It is supposedly a nice thing to know that our S2000's have a chip-containing 'smart' key which cannot readily be duplicated. If one were to use a cheap duplicate not containing the chip, the ignition system would be immobilized and the car would not start. This would also apply, I would think, to any attempts to jump start the car.
But I find myself wondering if any of us could be immobilized by failure of the chip within the key. Paranoid obsessive-compulsive that I am, I have always carried a second car key on my person. This proved useful in 1964, when a key bent and nearly broke in half in the lock of my Saab 96. The lock was frozen up due to an ice storm. Were it not for the second key, I might well have had to callfor a tow truck.
I have become somewhat tired of carrying extra keys around with me, and now I wonder. Can anyone in this group report ever having experienced a key failure?

 

actually, I believe there have been instances where the immoblizer went haywire and the car would not start. In this instance a spare key would not help you. Car has to be towed to the dealer and all the keys and ECU reprogrammed.

 

I had two failures of similar technology with my old BMW. Left me stranded in town once, but the second time it failed I was 700 miles from home.. but had learned my lesson and had a spare key.

Have not heard of the same kind of failure with the Honda system.

 

I carry the valet key as my backup/spare...

Randy

 

Actually, I don't think there have been any issues with the key chips themselves. However, on rare occasions the immobilizer has been affected by other EM devices (such as the ill-conceived Mobil Speedpass) when they were brought in close proximity to the ignition. Even in those instances, moving the offending device from the immediate area cures the problem.

 

For your enjoyment.... another simple search

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...p?threadid=5641

 

Yes, it can fail. I've had mine malfunction and prevent the car from starting. The green key light stayed on.