Question 1

Do I have to go to the Acura dealer to get a replacement key for my 2003 CL?

Accepted Answer

No. A qualified mobile locksmith with Honda-compatible immobilizer tooling can handle the full job on site. Acura and Honda share the same underlying key and immobilizer architecture on these early-2000s platforms, so any specialist who works Honda is equipped to work your CL.

Where people get stuck is calling a general locksmith who has the blade cutter but not the programming equipment. They can get you into the car but can't get it to start. That's the gap. A dealer has both, and so do I. The difference is I come to you in Imperial Beach and don't make you wait two days for a service slot.

Question 2

What exactly is a remote head key and what does my 2003 Acura CL need to start?

Accepted Answer

A remote head key is a single unit where the fob housing and transponder chip share the same body. The key blade sticks out one end, and the remote buttons are built into the head. When you insert it and turn the ignition, the transponder inside the key communicates with the vehicle's immobilizer. If that handshake doesn't happen, the engine either won't start at all or starts and immediately stalls.

The remote functions, the lock and unlock buttons, are a separate layer. They work off the coin cell battery. If those buttons stop working but the car still starts, the battery is the first thing to check.

For a full replacement, you need three things aligned: the correct key blade cut to your specific car, the transponder enrolled so the immobilizer recognizes it, and the remote functions programmed in. All of that gets done in one visit.

Question 3

How long does the dealer actually take for a 2003 Acura CL key replacement?

Accepted Answer

Longer than the programming itself takes. The technical side of cutting and programming a key on these is not a long process, but dealer service departments routinely quote 1.5 to 2 hours for the full visit, and that assumes the part is in stock. Acura parts availability on vehicles this age can be genuinely problematic. Forum threads from CL owners describe multi-week waits for key-related components, and in some cases orders sitting in backorder limbo with no clear timeline.

Then there's the logistics. You drop the car off, you wait, you get a call, you go back. With me, the job happens at your location in Bayside or wherever the car is sitting in Imperial Beach. One visit, no drop-off, no waiting around.

Question 4

My 2003 CL starts fine but the lock and unlock buttons on the remote head key stopped working. Do I need a whole new key?

Accepted Answer

Probably not. The transponder and the remote functions run off separate power sources inside that same key body. The remote buttons draw from the CR2025 coin cell. The transponder draws passively from the ignition field itself, which is why the car still starts even when the battery is dead.

Swap the CR2025, seat it fully, and test the buttons from a normal distance, around 20 to 30 feet. If remote function comes back, you're done. If it doesn't, the fob electronics may have failed independently of the transponder. That's a less common failure on these but it does happen. At that point you're looking at a replacement key with the remote functions programmed in, not a full start-from-scratch immobilizer job.

Question 5

I bought a replacement remote head key online for my 2003 CL. Can I program it myself?

Accepted Answer

Not on the transponder side. The 2003 Acura CL does not have an onboard self-programming sequence for the immobilizer. Enrolling a new transponder requires going through the OBD port with compatible diagnostic tooling. There's no ignition-turn trick or button sequence that adds a new key to this system.

The remote functions are a separate story. Some owners have found onboard sequences for syncing the remote buttons, but that only addresses the lock and unlock side. The car will still stall on startup if the transponder hasn't been properly enrolled. If you bought a key online, bring it to me and I'll handle the programming. You'll save money on the blank that way.

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