Inside the key fob

Wander · 25th June 2007, 20:33

Hi!

My fingers were itching to do something with my new camera. So I opened up the Honda Civic key fob.

Here are the pictures for you to enjoy, some (most) photo's are altered to obscure numbers/features that might let other people order a replacement key of my car (which would be a bad thing)

czechplastik · 25th June 2007, 22:45

Pointless but interesting! Thanks!

SimonB · 25th June 2007, 23:27

Did it work again, afterwards??

Jools100 · 25th June 2007, 23:53

The black background on my key fob is scratching off leaving a white background, so the white numbers are now unreadable. Anyone else have this? Will I need these numbers if I ever need to order a replacement key, or are the numbers inside the fob too. I do have a spare key with the numbers still intact, maybe I should write them down in case they start to disappear too

-=Stella Artois=- · 26th June 2007, 00:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by czechplastik

Pointless but interesting! Thanks!

Not if you consider that you could mate the PCB to the inside of a VW Flip key, and have the key cut to match your Honda. Then you have the modded flip key that people so desire

misterpro · 26th June 2007, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jools100

The black background on my key fob is scratching off leaving a white background, so the white numbers are now unreadable. Anyone else have this? Will I need these numbers if I ever need to order a replacement key, or are the numbers inside the fob too. I do have a spare key with the numbers still intact, maybe I should write them down in case they start to disappear too

Those numbers have nothing to do with a replacement key.

What you need is the white plastic card with the 4 digits & barcode that came with the key.

Pottsy · 26th June 2007, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jools100

The black background on my key fob is scratching off leaving a white background, so the white numbers are now unreadable.

This seems to be quite normal for Honda keys.

Copycat · 26th June 2007, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jools100

The black background on my key fob is scratching off leaving a white background, so the white numbers are now unreadable. Anyone else have this? Will I need these numbers if I ever need to order a replacement key, or are the numbers inside the fob too. I do have a spare key with the numbers still intact, maybe I should write them down in case they start to disappear too

Just peeled the sticker off my key yesterday. It had become practically all white, with no recognizable letters or numbers on it. As misterpro said, don't worry. They aren't needed when ordering a new key. I'm not sure if they are needed at all. Maybe to help Honda identify which car the keys belong to if someone finds them and actually does the decent thing.

generationgav · 26th June 2007, 10:23

Does the circuit board not touch the key then? Is the code for the ignition sent wirelessly (over a VERY short distance?) or does it go down the metal of the key like I thought?

Would the key work with no battery in? I know the auto lock/unlock doesn't work, but would the rest?

Finally, are we sure the numbers on the key aren't all the same? Maybe a couple of us could post the numbers to a trusted member and we could compare?

Skippy · 26th June 2007, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by generationgav

Does the circuit board not touch the key then? Is the code for the ignition sent wirelessly (over a VERY short distance?) or does it go down the metal of the key like I thought?

Would the key work with no battery in? I know the auto lock/unlock doesn't work, but would the rest?

Yes, the signal is sent wirelessly. There should be a passive transponder embedded in the fob somewhere. Can't see it in these pictures so may take mine apart for a look later. There should be a coil antenna near the ignition switch which powers up the transponder which then transmits its code over the short range back to that coil. This is independent of the central locking functions. Thus the key would (should!) work to disarm the immobiliser without a battery or a flat battery.

medicsource · 26th June 2007, 11:48

Nice one skippy, was just about to say the same thing. I had this explained to me to this a few years back by one of a rare breed of enlightened Renault dealers I have met.

Skippy · 26th June 2007, 12:12

No worries Medicsource.

I used to work with this sort of thing, but it's been a while!

Wander · 26th June 2007, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonB

Did it work again, afterwards??

Yes it works perfectly. It's all held together with 1 screw and the rest is just clips. Just stick a small screwdriver in the clips and they come off easy.

Wander · 26th June 2007, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

Yes, the signal is sent wirelessly. There should be a passive transponder embedded in the fob somewhere. Can't see it in these pictures so may take mine apart for a look later. There should be a coil antenna near the ignition switch which powers up the transponder which then transmits its code over the short range back to that coil. This is independent of the central locking functions. Thus the key would (should!) work to disarm the immobiliser without a battery or a flat battery.

I really didn't see a coil antenna anywhere, the PCB doesn't touch the key either. I might do some experiments with the key as well, like:

- Try it with the battery removed
- Try it with just the key part (without the electronic device in the key)

Skippy · 26th June 2007, 13:37

The tranpsonder will be quite small. The 'wegde' ones I worked with 10 years ago were <10mm long and all in a moulded black enclosure. There are others in slim glass envelopes around the size of long-grain rice. It is also quite possible that they are moulded into the key housing.

Things have probably moved on a bit since then, although it is likely that the transponders still operate in the same band, knowing car manufacturers.

I'll have a look tonight if I get chance

IWANTACIVIC · 15th July 2007, 19:07

ill keep a eye on these threads because if its safe and easy to di i want a flip key so much easyer and smarter.

Guitaralmond · 14th March 2008, 13:33

Is the metal key permantly stuck to the plastic of the shell??

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This thread is about: Inside the key fob, it's in How To at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Hi! My fingers were itching to do something with my new camera. So I opened up the Honda Civic key fob. Here are the pictures ...

25th June 2007, 22:45	#2 (permalink)
czechplastik King of the rodeo Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th October 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 4,492 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pointless but interesting! Thanks!

25th June 2007, 23:27	#3 (permalink)
SimonB Wheelnut Join Date: 1st November 2006 Posts: 63 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Did it work again, afterwards??

25th June 2007, 23:53	#4 (permalink)
Jools100 Wheelnut Join Date: 28th March 2007 Location: Midlands Posts: 59 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The black background on my key fob is scratching off leaving a white background, so the white numbers are now unreadable. Anyone else have this? Will I need these numbers if I ever need to order a replacement key, or are the numbers inside the fob too. I do have a spare key with the numbers still intact, maybe I should write them down in case they start to disappear too

26th June 2007, 10:23	#9 (permalink)
generationgav Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 29th May 2006 Posts: 797 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Does the circuit board not touch the key then? Is the code for the ignition sent wirelessly (over a VERY short distance?) or does it go down the metal of the key like I thought? Would the key work with no battery in? I know the auto lock/unlock doesn't work, but would the rest? Finally, are we sure the numbers on the key aren't all the same? Maybe a couple of us could post the numbers to a trusted member and we could compare?

26th June 2007, 11:48	#11 (permalink)
medicsource Resident Medic! Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 5th June 2007 Location: Winsford, Cheshire. Posts: 182 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice one skippy, was just about to say the same thing. I had this explained to me to this a few years back by one of a rare breed of enlightened Renault dealers I have met.

26th June 2007, 12:12	#12 (permalink)
Skippy Wheelnut Join Date: 27th April 2007 Location: Midlands Posts: 82 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No worries Medicsource. I used to work with this sort of thing, but it's been a while!

26th June 2007, 13:37	#15 (permalink)
Skippy Wheelnut Join Date: 27th April 2007 Location: Midlands Posts: 82 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The tranpsonder will be quite small. The 'wegde' ones I worked with 10 years ago were <10mm long and all in a moulded black enclosure. There are others in slim glass envelopes around the size of long-grain rice. It is also quite possible that they are moulded into the key housing. Things have probably moved on a bit since then, although it is likely that the transponders still operate in the same band, knowing car manufacturers. I'll have a look tonight if I get chance

15th July 2007, 19:07	#16 (permalink)
IWANTACIVIC Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 16th September 2006 Location: LINCS UK Posts: 658 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ill keep a eye on these threads because if its safe and easy to di i want a flip key so much easyer and smarter.

14th March 2008, 13:33	#17 (permalink)
Guitaralmond Triangle Ninja Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 9th January 2008 Location: Stoke-On-Trent Posts: 210 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Is the metal key permantly stuck to the plastic of the shell??