Key (or lack thereof) problem
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2023 12:54 pm
On the weekend I was supposed to visit my ‘97 Type S for the first time in many years. The person I rent garage space from has 32 cars himself and along with my Type S, a few other cars also. However, upon arriving at his house, he was unable to find the key for my car. OK, no bother I figure, it’s just misplaced, but after 48h it has still not been found and I am starting to worry.
My car only came with one key and a single fob for the Clifford G4 alarm system. During the two weeks I was able to drive it I wasn’t able to get a spare key, because there was some doubt about whether or not it directly included a factory immobiliser on the key. My previous JDM Honda, a ‘97 CRX DelSol came with but a simple key from the factory and my ‘98 UK VTi had a retrofitted Alarm/Remote Locking system added by a Honda partner, when it was being prepared for sale in the UK market. So anecdotally at least, it seems Japanese models didn’t come with such additional security as standard?
As such, my first question is whether or not a ‘97 JDM Prelude would even have a factory immobiliser, perhaps this was an option? The second question is just how screwed am I if the key is actually lost? I can sort the Clifford G4 system, so no problems there. But my thoughts are if the car did have an immobilster there is no real solution where I could replace the key. I guess in such a scenario, I would need a new Lock/Key set from a donor vehicle? Presumably with the ECU from said car, otherwise the key won’t be recognised? Assuming I am right, would that have to come from another Type S specifically?
Fingers crossed the key turns up, the guy who lost it isn’t usually unreliable and is quite flustered by the whole situation. But just trying to prepare myself in case the worst transpires. I did say the universe is against me having a Prelude already, right?
My car only came with one key and a single fob for the Clifford G4 alarm system. During the two weeks I was able to drive it I wasn’t able to get a spare key, because there was some doubt about whether or not it directly included a factory immobiliser on the key. My previous JDM Honda, a ‘97 CRX DelSol came with but a simple key from the factory and my ‘98 UK VTi had a retrofitted Alarm/Remote Locking system added by a Honda partner, when it was being prepared for sale in the UK market. So anecdotally at least, it seems Japanese models didn’t come with such additional security as standard?
As such, my first question is whether or not a ‘97 JDM Prelude would even have a factory immobiliser, perhaps this was an option? The second question is just how screwed am I if the key is actually lost? I can sort the Clifford G4 system, so no problems there. But my thoughts are if the car did have an immobilster there is no real solution where I could replace the key. I guess in such a scenario, I would need a new Lock/Key set from a donor vehicle? Presumably with the ECU from said car, otherwise the key won’t be recognised? Assuming I am right, would that have to come from another Type S specifically?
Fingers crossed the key turns up, the guy who lost it isn’t usually unreliable and is quite flustered by the whole situation. But just trying to prepare myself in case the worst transpires. I did say the universe is against me having a Prelude already, right?
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