Question 1

My key broke in the ignition. Can you get it out?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and on the S2000 this happens more than people expect. The ignition cylinder on these sits in a tight column housing, and the key blade can snap or the plastic head can shear off at the neck if the key was already worn or the head had a crack. We extract the broken piece without pulling the whole cylinder if we can avoid it. From there, if your original transponder chip is still intact in the broken head, we transfer it into a new key housing and cut a replacement blade. In most cases you skip a full reprogram that way. If the chip is damaged, we go the full route: new chip, cut the blade, program to the vehicle on site.

Question 2

What exactly is a transponder key and why does the 2004 S2000 need one?

Accepted Answer

The key has a small electronic chip embedded in the plastic head. When you turn it in the ignition, a coil in the ignition barrel reads that chip. If the chip isn't there, isn't recognized, or isn't programmed to that specific car, the immobilizer blocks the engine from starting even if the blade turns perfectly. The S2000 has no remote buttons, no fob, no proximity entry. It's purely a turn-key ignition. The transponder side of the job is what separates a working key from a blank that just spins the cylinder and gets you nowhere. We handle the cutting and the programming in one visit.

Question 3

My S2000 cranks but won't start. Could it be the key?

Accepted Answer

That's actually the classic symptom of a transponder issue on this car. Cranks but won't fire usually means the immobilizer didn't get a clean read from the chip, so fuel or spark gets cut before the engine catches. A few things cause it: a cracked or heat-damaged chip inside the key head, a key that was copied from a worn original without verifying the chip carried over correctly, or a faulty read on the immobilizer side. First thing I check is the key head itself for cracks. Second is whether any copy was made recently and that's the key being used. If the key turns and the engine starts and then immediately stalls, that also points to the security system and we diagnose it on site.

Question 4

Can I make a spare key for my S2000 from a hardware store or an online blank?

Accepted Answer

You can get the blade cut at a hardware store if they stock the right blank, but that gets you a key that turns the ignition and nothing else. The transponder chip won't be there, or it won't be programmed, so the car won't start. Online blanks have the same issue. The chip has to be programmed to your specific vehicle using the right equipment. S2000 owners on forums have tried this route and end up with a key that fits the lock, cranks the engine, and leaves them stranded anyway. Spare keys for this car need both the correct blade and a programmed chip. We do both on site in one stop.

Question 5

The S2000 is a two-seat roadster with a convertible top. Does where I store my key matter?

Accepted Answer

More than people think. The plastic key head and the chip inside it do not love heat, and a roadster with the top down on a Del Mar summer afternoon gets very hot. Leaving the key on the center console or clipped to the sun visor in direct sun for extended periods can eventually stress the plastic and the chip. Most owners never have a problem, but when I see a failed chip on one of these, a cracked or discolored key head is usually part of the picture. Keep a spare, store your keys out of direct sun when the top is down, and if your key head looks chalky or has any visible cracking near the base, get a copy made before it fails completely.

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