I figured I spread the word on this since I was looking to make a new key for my S2000. Mine is a 2005 which unfortunately is harder to program so it would need to be done at an automotive locksmith or the dealer.

1. Buy a '00-03 key w/ chip (HD106-PT5) from eBay like this one for $8. I ordered mine from this seller and the quality is pretty decent although because mine is a '04-05 key it looks a bit different. It is hollow rather than solid like the OEM and the edges are a little bit rough looking if that matters to you.
2. Bring your vehicle registration and get the key cut at Honda for free. Make sure to tell them not to program it (my stealership wanted $110 for programming).
3. Go to Lowe's with one of your existing programmed keys and ask to get the new one programmed. The guy at Lowe's said they don't have anything to bill "programming only" to so he would do it for free. They can only do 2000-2003 models and since mine is an '05 this step did not work for me.

I noticed a lot of people (including the eBay seller) say you cannot get keys programmed at hardware stores but I found out you can and possibly save a lot of money. An OEM key, cut and programmed by the dealership would be in the $200 range.

I believe the '00-03 keys can also be cut (from your old key) at Lowe's unlike the '04+ keys however a Honda delaership will cut from a key code and not copy your worn key.

 

Bookmarked. Good stuff!

I still have a genuine Honda blank key I got from eBay (for my MY03) sitting around, that I've been putting off getting cut/programmed.

 

Ouch, $110 for key programming?

I payed $30 for the programming on a 2006 key at my local dealer, only takes 10 minutes.

Good info on the AP1 key, thanks.

 

We do some specialty Honda/Acura keys at work. Some dealers definitely do charge upwards of $100 for programming. Others are more reasonable. Seems to depend on the dealer.

 

any one actually gone through with this procedure?

 

Update for an AP2 owners, I called around my locally and automotive locksmiths wanted about $35-45 (not including a service call fee mobile locksmiths may charge) to program the key. This requires bringing in your car and all of your keys to be reprogrammed so I assume you could get multiple keys programmed for that price if you wanted.

 

The OP never got his programmed so....bullshit. Come back when you get it programmed and tested.

 

I haven't gone through this exact procedure, but I did have a key cut and 'programmed' at Lowes. They're able to clone your existing key's programming onto a non-OEM key that they stock. This means your ECU thinks the key you're using is the same as what's already been programmed into the immobilizer. I did this because one day when I went to start the car, the immobilizer did not recognize my key on the first attempt. Figured the chip inside the key was becoming flakey, and this was the cheapest (and fastest) route to go.

Other than the absolute shame I feel every time I start the car due to using a non-OEM key, it's worked fine. Oh and I did have to go back to have Lowes recut a key due to it being a bit off center and problematic in the doors.

 

Factory honda ap1 keys cannt be programmed. The car is programmed to accept the key.

 

This is true for OEM keys, but there are aftermarket keys that are writeable, and hence allow for cloning of existing keys.