TextWhat Changed With the RL Key Each Generation
1st Gen (KA9): Transponder Key
A standard blade transponder key with a Megamos 13 (ID13) chip embedded in the head. No remote buttons on the key itself, just a physical key you turn in the ignition. The Honda immobilizer reads the chip before it lets the engine start, so a plain metal copy from the hardware store will not work.
2nd Gen (PB6): Remote Head Key
A remote head key with a high security blade, Megamos 13 (ID13) chip, and 3 buttons built right into the key. Acura stepped things up here with OBD-II programming and a Honda PIN code requirement, which means professional tools are needed. The blade is laser cut, so it requires a precision cutter to duplicate.
2nd Gen Facelift (PB7): Smart Proximity Key
This is where things went keyless. Your 2009 to 2012 RL uses a smart proximity key with push button start, an ID46 (PCF7952) chip, and 3 buttons. You keep it in your pocket and the vehicle detects it through antennas in the door handles. Programming requires OBD-II access and an ECU sync, so this one is strictly a professional job.
Which RL Key Do You Carry?
Old-school metal key with a hidden chip inside. No buttons, no battery to worry about. You just insert it and turn.
Your lock, unlock, and trunk buttons are built into the key head. The blade is laser cut, so it needs a specialized cutter to duplicate.
Slim fob design that stays in your pocket. Push button start, keyless entry. There is a hidden emergency blade inside for dead battery situations.
Pricing Breakdown by Generation
All prices are flat-rate and include the blank, cutting, programming, and testing. No surprise fees.
EZ vs the Acura Dealership
Dealer-grade equipment, parked at your car, finished in one visit, billed at about half what Acura quotes.
Skip the Dealer - Call (619) 876-1271RL Key Problems Across San Diego County
Transponder Failure (1996-2004)
Second-gen RL owners in Encinitas know the drill: the smart key worked yesterday, today the door handle does nothing. The KR55WK48903 fob coil weakened or the door antenna lost signal. We test both at the curb. About 40% new fob, 60% antenna or wiring.
Key Fob Battery Drain (2005-2008)
The CR1616 in your remote head key is tiny and drains fast if buttons get pressed in your pocket. Before assuming the key is broken, pop the battery and replace it. If the remote still does not respond, the internal board may need attention.
Proximity Sensor Issues (2009-2012)
First check on a 2009-2012 RL that will not detect the proximity fob: antenna in the door handle. These antennas pick up the fob signal and fail more often than the key. We test the antenna circuit first; a $400 fob over a $60 antenna is a waste.
High Security Blade Wear (2005-2012)
Most assume the ignition is going when the key gets hard to turn. High security laser cut blades on 2005-and-newer RLs wear at the contact points, and a worn blade can damage the ignition wafers if forced. Usually it is the blade. We cut fresh to factory spec.
RL Self-Programming: What Is Possible
You can pair a keyless entry remote yourself using the ignition cycle method with one working key. But the transponder chip in the key itself requires professional programming. So you can DIY the lock and unlock buttons, but not the part that actually starts the car.
Same deal as the first gen. Transponder programming still requires OBD-II access with professional tools and a Honda PIN code. You can pair remotes at home with a working key and the ignition cycle procedure.
Remote pairing is possible with a working key using the ignition cycle method. The proximity system and transponder chip require professional ECU sync, so the push to start function cannot be self-programmed.
No self-programming at all on the 2012 RL. Call us at (619) 876-1271 and we tackle it at the vehicle. Both the remote and transponder require professional tools.
How It Works
Reach Out by Phone or Text
Reach us at (619) 876-1271.
We Roll to the Car
Wherever you are in San Diego County, from El Cajon to Poway, we come to your location.
Cut, Program, and Test
We cut your key to factory spec, pull the Honda PIN code, program the ID47 transponder to your immobilizer, and test everything before we leave.
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Trivia Worth Knowing
Enthusiasts spent years calling the RL "Replaces Legend" because of the timing and the positioning of the model. Acura never confirmed the acronym in any press material, but the name stuck in car forums for the better part of a decade. The first-gen RL was effectively a re-skinned Honda Legend KA9, which is why our older equipment reads its transponder identically to a same-year Japanese-market Legend. Useful when somebody imports one of those into a Coronado garage.
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