Question 1

How do I spot a fake locksmith before I get ripped off?

Accepted Answer

Three things to watch before anyone touches your car. First, if they won't give you a firm price for a 2007 Honda Odyssey remote head key over the phone, hang up. A legitimate shop knows what the job costs before they roll. Second, look at the vehicle they show up in. No branding, no company name, nothing on the truck - that's a flag. Third, cash only with pressure to pay before the work is done is how those situations end badly.

A real automotive locksmith will quote your specific vehicle, show up identifiably, and carry a California locksmith license they can hand you before they open a single tool. Ask to see it. That's not rude - that's just how it should work.

Question 2

What exactly is a remote head key and why does the whole thing need programming?

Accepted Answer

On your 2007 Odyssey, the remote head key is a single unit: the key blade, the transponder chip, and the fob buttons all live in one molded housing. It's not a separate fob clipped to a key ring - it's integrated.

The transponder chip inside has to be recognized by the vehicle's immobilizer before the engine will start. A perfectly cut blade with an unprogrammed chip gets you nothing - the car reads it as unauthorized and won't run. The remote functions for lock and unlock are separate from that, but they also need to be paired to your specific vehicle.

So when you replace one of these, you're doing two things: cutting the blade to match your ignition and door locks, and programming both the transponder and the remote to your Odyssey. One job, one visit, but two distinct steps that both have to be right.

Question 3

What equipment do you use to program Honda keys?

Accepted Answer

Professional immobilizer tools with Honda-specific software, working through the OBD-II port under the dash. The process connects to the vehicle's security system, runs the authorization sequence, and registers the new key. On a 2007 Odyssey where you still have a working key, the existing key gets retained and the new one is added alongside it. All-keys-lost is a longer procedure because there's no working reference key in the system, but it's still a standard job with the right equipment. Either way, we verify engine start and confirm all remote functions before we're done.

Question 4

My 2007 Odyssey starts fine but the remote buttons stopped working. Do I need a whole new key?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. On the remote head key, the transponder that starts the car and the remote receiver that handles lock and unlock are separate circuits in the same housing. One can fail while the other keeps working.

First thing to try: swap the CR1616 battery. It's a thin coin cell - thinner than what most people expect - and when it gets low, the remote range drops first before it dies completely. Make sure you're seating a CR1616 specifically, not a thicker CR2032 or a CR1620.

If a fresh, correctly-sized battery doesn't bring the remote back, the issue is likely the receiver circuit in the fob housing itself, or in some cases the vehicle's receiver. That's worth a call before assuming you need a full replacement key programmed from scratch.

Question 5

I bought a replacement remote head key online for my 2007 Odyssey. Can I program it myself?

Accepted Answer

The remote portion of these - lock and unlock - does have an onboard relearn sequence you can run yourself without tools, and it works on the 2007 Odyssey. The transponder side is a different story. Programming the chip so the car will actually start requires professional diagnostic equipment connected to the OBD port. No ignition-turn trick handles that part on this vehicle.

So if you bought a key online, you've got the blank, but you still need a locksmith or dealer to cut the blade and program the transponder before it'll start the car. The money saved on the part online is real - just factor in that the programming step isn't going away.

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2007 Honda OdysseyKey Replacement - Save vs Dealer in Ventura County

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