I bought my car about a month ago (98 Accord LX 4 door) without a Master Key. I asked te used car dealership about why my current key (the grey one, which is the valet key) wasn't working for the trunk when I tried to open it. They didn't have a clue.
By the time I was able to rread the owners manual to realize that I was missing the Master Key (the black one) it was too late to do anything.
Anyhow, as usual, I look into this problem in the Accord forums here on SHO. Only to find these thwo threads about losing the Master Key:
I was totally pissed off when I read those two threads thinking that I would be loosing an arm and a leg just to get a replacement Master Key.
Well as I trotted down to the local Honda dealer this morning to get a radio code for my stock radio, I decided it wouldn't hurt to ask how much it'll cost me for a replacement Master Key. Guess what they told me???
It would only cost me $25 to do it. :eek: Yup got that right. And I was so glad that it was only $25 that I made two copies of them. I did however have my registration handy as well as my valet key (which is required by the way) so the process was rather quick and easy.
What the guy did was run my VIN and used my current valet key to cut the Master Key. Of course we all know these new keys have the imobilizer (sp) so hence the $25 fee as compared to a regular key cut at a local blacksmith.
The reason why I say that the valet key is required is because after the first key was cut, I decided "What the heck, since they can do it for me and since I'm here, I might as well get a second copy just in case." So I turn around and as the guy for another copy. Instead of using the newly cut Master Key, he asks for the valet key and said that he would need that one to program the chip into the new one. I was surprised he didn't use the new one since it was the Master Key.
Anyhow just right before this, I was told that the radio code would cost me $6, but after trying to trace down the code, it turns out that radio is not coded! : That even made my day more super as I didn't have to pay his lame ass (well not so lame after he was able to make my Master Key copies for me ) the $6 for the code.
So in the end, I was very very satisfied about my visit to the Honda dealer and I just wanted to point out that to replace the Master Key, it would not cost in the upwards of $400 just to get the replacement that I assumed before in the two above linked threads.
good job on informing us! but just to let you know, back in the day when the 6gens first came out, the keys used to be upwards of $100 or something...now that the immobilizer technology spread, the prices of course, dropped. anyways, thanks again for the write up :
oh yeah, and this thread is going as a link in the FAQs in the stickies.
oh. yeah, since we talking about keys, I just purchase my car and I'm only receive one keys (the master keys), i'm wondering is there anyway I could go to home depot or any other location that did keys and stuff like that to cut my keys or do I have to go to dealership to get one ?
Originally posted by delsol912 oh. yeah, since we talking about keys, I just purchase my car and I'm only receive one keys (the master keys), i'm wondering is there anyway I could go to home depot or any other location that did keys and stuff like that to cut my keys or do I have to go to dealership to get one ?
what kinda car are you talkin about your del sol? i'm pretty sure there's no immobilizer so you could get a car key copied for like $6 or less.
Yes... what kind of car are we talking about here?
Anyhow, when I asked about making copies at a local blacksmith or so forth this is what the parts guy told me:
Most new cars have the Immobilizer (chip in key). So if you do go to the local blacksmith, they may or may not be able to make you a copy. Of course they can make a physical copy for you which will resemble the actual cut of the key (Identical Clone) but the copy will not work if it does not have an immobilizer built it and programmed (Identical clone may look the same, but doesn't necessarily have the brains).
However, the majority of the blacksmiths (usually the real good and serious ones about their jobs) are aware of this new feature in automobile keys. So if they do have the immobilizer copy and can program it, then it can work.
Here's an analogy of the situation. If you make a clone to look exactly like you, he/she can easily fool your BF/GF to think that you are your clone. But once your clone starts to open his/her mouth, your BF/GF automatically knows that the clone is a fake because you do not talk like that.
So to answer your question, if the person/place you go is able to do it, go for it. If not and when al else fails, go to the dealer. Garenteed to work.
as u can see, i got both of them for 10 bucks, and that's the one with the transponder chip on the inside.
Honda sells them 69.99 EACH!! and they charge an hour worth of labor to program it!
Gettign it from ebay just saved u about 50 bucks. And I don't know about you, tha'ts fucking GREAT!
anyways, I brought my key to the dealership, and asked them to program it/cut it. You need to take your key to the parts dept, and they'll cut it for u, and then you take it to the service depot and then they will program your key by hooking this machine to your car, and hten program the new key in the ignition.
THe whole programming process takes 10 minutes or less. And they charge an hour worht of labor....
but lucky me, my dealership isn't really corrupt, so they did all this as a curtesy
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Just an added note. Yeah I have a 2k1 so it has the immob, but I still went to Home Depot and had 2 extra's cut for $2. It's useless for starting up your car, but it's good to keep around, like a copy at work and another at home or elsewhere on your body, incase if you become stupid one day and lock yourself out of your car - you can either call up a buddy at work to get the key for you, or go home.
Of course, if you got one of those AAA plans, this doesn't serve too much purpose for ya.
as u can see, i got both of them for 10 bucks, and that's the one with the transponder chip on the inside.
Honda sells them 69.99 EACH!! and they charge an hour worth of labor to program it!
Gettign it from ebay just saved u about 50 bucks. And I don't know about you, tha'ts fucking GREAT!
anyways, I brought my key to the dealership, and asked them to program it/cut it. You need to take your key to the parts dept, and they'll cut it for u, and then you take it to the service depot and then they will program your key by hooking this machine to your car, and hten program the new key in the ignition.
THe whole programming process takes 10 minutes or less. And they charge an hour worht of labor....
but lucky me, my dealership isn't really corrupt, so they did all this as a curtesy
WOW! Its nice when you get things done for free now isn't it! There are other ways you can make the copy also for those who are still wondering:
1. Having the original Master Key to make another copy.
2. Having the little slip that Honda provides you for copies.
3. What I and others did by going to the dealer to get it reprogrammed.
Originally posted by UltraMagneticAL good job on informing us! but just to let you know, back in the day when the 6gens first came out, the keys used to be upwards of $100 or something...now that the immobilizer technology spread, the prices of course, dropped. anyways, thanks again for the write up :
oh yeah, and this thread is going as a link in the FAQs in the stickies.
they were pricey back then. i remember when we first got my car, we wanted a third key, and a third remote, and they said it would cost about $130.
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Lost Master Key Experience!
I did however have my registration handy as well as my valet key (which is required by the way) so the process was rather quick and easy.
: That even made my day more super as I didn't have to pay his lame ass (well not so lame after he was able to make my Master Key copies for me 
) the $6 for the code.
they were pricey back then. i remember when we first got my car, we wanted a third key, and a third remote, and they said it would cost about $130.
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