Acura Key Programming Procedure
ACURA Key Programming Procedure
The engine immobilizer is an anti-theft system that employs a keyfob with a digital code stored on it. When the keyfob comes into contact with the vehicle’s electronic management system or is inserted into the ignition switch, it transmits this “password” to it. If the user has the correct keyfob, the engine will start up.
The engine immobilizer is a safe method of discouraging thieves from stealing your car through hotwiring or traditional methods such as hammering the ignition with a screwdriver to force it to start. It’s like an extra layer of security on top of your car’s alarm.
St. George Evans and Edward Birkenbuel invented and patented the electric immobiliser/alarm system in 1919. When the ignition switch was turned on, current from the battery (or magneto) went to the spark plugs, allowing the engine to start or immobilizing the vehicle and sounding the horn. Each time the car was driven, the system settings could be changed. Modern immobiliser systems are automatic, which means the owner does not have to remember to turn it on.
Since January 1, 1998, all new cars sold in Germany have been required to have immobilizers, as have all new cars sold in the United Kingdom since October 1, 1998, in Finland since 1998, in Australia since 2001, and in Canada since 2007. Early models used a static code in the ignition key (or key fob) that was recognized by an RFID loop around the lock barrel and checked for a match against the vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU). If the code is not recognized, the ECU will prevent fuel from flowing and ignition from taking place. Later models employ rolling codes or advanced cryptography to prevent code copying from the key or ECU.
Every ACURA car comes with a simple process for programming the car’s immobilizer keys. The ACURA car models are shown below:
- Acura ZDX
- Acura TSX
- Acura TL
- Acura MDX
Key Programming: Acura ZDX 2010-2013
Key Programming: Acura TSX 2009-2014
Key Programming: Acura TL 2009-2014
Key Programming: Acura MDX 2007-2013
Key Programming: Acura RDX 2008-2009
About ACURA
Acura is Honda’s luxury and performance division in the United States. On March 27, 1986, the brand was introduced in the United States and Canada, marketing luxury and performance automobiles. It was first introduced in Hong Kong in 1991 (and lasted until 2009), Mexico in 2004, China in 2006, Russia in 2014 (but is no longer available in Russia), Kuwait in 2015, and Ukraine in 2016. (until 2018). Honda’s plan to launch Acura in the Japanese domestic market (JDM) in 2008 was postponed due to economic reasons, and was later scrapped as a result of the 2007–2008 financial crisis.
Acura was the first Japanese automaker to establish a luxury division.
Acura was founded at the same time as the introduction of a JDM Honda dealership sales channel called Honda Clio, which sold luxury vehicles, joining the previously established Honda Verno, followed by Honda Primo the following year. Acura was among the best-selling luxury marques in the United States in its early years, outselling established brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Though sales were down in the mid-to-late 1990s, the brand saw a resurgence in the early 2000s as a result of drastic redesigns and the introduction of new models.
The success of the company’s first flagship vehicle, the Legend, prompted fellow Japanese automakers Toyota and Nissan to launch their own luxury brands, Lexus and Infiniti, respectively, in the late 1980s. The NSX, a mid-engine exotic sports car introduced in 1990, offered a reliable and practical alternative to exotic European sports cars, as well as introducing Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system to the North American market. Acura’s first use of a six-speed manual transmission mated to a Type II engine was in the 1993 Legend coupé. Acura produced a Type R version of its compact Integra in the late 1990s, with a lower curb weight, stiffer and lower suspension, and a high-output VTEC engine.
Acura introduced new models in the early 2000s, including the company’s first all-original SUV, the MDX, and two models that replaced the Integra coupé and sedan, the RSX and TSX, respectively. During that decade, Type-S versions of the RSX, CL, and TL were added to the brand’s lineup. The Acura RL flagship introduced SH-AWD, a torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system, in 2005. The 2007 RDX, a crossover SUV, was the first vehicle in North America to use a turbocharged Honda engine. In 2016, a second generation NSX was introduced, with a twin-turbocharged mid-engine, a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, and Sport Hybrid SH-AWD.