Getting a spare key

[avh]

After 9 years of trouble free ownership of a 98 Civic, I decided to trade it in and up for a 07 Accord SE 4cyc. I am very happy with my new ride. But how things have changed.

When I got my Civic, I spent $1 to make a spare key to keep in my wallet. I want to do the same with the Accord, but the new Accord key can't be duplicated at a local locksmith.

According to my googling for half a day now, it would cost about $175 to cut a new key at a Hoda dealership, should I loose my key. And seems like the only way to make a spare key is at a dealership.

Please share with me how you are going about making your spare key, or do you even bother with that?

Thanks very much in advance for your help, and have a Happy New Year.

[Accordlover]

Did your Accord not come with three keys? I know you want a spare key...but I'm just wondering...

[faderrific]

Welcome!

If you have a 7th generation, you can always do the TL key mod and pay less than half of the $175. Plus you get a really awesome looking key.

[MJL]

I know what you're wanting to do. I used to keep an extra key in my wallet after locking my keys in my old car and the extra set was 250 miles away. The problem with that is you cant get a flat key to slide in your wallet. The accord keys have an immobilizer chip in them that makes the keys bulky, even the valet key, which doesnt have the remote part, is hard to make fit in a wallet.

Are you looking to make an extra key for just unlocking your car or to unlock and start it? If youre looking for one to do just the unlocking you could take your spare valet key, if you have one, and shave down the plastic so you only have the flat metal ket to slide in your wallet. If the chip is removed from the plastic tho, you wont be able to start the car.

[Conundrum]

Hey MJL...wanna know what I'm planning to do....

Here is my plan...I'm going to take apart 1 of my keys so the immobilizer chip can be put in a TL flipkey (like you did). This will leave me with a "useless" Accord key. Well, if possible I'm going to try and remove the blade from the remote "head", thus giving me 2 "parts". Well, I'm planning to keep the remote part to use when I want to start my car and lock the doors with it running, and as for the blade, I'm going to put that one in my wallet. Now if either piece gets stolen all it can be used for is to access the inside of my car, not actually start it and drive away. Considering the only reason I want the 2 "parts" is so I have the option to easily lock/unlock while my TL key is in the ignition, and so I have a spare in my wallet in case I stupidly lock my keys in the car, I could care less if either part can't actually start the car.

As for the OP question, don't pay that much. I'm sure you can buy a new "blank" Accord key if you want to on eBay, then take it to the dealer to be cut and programmed. Based off of things I've read regarding people having this done in the US, the rate is probably around the $50-80 mark for cutting and programming...if anyone wants more than that, go to another dealership they are ripping you off.

Oh and as Accordlover mentioned if your car is a new car, then it should have come with 3 keys: 2 remote keys and 1 valet key. If it did not, go back to the dealership and have them give you copies for free (and give them hell for losing keys that can be used to steal your car). If you need proof that it came with 3 keys, it's written in your manual.

[SSMV6]

Conundrum, the keyless fob won't work if the key is in the ignition or if the engine is running (ie... remote started).

[mnkyman]

you dont need the immbolizer chip to unlock the door


just take your key and get a a duplicate and you can store in your wallet, mind you this will only unlock the door and not start the car

[MJL]

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Hey MJL...wanna know what I'm planning to do....

Here is my plan...I'm going to take apart 1 of my keys so the immobilizer chip can be put in a TL flipkey (like you did). This will leave me with a "useless" Accord key. Well, if possible I'm going to try and remove the blade from the remote "head", thus giving me 2 "parts". Well, I'm planning to keep the remote part to use when I want to start my car and lock the doors with it running, and as for the blade, I'm going to put that one in my wallet. Now if either piece gets stolen all it can be used for is to access the inside of my car, not actually start it and drive away. Considering the only reason I want the 2 "parts" is so I have the option to easily lock/unlock while my TL key is in the ignition, and so I have a spare in my wallet in case I stupidly lock my keys in the car, I could care less if either part can't actually start the car.

The funny this is, as soon as I submitted that response I thought, why dont I just cut the actual key out of my useless fob and store it in my wallet since I don't need the remote anyway. So yeah I had that same thought as you, but like SSMV6 said, if you already have your key in the ignition, the extra fob wont work work to lonk/unlock the doors.

Why is that anyway? Is it the immobilizer chip that disables the remote lock/unlocking or is it something to do with the key being in the ignition?

[avh]

Yes, my Accord came with 3 keys. My plan was to store the other 2 original keys in a safe place for the future owner, and having a duplicate in my wallet that can unlock and start the car. But since a duplicate now would look exactly just like the original, I don't have to worry about saving some of the original keys for the future owner. The only challenge now is having a flat enough key for the wallet that can start the car.

I am excited to learn of the TL key mod as it looks very cool. And very glad to learn that it is possible to get a duplicate for much lower than $175. But for starter I probably spend $1 to have a flat key in my wallet just for unlocking the car just in case.

Thanks very much for your help everyone, I really appreciate it. I'm glad to find a forum this active. See everyone around on the board.

[Conundrum]

Originally Posted by avh

Thanks very much for your help everyone, I really appreciate it. I'm glad to find a forum this active. See everyone around on the board.

No problem. Also I'd think that any place that can cut a laser-cut "wave" style key could cut the Accord key, even if it won't actually start the car.

Welcome to the forum as well, and hopefully we will see you around. Please create a signature though for your account with your car info...as it makes it easier for us to help you in future.

[SSMV6]

Originally Posted by MJL

Why is that anyway? Is it the immobilizer chip that disables the remote lock/unlocking or is it something to do with the key being in the ignition?

It is assumed that you're in the car when you have the key in the ignition so it won't need to be remotely unlocked/locked. This feature has nothing to do with the immobilizer chip.

avh, the $175 includes the cost to program the immobilizer and the keyless entry. If you get a duplicate and only have the immobilizer programmed, it should be $50 less. Remote programming instructions are here on page 9