Hello!
I just traded my clown car for a 2010 Honda Fit - the mustachian vehicle of choice!
Unfortunately, I was only given 1 key. Apparently, modern vehicle keys have "immobilizer" chips in them that stop the car from turning on unless the key (and chip) are placed near the ignition. To duplicate this chip, you need to pay a dealer $$$ (Maybe $100) to program the key to your car (note: this is different than just the door lock/unlock buttons, which can be used by anyone with access to YouTube).
Anyways: Some people online say that I can get 2 dummy keys from eBay ($20 a pop), key them (<$10 a pop), and then cut off (or not) the metal blade on the original, and then tape it under my steering wheel so it's ALWAYS close to the ignition. Then, when i need to put a key in, it's "fooled" into thinking that the key is the original (metal cuts and RFID chip match).
Has anyone done this successfully?
I can't "test" this approach until I buy a key from ebay and cut it, so i'd prefer to hear real life stories.
After much googling, it doesn't seem like MANY people are doing this out there, and one forum I found said there was concern that the car would think that the key is ALWAYS in the ignition, so when you turn the car off and open the door, it may constantly ding at you or cause panic alarm to go off (not sure how this would be the case, but it was cited). I could tape the key in the right position and test walking away simple enough, but if there are other implications that i might now immediately see (like someone being able to just walk by and unlock my car because my car thinks the keys are inside, for instance), that would be nice to know too.
Thanks!