Cheapest Way to Copy My 2011 Honda CRV Key (Including Keyless Unlocking/Locking on Fob)

coolrunnings on 29/04/2019 - 15:08

I live in Melbourne and I bought a used 2011 Honda CRV recently and am a little nervous because I only received one key for the car (it has remote door unlocking: Two buttons - lock and unlock)
I'd prefer to have a spare set made to have tucked away in case I lose the key somehow.

Obviously I could go to the Honda dealer and buy a spare key with remote for hundreds upon hundreds of dollars. Not exactly the Ozbargain way.

I know that most any locksmith could beat the dealer price, but we're still talking about a major outlay of money and I'd reckon there is a real risk of overpaying.

I'm wondering if anyone knows the right price to hope to pay and/or suggestions for the cheapest places in Melbourne to procure something like this.

Thanks.

Automotive Car Key

Comments

  • spackbace on 29/04/2019 - 15:14

    Afaik:
    1. Buy fob off ebay
    2. Take to locksmith to cut the key
    3. Take to dealer to program key

    • pegaxs on 29/04/2019 - 15:19
      +3

      Or cut out 2 of those steps.

      Afaik:
      1. Buy fob off ebay
      2. Take to locksmith to cut the key
      3. Take to dealer to program key

      Most automotive locksmiths will have replacement keys, fobs and programming equipment for most of the common cars.

      eBay keys are hit and miss. Sometimes they work, sometimes they dont. Some locksmiths wont touch eBay keys/remotes, because if it doesn't work, it's "shit locksmith" not "shit eBay key."

      The best way is through a locksmith. What they will do is delete other keys that are missing and add the new key to the ECU. This is the most secure way to do it. Places like "Mr Minit" will only clone your current key, so there will still be a missing key that can be used to open, start and drive your vehicle.

      Locksmith may not be the cheapest, but it's a good middle ground solution. It's more secure and if you have issues, you can take it back to them to diagnose the issue. Buy a key/fob/remote off eBay, the locksmith may deal with it, but they may just wipe you off if you tried warranty or Mr Minit may just do the same.

      • coolrunnings on 29/04/2019 - 15:58

        Thanks. What if there only was one key in the first place (i.e. no lost keys). This is my situation. Is Mr. Minit the cheapest way to go?

        • dasher86 on 29/04/2019 - 16:09

          How do you know there is only one key out there?

          • coolrunnings on 29/04/2019 - 16:18

            @dasher86: I suppose it's possible another key once existed but the chances of it finding its way back to my car is just about zero in my mind. I'm going to operate under the assumption the car only ever had one key or the second key is lost forever and not worth getting worried about.

            • pegaxs on 29/04/2019 - 17:01

              @coolrunnings: The car would have originally been sold with 2 keys. A lot of the time, cars are traded in and they just don't hand the extra key in. It usually ends up in a jar of keys or in the bin. It may genuinely have been lost.

              Most of the time, it's pretty safe to just get your key cloned if you bought it from a dealer. I always get a replacement key done securely if it was a private sale. Private sales will have your address from the transfer form.

              If you are happy that the other key wont ever find it's way back to your car, go with whatever you feel comfortable with.

  • jste9088 on 29/04/2019 - 15:58
    +1

    I was looking around for a while, and the guy from Lock King (from memory) was about the cheapest price I got, came recommended from a few people. Still haven't got down there to do it, but they will supply cut and program it into the ECU for about half the price quoted from a locksmith/engraving place at the local shopping centre. My mum got a new key once from the dealer and they wanted a significant fortune (~~750) for just a spare key with no remote unlock buttons just the key

    • coolrunnings on 29/04/2019 - 15:59

      Thanks, this is helpful information!

      • jste9088 on 29/04/2019 - 16:14
        +1

        All good. Good luck with it :)

  • picklewizard on 29/04/2019 - 16:45

    A common misconception here is that they keyfob is "programmed"; this isn't the case.

    What happens is that the keyfob transmits a unique ID (usually one in a sequence of a psuedo-randomly generated numbers). Kind of like those LCD keyrings you can get for your internet banking or to log onto your work intranet from home. The ECU is programmed to recognise and accept the keyfob, rather than the keyfob being programmed to transmit the code the car expects to see.

    The problem that can stem from this is that the "seed" that makes the remote unique can be the same seed for all of them, when you buy a cheap, aftermarket replacement… so it's really not unique at all. When this happens, there's a chance that someone with the same cheap, aftermarket replacement can unlock your car with theirs. I'm dumbing it down a bit - there's more factors, but it's possible, and does happen.

    TL;DR: Try to go genuine; you might be able to pick one up from a wrecker pretty cheap.

    • pegaxs on 29/04/2019 - 17:08

      If they do manage to find a key from a wrecker, the key (probably) wont work and the car will need to be told to accept the new remote/fob/keyhead.

      On some cars this is an easy option, ie: open door, close door, ignition on, off, brake on, off… Some cars will require a programming tool be plugged into the ECU and told to accept the new key.

      So, OP could end up needing a new key cut and the new remote/fob/keyhead programmed into the car and have to visit a locksmith anyway…

      • ronnknee on 29/04/2019 - 17:54

        ie: open door, close door, ignition on, off, brake on, off

        Still pretty ridiculous for modern technology. Wish it was as simple as pressing a reset button.

        • pegaxs on 29/04/2019 - 19:43
          +1

          Or an option/setting in the onboard multimedia system…

          Settings

          Security

          Remote Fob

          Initialise New Remote

          OK

  • Wq Orz on 29/04/2019 - 18:07

    I would recommend Bond Locksmiths at Blackburn. I got a key copied (Honda Civic 2010 3 button fob + cut the key + program the remote) for around $200. Dealership costs more than double the price.

    • coolrunnings on 05/06/2019 - 22:05

      Thank you. This is $140 less than I was quoted for from a locksmith in Balaclava.

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