Question 1

I lost every key for my 2018 Acura ILX. Can a new smart key be made on site?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's a job I can do mobile at River Park/Wagon Wheel. All-keys-lost on the 2018 ILX does require diagnostic equipment and your proof of ownership, so have your ID and registration ready.

The process covers two things that have to happen together: cutting the emergency insert blade so you have a mechanical backup, and running the full keyless access registration through the OBD port so the new fob is authorized to start the car. Any previously registered fobs, including the lost ones, are wiped from the system during that process. They won't start the car after.

If you held onto the key number tag that came with the car when it was new, keep it. That number is useful if a replacement blade ever needs to be cut to code.

Dealers typically ask you to tow in with no keys and schedule an appointment. On my end this is a standard mobile call.

Question 2

Can you delete a lost or stolen ILX smart key so it can't start the car anymore?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The way the ILX keyless access system works, the car only recognizes fobs that are present and registered during the programming session. Re-registering your remaining keys wipes any missing ones from memory automatically. I can do that on site without a tow.

One thing worth knowing: deleting the fob from the system handles the start authorization, but it does nothing about the metal insert blade. If someone also has a cut blade that fits your locks, they can still open the door mechanically. If that's a concern after a theft or loss, a rekey of the door cylinders is the next step.

Question 3

Does the 2018 Acura ILX smart key have a hidden metal key inside it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Acura calls it the built-in key. There's a small release on the back of the fob. Slide it and the metal blade folds out. It will unlock the door mechanically when the fob battery is dead or the car isn't responding to radio signals.

One thing a lot of ILX owners don't know until it bites them: the touch-lock sensor on the door handle won't let you lock the car if the fob is still inside the cabin. The system is designed to stop you from locking your own smart key in the car. If the handle isn't responding to touch, check whether the fob is sitting on the seat before assuming something is broken.

Question 4

I bought a replacement fob online. Can I just program it myself at home?

Accepted Answer

No. The 2018 ILX smart key has no owner-accessible self-programming sequence. There's no ignition-turn trick, no button combination, nothing you can do from the driver's seat to register a new fob. That approach only exists on older vehicles with basic transponder keys in a conventional ignition cylinder. The ILX keyless access system requires professional diagnostic equipment connected to the OBD port to register any fob to the vehicle.

If you already bought a fob online, it's not a total loss. As long as it's the correct fob for this vehicle, I can pair it on site. Just know the hardware cost is separate from the programming labor, and buying the part yourself doesn't change what the job takes.

Question 5

The touch unlock on my driver's door handle stopped working but the passenger side is fine. Is the fob the problem?

Accepted Answer

Probably not the fob. If the passenger handle still triggers unlock and the start button inside the cabin sees the fob without issue, the key itself is doing its job. When only one handle goes dead, the problem is almost always on the door side: the capacitive sensor in that handle, a connector, or the wiring to that door. A quick wipe of the handle surface is worth trying first, but if it stays isolated to the driver's door, you're looking at a handle or wiring issue, not a key replacement.

2018 Acura ILX
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in Ventura County

Home or Office | We Handle It There

2018 Acura ILX
Key Options

Your Driveway vs Their Lobby

2018 Acura ILX Smart Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

Save vs the Dealer on Your Acura ILX Key

Acura ILX Rapid Response, Done Right

Mobile Service, Five-Star Results

Acura ILX Mobile Service FAQ

Acura ILX Key Service Areas

Acura ILX Key Without Leaving Home

2018 Acura ILXKey Replacement - Save vs Dealer in Ventura County

Home or Office | We Handle It There

2018 Acura ILXKey Options