Ouch! $15 for a copy of a car key

[hlcn8]

A chip on the key or in it? Not a chance bro, unless you're buying one from the Cayman Islands...The new Honda's have the remote key, yes that's true...But no "Chip" has ever been on the key itself....Not to be an ass here or be argumentative, but just trying to clarify things.

nah, you're not coming accross as argumentive. i could very easily be wrong, but if there's no chip, how come if i get a copy made at a hardware store and put it in the ignition, the engine won't turn over? anyone know?

[hlcn8]

well, i couldn't wait for others to answer so i did some research. Honda's as early as 98 have 'immobilizer chips' in the keys.

"Immobilizers have been slower to show up on North American vehicles, but enthusiasm is growing as automakers see results in Europe. Ford, a major European automaker as well as one of the U.S. Big Three, introduced its SecuriLock immobilizer on the 1996 Mustang GT and reported that theft rates fell 77 percent from those for the 1995 model. SecuriLock is now standard on every Ford and Lincoln Mercury model except the Ranger small pickup and the Escort compact, which is being replaced by the Focus. It was added to the Mercury Villager when the minivan was redesigned for the 1999 model year. Cadillac included Delco's PassKey III on most 1997 models, and GM now includes it on Buick Park Avenue, Cadillac Seville, and Pontiac Transport, Oldsmobile Silhouette, and Chevrolet Venture minivans. PassKey III is also included, as the Honda Immobilizer, on the Honda Accord, Honda Odyssey minivan and the Acura CL."
I researched this further to see if it has anything to do with the alarm disable, but i can easily disable my car with a working remote, and still not start the key with the hardware store-made key...

read towards the bottom: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives...9832.Eg.r.html

[dot1]

I just bought my first Honda, an Element. Traded my Suburban and only lost $1k on the gas guzzler. Looking at it as a transition vehicle but I am pretty happy with it so far.

[hlcn8]

I'd had a big dodge truck before my honda, and the gas savings per month actually made up 1/3rd of the car payment.

[Shibby]

I got the key made and it works at Home Depot for $1.35 :)