Losing your car key or needing a spare is a common hassle. If you drive a 2007 Honda Fit, you might be wondering whether you need to visit a dealership to get a new key programmed. The answer isn’t always straightforward, and understanding the nuances of key programming for your specific model can save you time and money. This guide dives into the experience of one Honda Fit owner and what they learned about programming a key for their 2007 model.
The 2007 Honda Fit Key Programming Puzzle: Chip Differences
The journey to get a spare key for a 2007 Honda Fit can be more complex than you might initially think. One key piece of information that quickly surfaces is that 2007 and 2008 Honda Fit Sport models use different immobilizer systems and, crucially, different RFID chips within their keys. While the keyless remote frequency might be the same, the internal chip that communicates with your car’s immobilizer is not.
Specifically, the 2007 Honda Fit uses an 8E glass chip, while the 2008 model utilizes the more common ID46 chip. This seemingly small difference is critical when ordering replacement keys.
Navigating Locksmiths and Chip Compatibility
One owner’s experience highlights the challenges of finding the right key and getting it programmed correctly. After purchasing keys online advertised for a 2007 Honda Fit Sport with an 8E chip, they encountered a problem: the received keys, while having the correct remote frequency, contained the wrong chip – the ID46.
Initial attempts to program these keys with a local locksmith proved unsuccessful. The first locksmith, despite charging for cutting and programming, couldn’t get the keys to work and didn’t explain why. This underscores the importance of choosing a locksmith with expertise in Honda key programming.
A second, highly-rated locksmith was able to diagnose the issue. Their equipment identified the original key as having an 8E chip and immediately recognized the eBay keys as having the incompatible ID46 chip. This locksmith confirmed that while ID46 chips were readily available, 8E chips were not, explaining why the eBay keys wouldn’t work for a 2007 Honda Fit.
OEM Pairing vs. Aftermarket Cloning: Understanding Your Options
When it comes to programming car keys, there are generally two methods:
- OEM Pairing: This is the factory-standard method where the new key is “paired” to the vehicle’s immobilizer system. This often requires specific diagnostic tools and procedures.
- Aftermarket Cloning: This method involves “cloning” the data from an existing working key onto a new transponder chip. This can sometimes bypass the need for complex programming procedures.
Locksmiths may be equipped to perform both pairing and cloning, depending on the vehicle and the situation. However, the 2007 Honda Fit, with its specific 8E chip requirement, might present limitations for cloning, especially if a locksmith doesn’t have the correct 8E chips in stock.
Finding the Right 8E Chip and Key
The story continues with the owner contacting the eBay seller who mistakenly sent keys with ID46 chips. The seller rectified the error by sending replacement 8E chips. Visually, the owner noted a difference: ID46 chips resemble tiny bricks, while 8E chips look like small, glass medicine pills.
This experience highlights the importance of verifying the chip type when purchasing replacement keys for a 2007 Honda Fit. Always confirm that the key is specified for the 2007 model and explicitly mentions the 8E chip.
So, Does a Dealer Need to Program the Key?
While dealerships definitely have the equipment and expertise to program keys for a 2007 Honda Fit, it’s not always necessary to go to a dealer. As this account shows, a skilled locksmith can program a key, provided they:
- Are knowledgeable about the 2007 Honda Fit’s 8E chip requirement.
- Have the correct 8E transponder chips in stock.
- Possess the necessary programming tools for OEM pairing or cloning (if possible).
However, if you encounter locksmiths unfamiliar with the 8E chip or unable to program your key, a Honda dealership becomes a reliable alternative. Dealers will have access to the correct parts and programming systems to ensure your new key works with your 2007 Honda Fit.
In conclusion, you might not need a dealer, but for a 2007 Honda Fit key programming, especially with the 8E chip complexity, verifying locksmith expertise or opting for a dealer can save you potential headaches and ensure the job is done right.
