Question 1

How do I spot a fake or unqualified locksmith before I get burned?

Accepted Answer

A few things to watch for. If the phone quote is suspiciously low and they say they'll "confirm the price on-site," that's a bait-and-switch. It's a pattern: the ad says one number, the bill after the work is three to four times that.

For a transponder key job on a 2002 Eclipse specifically, a real locksmith should be able to tell you upfront that this is a chip key requiring programming, not a basic metal copy. If they show up without dedicated key programming equipment, they can't finish the job. That's happened to Eclipse owners on forums - locksmith arrives, realizes they don't have what they need, and leaves. Ask directly what tool they use to program Mitsubishi keys from this era. If they hesitate or get vague, keep looking.

Also check for a real business name with actual reviews. A generic listing with a stock photo and no traceable address is a warning sign.

Question 2

What exactly is a transponder key and why can't I just get it copied at a hardware store?

Accepted Answer

The key blade can be cut anywhere, but that's only half of it. Inside the plastic head there's a chip that communicates with your car's immobilizer when you turn the ignition. If that chip isn't recognized, the engine won't run - it'll crank, but it won't start and stay running.

A hardware store cuts the blade shape. They don't program the chip. So a copy from a hardware kiosk will physically turn in the ignition and do nothing else. For a 2002 Eclipse, you need someone with programming equipment who can both cut the blade correctly and enroll the chip to your specific vehicle.

Question 3

What tools do you actually use to program a key for a 2002 Eclipse?

Accepted Answer

For this generation of Eclipse I'm using professional-grade key programming equipment along with the right key-decoding tools to get the cut correct, whether I'm reading the lock or working from the key code. The early 2000s Mitsubishi immobilizer system is well-documented and doesn't require the kind of secure gateway access that newer vehicles do, so the job can be completed on-site without a dealer scan tool or factory account login.

What separates a successful job from a failed one on these is having equipment that actually supports older Mitsubishi protocols. Not every tool does. Eclipse owners have posted about locksmiths showing up completely unprepared for this system and walking away. I don't take a job I can't finish.

Question 4

I have a working key. Can I get a spare programmed, or do I have to go to the dealer?

Accepted Answer

You don't have to go to the dealer. Adding a spare to a 2002 Eclipse while you still have a working key is a more straightforward job than all-keys-lost, and it's something I can do on-site. The one thing to keep in mind is the key limit for this system - Mitsubishi caps it at four stored keys. If you've somehow already got four programmed (unlikely, but it happens with used cars that had multiple owners), one has to be cleared before a new one can be added. Worth knowing before you buy a replacement key blank online and expect it to just drop in.

Question 5

My 2002 Eclipse cranks fine but shuts off immediately after starting. Is this a key problem?

Accepted Answer

Cranks-but-stalls on these is a classic sign that the immobilizer didn't recognize the transponder. The engine gets just enough signal to turn over but the security system kills it before it can run. It usually means the chip in the key isn't programmed to that car, or the programming was lost somehow.

Before assuming the worst, check that you're using the right key - on a used Eclipse it's not uncommon for a previous owner to have a cut-but-never-programmed spare mixed in with the working one. If the key was never enrolled, that's exactly what you'll see. A programmed replacement fixes it.

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