Question 1

Are you licensed and authorized to program a 2013 Acura MDX key?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I hold a current California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services locksmith license, and I carry professional credentials that give me access to vehicle security data for jobs like this one.

That matters on the 2013 MDX because the transponder chip in the flip key has to be registered to the immobilizer through the diagnostic port. There is no onboard self-programming sequence for this vehicle. A new key that has not been properly enrolled will unlock the doors and do nothing else -- the car cranks and immediately stalls. Getting this done right requires the right credentials, the right equipment, and someone who knows what the immobilizer status data is actually telling them.

Question 2

How do I avoid getting scammed when I call a locksmith for my MDX key?

Accepted Answer

Ask them what battery the fob takes and whether the key requires transponder programming. If they hesitate or go vague, hang up.

A legitimate locksmith working on a 2013 Acura MDX flip key should be able to tell you the fob uses a CR1616, that the transponder chip inside needs to be registered to the vehicle's immobilizer, and that the blade gets cut to your specific vehicle. They should give you a clear estimate before they show up, not after. If someone quotes you a low number over the phone and then adds fees on the spot for "programming" or "chip registration" like those are surprises, that is the red flag. The remote side and the transponder side are one job, not two separate charges.

Question 3

Will the replacement flip key work exactly like my original?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if it is set up to the correct spec for your vehicle.

The flip key handles lock, unlock, rear hatch, and panic on the remote side. The transponder chip inside handles starting the car. If your MDX is set up with per-driver seat and mirror memory, I match the replacement to the right driver designation so your profile actually activates when you get in. Once the key is cut and enrolled, I test every button and run multiple start cycles on site to confirm the immobilizer light is not coming back on. You leave with a key that does everything the original did.

Question 4

My MDX flip key unlocks the doors fine but the car starts and immediately stalls. Is the key bad?

Accepted Answer

That specific symptom -- cranks, fires briefly, then dies with the green key indicator flashing -- means the remote portion of your key is working but the transponder chip is not completing the handshake with the immobilizer. They are two separate systems inside the same fob.

It can happen when the chip itself has failed, when the key has not been properly registered, or sometimes when there is interference near the ignition area. A battery swap will not fix it because the remote and the transponder run independently. The fix is diagnosing the immobilizer status through the diagnostic port and, if the chip is the issue, enrolling a correctly programmed replacement key. This is one of the more common calls I get on these MDX years, and it is not a dealer-only job.

Question 5

I bought a replacement flip key shell online. Can I just swap my chip into it?

Accepted Answer

Not reliably, and usually not worth the risk.

The transponder chip in the flip key is not a loose component you can cleanly pull and drop into a new shell. Attempting it risks damaging the chip, and a damaged chip means an all-keys-lost situation, which is a longer and more involved job than a straightforward key replacement. If your current key is still starting the car, the smarter move is to have a properly programmed replacement made and use the original as a backup rather than disassembling it. If the original is already not starting the car, bring it as-is so I can check the immobilizer status before anything gets taken apart.

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