plug into your ECU, delete the lost keys and re-add all the existing keys. I always do this after I buy a car that only comes with "one key" It wont stop the last owner getting into it, but it will stop them starting/taking it.
But yes, a cloned key, maybe $50. A new key and re-program the ECU, I would expect that to be $150+. Hardicus is spot on though.
(source: I'm a locksmith, just not so much automotive…)
Good luck getting a Honda Integrated Remote Key sub $200! Dedicated Automotive Locksmith is definitely the cheapest option. If you were in Brisbane I could help, if you're in Sydney, the only one that comes to mind atm is Dr Lock (he's not dedicated Automotive but I know he does cars)
I think you’re after a key transponder programmer.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/EasyKeyMaker-For-Honda-Programmer-S…
But you’re better off doing what hardicus suggested.
I've been meaning to do this for over two years. Could this be the sign I need before it's too late
You can try those key cutting places, but believe they just take out old chips and put into a new case. Otherwise, its Honda and they will at least be $200, do you really need a new one.