civic red key

[MRH-22A]

Hey does anybody have a red key that came with the 99 model civic? What does the red key do?
I know it cant start up the car... but does it stop the black key from starting up the car if u use the red key first?

[chunky]

im not sure but isnt it for ifu lose ur keys or lock em inside ul be able to open da door wif em?

[Fr3aKi3]

The red key wont start the car because it doesn't have the immobiliser chip in the key fob, which is required to start the car.

[hormone]

Hi,
if i remember orrect you only use it to actually give to Honda to Un-immobilise your car.

[hormone]

here we go, i have the manual. its says its a learning key. when you have replaced a lost key the new key must be coded using the learning key before you can use the new key. this must be done by honda.
the learning key is only for models with an immobiliser.
i hope this helps.

[MRH-22A]

here we go, i have the manual. its says its a learning key. when you have replaced a lost key the new key must be coded using the learning key before you can use the new key. this must be done by honda.
the learning key is only for models with an immobiliser.
i hope this helps.

thanks for checkin the manual dude!
have u tried starting the car with the red key? if you havnt, can somebody try and then use the black key to see if the car still starts up? lolz

[misteR_bilzz]

LOL it says do not start the car with the red key, if u do u cant start the car with your black key.. or something like that..

[Edgeauto]

If you try using the red to start the car you will have to code the black key back into the ECU at a honda dealer to get the car started again

[MRH-22A]

Thanks!

[ECU-MAN]

The red key wont start the car because it doesn't have the immobiliser chip in the key fob, which is required to start the car.

actually the red key does have a transponder in it.


its only function is to add or remove keys from the immo system

[patchwick]

thanks for checkin the manual dude!
have u tried starting the car with the red key? if you havnt, can somebody try and then use the black key to see if the car still starts up? lolz

DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT DUDE! happend to me already and it was not cool. :zip:

[blu3illusion84]

once u start the car with the red key.. your whole car screw up and might have to get new immo system again..

[lil_miss_vtec]

I will tell you one thing... DONT USE THE RED KEY!!

I made that mistake with my 1996 Vti-R Civic and I had to get my car towed to honda and the black keys needed to be re-coded ($850) BIG mistake! LOL my stupid idea, the day I got the car I saw the key and thought "oooh pretty red key I'll use it" then realized my other keys wouldnt work anymore!
Note: put it in a safe place and leave it there!!!

[shinji112]

well i tried to start my car with the red key.. i was a n00b.. but it didnt fk up on me.. black key worked just fine! *phew*

[blu3illusion84]

I will tell you one thing... DONT USE THE RED KEY!!

I made that mistake with my 1996 Vti-R Civic and I had to get my car towed to honda and the black keys needed to be re-coded ($850) BIG mistake! LOL my stupid idea, the day I got the car I saw the key and thought "oooh pretty red key I'll use it" then realized my other keys wouldnt work anymore!
Note: put it in a safe place and leave it there!!!

that totally right... but this time i didnt put the red key in..
i actully lost 2 black keys so i have to tow my car to the dealer and re coded everything and new keyholes.. :thumbdwn:

atm i only got one key.. so now i need another KEY CUT!! :thumbsup: better be safe than sorry..

[H0nda]

Ok, If I dont have a RED key can I disable the immobilser.

[misteR_bilzz]

why would u wanna do that? ur immobiliser still works with or without ur red key.

[H0nda]

why would u wanna do that? ur immobiliser still works with or without ur red key.

Should have explained myself better!
I have searched the forum for this and couldnt get a straight answer.
I only have one black key, no red key.
If I want a spare key that starts the car, can I disable the immobiliser?

[misteR_bilzz]

as long as u have a black key its okay, im pretty sure u can make a spare key from ur black if u loose your black key then ur fd.

[H0nda]

Thanks! (rep point)

[misteR_bilzz]

cheerz =)

[dupac->]

red key is used as the template. because the red key does not get used therefor the key is cut more precise.

red key is useless if you dont have black keys, meaning you can't copy keys with the immob code if you don't have black key. so if you lose all black keys ur in the shitter. and will cost u $$$ to fix the problem.

try not to use the red key to start the car as is could scramble the imobb unit, and thats no good when u got no black keys. so meaning you need new immob unit which are around $600 with Honda dealers and $400 or so with certain locksmiths.

so for any reason don't put the red key in the ignition and try to start the car ESPECIALLY if you dont have the black keys.

coz ive tried it. with red keys wont start. but then black key started it.

but then gf lost black keys. tried to start with red. scrambled the unit. needed new immob unit replace as the immob unit was srambled.

if thats makes any sense?

[dupac->]

I will tell you one thing... DONT USE THE RED KEY!!

I made that mistake with my 1996 Vti-R Civic and I had to get my car towed to honda and the black keys needed to be re-coded ($850) BIG mistake! LOL my stupid idea, the day I got the car I saw the key and thought "oooh pretty red key I'll use it" then realized my other keys wouldnt work anymore!
Note: put it in a safe place and leave it there!!!

or in this case she had some bad luck
black key didnt start her car after she used red
LOL

[dupac->]

H0nda - if you need to make copies of the key, all you need is that black key. $80 or so from locksmiths and about $200 through Honda Dealers.

but yeah red key is useless and does more damage end of story.
you're fine as long as you have black keys as backup. :thumbsup:

[misteR_bilzz]

u my friend deserve a rep point, OH needs a sticky on red keys..

[dupac->]

yeah every few months or so you get these red key questions. but seem to be for different situations
lol thanks for rep

[eKKy]

I was in the same situation, had a black key and no red key.
Honda Service in Warwick Farm couldn't make a copy of just the black key, and wanted to charge me i think $800+ to change the whole immobiliser system.
Ended up going to Buffalo Lock and Key in Ryde (9809 0294), copied a new key from my black one no worries, working straightaway.

Actually got their info from a previous post on here.

[H0nda]

H0nda - if you need to make copies of the key, all you need is that black key. $80 or so from locksmiths and about $200 through Honda Dealers.

but yeah red key is useless and does more damage end of story.
you're fine as long as you have black keys as backup. :thumbsup:

Thanks, cleared things up for me (rep point)

[Jimmay]

H0nda - if you need to make copies of the key, all you need is that black key. $80 or so from locksmiths and about $200 through Honda Dealers.

but yeah red key is useless and does more damage end of story.
you're fine as long as you have black keys as backup. :thumbsup:

So the locksmith can cut the key and copy the immobiliser chip?

[kn1ghtm4r3]

^ yeah they can do that =) easy

[shinji112]

So the locksmith can cut the key and copy the immobiliser chip?

that is correct! thats how i got mine done! not gonna pay honda $200!

[Jimmay]

Hmm i might get that done, my immobiliser chip is sticky taped to the key lol

[Edgeauto]

Red Key System Summary

1 red key & at least 1 Black key - New key can be coded a Honda dealer

No red key & at least 1 black key - Must be copied at a locksmith

No keys - Totally screw - complete immob. system or ECU mod

*note*if a new key is coded at a Honda dealer all old keys will be written out the immob where if a key is copied at a locksmith all the old/lost keys will still start the car.

[dupac->]

So the locksmith can cut the key and copy the immobiliser chip?


yeap! as long as you have atleast one black key

about $80 or..
depending on locksmith

dunno why Honda Dealers charge through the ass for it *shrugs*

[kraiye]

prolly cause they remove the functionality of any lost/missing/stolen keys

[dupac->]

it's a silly immob system. esp if you lose keys or wanna make copies

i guess it works?

anyone know of someone who got their EK flogged?

[929]

Can i just ask anyone whole bought a brand new ek b4, how many black key do u have at the beginning?

I have only one black key for my EK4 and a red key for my EJ8 b4...are they interchangable?

BTW...locksmith still charging $80 for copying a workable key?

[blu3illusion84]

u will get 2 copy of black keys and one red key on the brand new ek..
if u buy a second hand car.. sometime they only have one black and red key
or maybe 2blacks and a red :thumbsup:

btw how the heck u end up red key on your ej8?? how u manage to drive away when u bought it?

hope u didnt cop alot of money to replace new immo system.. :/

[929]

u will get 2 copy of black keys and one red key on the brand new ek..
if u buy a second hand car.. sometime they only have one black and red key
or maybe 2blacks and a red :thumbsup:

btw how the heck u end up red key on your ej8?? how u manage to drive away when u bought it?

hope u didnt cop alot of money to replace new immo system.. :/

I still hv one red key from my EJ8 becoz i sold the car but the buyer didnt take the red key, thats why im now having a useless red key with me :o

I was just thinking to get a copy of my EK4 black key if it is not too expensive...

[misteR_bilzz]

yeah 80 bucks is normal man, id do it - its better than forking out 4times that amount if u were to loose that key.

[chickenisme]

Note: If your down to your last black key and don't have a red key. And the black key is starting to fail (like it wont start the car if you let the car sit for a while before inserting the key) go straight to a locksmith and get a copy. As soon as the black key stops working your screwed as the locksmith machines to copy the code need the transponder working correctly to get it.

[90LAN]

I will tell you one thing... DONT USE THE RED KEY!!

I made that mistake with my 1996 Vti-R Civic and I had to get my car towed to honda and the black keys needed to be re-coded ($850) BIG mistake! LOL my stupid idea, the day I got the car I saw the key and thought "oooh pretty red key I'll use it" then realized my other keys wouldnt work anymore!
Note: put it in a safe place and leave it there!!!

man honda took u to the dry cleaners
300ish for new complete set of keys red, black and chip and extra black keys are $44
$6 bucks to get keys cut so $500 to do the rest
man what a joke honda dealerships are!
now u know ! did u get told how the red key works when u bought it?

[blu3illusion84]

red key = they eat your money hard!

[dupac->]

just straight up. you dont need to go to honda dealer to get the prob fixed, they'll just feed u a BS story and make yah feel like a dickheaad that only they can do it bla bla bla! and charge too much.


call locksmith! too easy.

[ECU-MAN]

just straight up. you dont need to go to honda dealer to get the prob fixed, they'll just feed u a BS story and make yah feel like a dickheaad that only they can do it bla bla bla! and charge too much.


call locksmith! too easy.


loose both black keys and you will see who is the only one that can do it !!

[dupac->]

loose both black keys and you will see who is the only one that can do it !!

haha we did lose both black keys ECU-MAN.

luckily we still had the red key for template.

Honda Dealer wanted too much to much saying i need new ignition barrel and a NEW set of keys for $700+...


Locksmith guy changed my immob unit and left me with same keys. with 2 new keys cut for about $300

[ECU-MAN]

did he have a copy of the black key code ????

with out it if you loose both black keys you cant program new black keys. you have to purchase a immo unit with 1 black and red key. ( cost is around 300)


what dealers do is try to sell up and make you purchase new everything where infact spare parts sell a immo unit with 1 red key and 1 black key with blank key pattern, then you program this to yoru car and have the blank key's cut to the old pattern


loose both black keys and no record of black key RFID code, you cant program or copy a new black key into the system regardles of the red key

[dupac->]

hmm.. duno if he had the black key code.

but he tried soemthing with the immob unit near the steering wheel. and said that needed to be replaced as he couldnt copy the code..

so he hooked us up with that new immob unit and programmed 2 black keys to suit it.. and it was fine???

wateva i had at the time was enuff for him to do it, which was the one red key. and the car obviously. ahha.

and the immob unit thing near the steering column wasn't help coz he said it was scambled? possibly trying to start the car with the red key im guessing? coz we had to push the car outa of the carpark to get it towed..

[ECU-MAN]

are your new black keys genuine honda keys ????

he would of just used your old red key to get the key pattern.

[dupac->]

nah not genuine Honda keys ECU-MAN.

yeh i know he used it just as a template.

but yeah, imo not worth paying more for genuine honda keys but yeah my prob was solved, car starts with not having to pay that extra couple hunrded bucks!

is there any difference with the genuine immob unit/keys and the NON-genuine honda ones?

[misteR_bilzz]

bump for good info!

[AutoNoob]

i had 2 keys but i lost 1, i went to honda to make a new one and they said they cant without the red key. This cost me 600 bucks. OMG.

The red key looks bling tho. Now i have like 4 cut keys, definitely not gonna lose any.

[shinji112]

they said they cant without the red key.

well arent they full of sh!t.. u can make a spare key with your normal key. just gotta goto the right places. i got one made for lik 60bux? or was it 70? either way its better then wat honda charges