TextHow the Acura CL Key System Changed Over the Years
1st Generation (UA6)
A remote head key with three buttons, an Megamos 13 (ID13) transponder chip, and a CR2025 battery. Your CL uses Honda's immobilizer system, which means the car has to recognize the chip inside your key before it lets you start the engine. Programming is done on-board, so the process is straightforward and we handle it right in your driveway.
1st Gen Facelift (UA7)
Same key system as the 1997 to 1999 models. Megamos 13 (ID13) chip, CR2025 battery, three buttons, on-board programming. Acura made some cosmetic updates to the car this year, but the key and immobilizer stayed the same. If you have a 2000 CL, everything from the prior generation applies to yours.
2nd Generation (UA8)
This is where security got serious. Acura switched to a Texas 4D-67 transponder chip and moved to OBD-II programming, which means we plug into your car's diagnostic port to sync the new key. The fob battery also changed to a CR2032. These require a PIN code for programming, so this is not a DIY job.
2nd Gen Facelift (UA9)
You turn this key in the ignition like any other key, but under the hood it is running the same advanced Honda immobilizer as the 2001 to 2002 models. Texas 4D-67 chip, CR2032 battery, three buttons, OBD-II programming with PIN code. This was the final year for the CL, and navigation models may have slight fob variations.
Which Key Does Your Acura CL Use?
A standard metal key with a plastic head that has lock, unlock, and panic buttons built in. The transponder chip inside the head is what lets your car start.
Looks similar to the earlier key but uses a more advanced transponder chip. Same three buttons, slightly different battery. Requires professional OBD-II programming to work with your car's immobilizer.
Acura CL Key Pricing in Ventura County
Price includes key cutting, transponder programming, immobilizer sync, and testing; lockout service runs $95 to $125.
EZ Car Keyz vs. the Dealer
The dealer closes at 5 PM on weekdays and is not open Sunday. We are available 6 AM to 11:30 PM, seven days a week.
Skip the Dealer - Call (805) 790-8162Common Acura CL Key Problems
Transponder Chip Failure
Key goes in and turns, engine will not start. Green key light may flash. On a car this old, the transponder chip inside the key head degrades and the immobilizer stops recognizing it. We reprogram or replace on-site with our Autel IM608.
Fob Battery Drain
Moisture is usually the culprit, especially coastal Ventura or Oxnard. Water gets into the fob casing and corrodes battery contacts. Even a fresh CR2032 drains fast. We inspect the internals and replace the shell if the board is good.
Ignition Cylinder Wear
First check on a 1997-2000 CL with starting trouble: the ignition cylinder itself. High-mileage cars develop worn wafers, making the key hard to insert or turn, sometimes loose and wobbly. We rekey or replace the cylinder on-site.
Immobilizer ECU Fault
People think they need a new key when the problem is the ECU. On 2001-2003 models the immobilizer control unit loses its ability to sync with new keys. A new key will not fix it. We diagnose with an EEPROM read first so you do not pay for the wrong fix.
Can You Program an Acura CL Key Yourself?
You can program the keyless entry remote buttons yourself using a simple ignition cycle procedure. But the transponder chip, the part that actually lets your car start, requires professional equipment and a PIN code. So you can teach your car a new remote, but you cannot make a new key work without us.
How It Works
Call or Text Us
Reach us at (805) 790-8162.
We Drive to You
Wherever you are in Ventura County, from Simi Valley to Camarillo, we come to your location.
Cut, Program, and Test
We cut your new H75 blade, program the transponder chip to your immobilizer using our Autel IM608 or VVDI, and test every function: ignition start, lock, unlock, and panic.
Related Services
Did You Know?
The Acura CL shared its platform with the Honda Saber but featured premium Acura badging and was exclusively sold in North America. Honda basically took a Japan-market sedan, gave it a coupe body and a luxury interior, and created a car that never existed anywhere else in the world. Pretty cool for a model most people have forgotten about.
KEY REPLACEMENT ACROSS ALL OF VENTURA COUNTY
We come to you, anywhere in Ventura County. No shop visit, no towing. Our mobile locksmith arrives at your home, office, or roadside.
See an Acura Key Cut Live
Watch our tech program an Acura proximity fob on site.
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