Question 1

Do you have the correct transponder key blank for a 2002 Acura RL?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The 2002 RL is a turn-key ignition setup, not push-button start. The replacement key uses a specific transponder blank that the major locksmith suppliers all carry under their own part numbers, and the dealer part number has gone through a couple of supersessions over the years, so the current number at an Acura parts counter will look different from what older references show. Any of those cross to the same blank. Cutting the blade is step one. After that, the transponder has to be registered to the immobilizer before the car will recognize it and allow the engine to run.

Question 2

What actually wears out on a 2002 RL key, and is there anything to maintain?

Accepted Answer

Most failures on these are physical, not programming. The blade rounds off from years of use and starts slipping in the cylinder before it finally stops turning cleanly. The plastic head can crack, which lets the transponder chip shift position inside. When the chip moves even a few millimeters, the antenna ring around the ignition has trouble reading it consistently, and you get intermittent no-starts that feel random.

The keyless entry remote on the 2002 RL is a separate unit from the ignition key itself. The remote has its own battery, and when that gets weak you will notice the LED looking dim and the range shrinking before it stops responding altogether. Swapping the battery in the remote is a simple fix. The remote and the ignition transponder work independently, so a dead remote battery does not affect whether the car starts.

Question 3

What if my new key works for a few weeks and then the no-start comes back?

Accepted Answer

Call me and I will come back out and recheck it on-site. If the green key warning stays lit or keeps flashing after a start attempt, the immobilizer is still blocking things. First thing I verify is that the transponder is still registered in the car's memory and that nothing shifted the stored key data. On a system this age, the antenna ring around the ignition cylinder or its wiring can also be the culprit. The ring is a wear item, and a loose connection there creates the same symptom as a bad key. If the key reads solid and the ring checks out, I move to the control unit connections under the dash.

Question 4

I have a spare key that was cut for the car but I was told it was never programmed. Will it at least unlock the doors?

Accepted Answer

If the spare is a transponder key that was cut but never registered, the blade will turn the ignition cylinder mechanically. The car will crank. It just will not start and stay running, because the immobilizer will kill it within a second or two of firing. The green key light on the dash is the tell. You will also see it if the key reads wrong.

For the door locks, a cut key blade works the lock cylinder directly regardless of whether the transponder is programmed. So yes, the unregistered spare can get you into the car. It just cannot get the engine running until the chip side gets handled.

Question 5

Can I add a second key myself on a 2002 RL, or does it always need a tech?

Accepted Answer

On vehicles from this era with a turn-key ignition, there are sometimes onboard add-a-key sequences that let an owner register a second key by cycling the ignition with an existing working key. Whether that applies here depends on the specific immobilizer setup in this generation RL, and the procedure has to be done correctly or you risk locking out keys that were already stored. I have seen owners try a sequence they found on a forum, get it wrong, and end up with an all-keys-lost situation that takes longer to fix than a standard second-key job would have. If you already have one working key, the safest move is to call me, bring the car, and have a second key cut and registered properly. It is a short job when there is already a working key present.

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