I know this question is a little taboo but I have to ask. I am not too familiar with this car yet because I have been helping another son with his 99. Prelude #2 is 1998 5th Gen with H23 swap and is supposed to be OBD1 now but is still running with original OBDII ECU. It has some error codes but has been running pretty good. Now the "BIG" issue. Please don't ask why or how, it is what it is. My son lost the one and only key. He had a mobile key guy come out who guaranteed he could make a key and program it to work. Needless to say it did not work. Next option is a tow to dealer and mega money. Another option I have read about (which he was planning to do later) is to get a P28 ECU. From what I have read this would make the car OBD I and OBD I ignores the immobilizer circuit. He already has the jumper harness that converts the OBD II to OBD I. Option number three is I have read about "Immobilizer Brake Code" any info you can give on this would be appreciated. I can't catch a break.

Ed

I have a line on a wrecked part out of a 2001 Prelude. If I get the Immobilizer module and keys what else would be needed. I guess the ignition tumbler? Not too worried about the doors and trunk. Would they be plug and play? Would this take care of my problems? Thanks again.

Ed

Also, do you have to have the ECU from the donor car?

Ed

Yes you also need the ECU from the donor car!! The ECU reads the same code that the immobilizer sends to it and when it sees that they match...it allows the car to start. I also only have one key that will start my car! I had another one cut just in case I lock the keys inside or something. It will unlock the doors and turn the ignition to the on position, but will not start it. I also had a "key guy" who guaranteed me he can program my spare, but also failed after over an hr of trying with his special computer! These keys simply can not be programed without the special "red" key that these car came with from the dealer when they were new. Which freakin NO ONE has anymore!

BUT........I do remember when I was doing my 5 speed swap and doing the wiring for the clutch switch ( I remembered there was a way to wire it without even having to press the clutch in to have it start, but I opted to wire it the correct way) But I also remember while I was down there, There was a way to wire the immobilizer system and just ground the wire or something to bypass the whole immobilizer system all together! Again, On this option I chose the correct way of wiring because I figured it would protect me a lot more from theft, God forbid! I was even going to install a seperate hidden cut off kill-switch to start hidden somewhere.

So yeah, I am pretty sure you can just bypass the whole immobilizer system all together and not have to dish out all that dough to the stealership..Then just install the kill swich if you need extra theft protection.

I am sorry I don't have the exact information on which wires and whatnot right now, this was years ago when I did this swap. I wish you luck!

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~92 Accord EX 5 speed.
~98 Base Prelude. Auto, very soon to be 5 speed.
...................5 Speed Swap Complete!!..................

http://www.preludezone.com/5th-gen-h...-complete.html



~98 Base Prelude- Now 5 Speed swapped and very soon JDM H22A swap

**JDM H22A with only 42k miles swap complete!!

My prayers were answered and someone turned my son's key in. He is getting two new keys tomorrow. I did find out a few things that would have allowed us to get around it but did not have to try them. If you have any key that is programmed to start your car, a key can be made from it. It doesn't have to be the red key but it is nice to have.

For future reference you should be able to get a key cut just from the vin of the car if the ECU is original to the vehicle and the tumblers haven't been changed it should work fine. I only know because I was able to get one cut for my SH just by having the guy enter in the VIN#... and it starts the car, unlocks and locks all locks.

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97 SH, H22A

And out of curiosity.... How do you make a spare key duplicate from a working key without the red key?? I tried like I said a few years back with a guy who makes car keys for a living and was told by him he would be able to do it and then even he was baffled when it was not working and said the only way is with the red key..?

__________________
~92 Accord EX 5 speed.
~98 Base Prelude. Auto, very soon to be 5 speed.
...................5 Speed Swap Complete!!..................

http://www.preludezone.com/5th-gen-h...-complete.html



~98 Base Prelude- Now 5 Speed swapped and very soon JDM H22A swap

**JDM H22A with only 42k miles swap complete!!

CT,

When my son first bought a beautiful 99 SH before it was totaled we went to the local Walmart auto center. We actually had the red key and had them cut a new one. It would not start the car. The guy then tried making one from the factory black key and it worked perfectly for $35.00.

I got so much conflicting info while we were in panic mode. Some people say you have to change the whole immobilizer system, keys, lock tumblers, and ecu at $1000. on up. Some say the red key is no longer needed and take vin and dealer will cut new key for $80.00. I talked to two different dealers and got different info too. I asked what was in the new immobilizer kit from the dealer that was going to cost $371.00. He said two keys and the immobilizer module plus labor to install. I said that was a 10 minute job and he said that they charge 2 hours. So that gets it over $500.00. Crazy the different info out there. I did find some online services that if you had a blank key that would turn the ignition, you could send that key in with the immobilizer module and they would cut a new key and program it to your immobilizer module for $150.00.

I think the problem is our cars are old and the software for the computer they use at the dealer is so expensive that only a few dealers still have the capability to cut and program the key just from the VIN. I think that is why most dealers just replace the whole system. I may be wrong but it shouldn't be that big of a deal to get a key made. And what genius came up with the "Red Key" any way. They tell you not to try and start your car with it. Why make it look like a key then? You know someone will try that. I have read where people did that too. Some said it started the car fine, some it did not work, some it erased the original codes from the original keys. Lots of misinformation out there.

Bottom line if you have a Prelude get some spare keys made now and put them somewhere safe.

So I suppose your results may vary but I was able to go to a small little Honda dealer here in Tucson and get them to cut me a new black key that works for everything, and I only had one of the original black keys that came with the car. Even the previous owner didn't have the red key. The dealer used the VIN number, looked at my key and mentioned something about what number it was? And he was gone for a minute and came back with a new one... it cost 35 dollars to do. Again it works for everything on the car. It looks exactly like my old key except it is more textured and my old one was smooth, but maybe it was worn that way.

The only real issues with making the key from the VIN is that the key is like brand new, meaning all the edges and points on it are very sharp again and if you have an older worn smooth key like mine, it might stick in your tumblers. I used some graphite lubricant and it was working perfectly. (One mechanic said someones fresh cut key got stuck in there ignition and had to use vice grips to get it out... rip)

Secondly the ECU needs to be original to the VIN I believe. But I'm not too knowledgeable about this. Like I said your results may vary, but this is the experience I had. Maybe if a key guy can't do it for you, try to hit up Honda dealers until one of them can help you, it was pretty cheap.

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97 SH, H22A