We just got our new Element off the lot last week, and the dealership had only one master key to give us. The problem is that the dealer hasn't been able to make another master key. :?

We have the one master that works and one valet key that works (opens doors and starts car, but won't open the hatch or glovebox). Every key the dealership makes turns out to be another valet key that won't open the hatch or glovebox.

When we took the car to get window tinting this morning we wanted to leave a valet key with it, but found that the latest new valet key only opens the door but doesn't start the car! The dealership has a good reputation and has been in business a while (they've sold Elements and have made keys for them in the past, too), but this problem seems to have them baffled. The keymaking is a computerized process, so it isn't a technician thing -- somehow the codes aren't reading or writing correctly to make a new master key for this car.

Has anyone else had this problem? How was it solved? What should our dealer be doing? (besides contacting Honda)

Puzzled in Albuquerque

I thought All Honda comes with 2 master and one valet fromt he factory....

The master key is both mechanical and electronic. The key has a chip in it that the ignition must recognize to start the car. If the blank key they start with has the wrong chip in it, cutting the key to match the master will allow it to open the door, glove box and hatch but not start the car. Go back the dealer and have them show you that they matched the chip correctly when they made the new key. Good luck.

BTW - Clown is right, you should have been given two master keys, they owe you one.

Thanks for the comments, Buckaroo & Clown -- you're absolutely right that the car is supposed to come with 3 keys: two masters and a valet. The dealership admits that they've misplaced one of the masters ("maybe it got mixed up at another dealership") and they're not charging us anything for all this *ing around with the keys... it's just that we've been by twice to pick up keys that haven't worked and we'd like to help them solve the problem so we can have our two master keys (we're using one master and the valet now) and go on about our business. :roll:

The dealer's computer seems to think that it's got the right key blank, but when they cut the key, it isn't a master. We've never gotten a new key that will open the glove box OR the hatch, but they sometimes will open the door and start the car (i.e. a valet key). The latest one only opened the door, so I think Buckaroo's suggestion that they had a key blank with the wrong chip was correct.

I thought maybe someone else had trouble with making a new master key and might have an insight on why it's seemingly so difficult for our dealer.

Thanks for your ideas!

Gila Gal

So the key they are making will turn in the ignition, but won't start the E?
Have they programmed the key to the E's computer?

Sorry if I wasn't clear in my original post... :?

The dealership is trying to make us another master key, but can't do it.
Each time they cut a key according to the E's code that should be able to open the hatch/glovebox, it doesn't. They can, however, program those keys to make a new "valet" key that will open the door and start the car, but they can't seem to make a master that will also open the hatch and glovebox. [ONE of the new "valets" opened the door and went in the ignition but didn't start the car, and that was probably because it hadn't been programmed to the E's computer, as Ramy points out.]

What we want, but don't have, is another master key. It almost seems like the hatch/glovebox has a code that the E doesn't know (or isn't telling). :P

Has anyone else made a Master Key for their E?
Any problems?

Gila Gal

Somehow I doubt that the glovebox has any electronics in its lock.

No the glovebox doesn't have any electronics, but as it shows in the vehcile manual, while a master key can and will operat5e all locks and start the car, the valet key will start the vehicle and operate the door locks, but not the glove box or rear hatch. What is obviously happening here is that the dealer are making any number of perfectly good valet keys, but not a duplicate master key as the owner requires.

I was under the impression that a new master key was something that the dealership would have to order from Honda, quoting your key reference and that they can't make masters in the dealership. At least that's what my dealer had told me when I asked about replacement keys when I'd heard a new key would likely cost $100.

AHA! :o
Thanx, za9ra22 -- I think that's probably what the problem is... the dealer (at least this dealer) can't make a master key. When they try, all they get is a valet key (which they tell me costs them $25 each time). To make a master key takes more effort (and expense!) and may have to be done by the Mothership.

I'm glad the dealer will be paying for this one... :wink:

Hang onto those Master Keys, folks!!

Gila Gal

One of our master keys had been deformed, so I asked the dealer to replace it. They agreed to -- saying that it was not covered under warranty however. They said it was costing them $45. The new key works fine and is a master key, but it doesn't have the metallic "H" inset. They also gave bake the reject key which also works fine. Looking at the master and the valet, the cut part is slightly different which is why they work differently.

[quote:d432a25af7="ct9ski"]One of our master keys had been deformed, so I asked the dealer to replace it. They agreed to -- saying that it was not covered under warranty however. They said it was costing them $45. The new key works fine and is a master key, but it doesn't have the metallic "H" inset. They also gave bake the reject key which also works fine. Looking at the master and the valet, the cut part is slightly different which is why they work differently.[/quote:d432a25af7]

My dealer lost my master key and had to make me another one. I had a third made while they were doing that one. ct9ski is right, the cuts are different on the valet and masters.

I'm a little puzzled as to why they can't duplicate a master key (as I am sure they are). Have you been giving them your master key when they have been trying to cut a duplicate? Or are they just going by the key code? That seems to be where their computer is cutting the key wrong. You can get one of the programmable key blanks, take it to a locksmith and have it duplicated and then maybe have them program that key to your Elements ignition. There is definitely a slight difference in the key cut from the valet and the master.

When I get to work I'll ask my service manager if they have ever experienced this before. I know we have lost Element keys before and had to cut the owners new ones. It is expensive, so I am less than happy with the sales dept and the make ready personnel that are usually responsible for losing them.

BTW, it's great to have an Element owner from the Land of Enchantment. I was born and raised in NM and both my sets of grandparents still live in NM. My mom's parents live in Los Lunas and my dad's parents live near Clovis. :D

Hi Supamann:

Nice to hear about your NM connection -- are you a fellow Lobo?
We actually had to ask ourselves the "state question" when we decided on our E.* :wink:

We found out today what our dealer's problem was -- they told us that according to their catalog, they were using Element blanks to make our [non-working] master key. What they were actually using was blanks for the Odyssey that had been identified as blanks for the Element. :oops: It was driving them nuts and they used up all their Odyssey blanks trying to make Element masters. They've ordered replacement blanks now (for Elements and Odysseys) and expect them in on Monday.

Your guess that they were going by the key code was correct... although it's interesting to know that you can make an Element valet key from an Odyssey blank if you have to. :roll:

Thanks for your response -- I hope the problem is solved for good now!

*For you non-New Mexicans, the official NM State Question ("Red or green?") refers to what color chile you want on whatever food you're having -- if you want both, say "Christmas"

Great to hear they have figured out the problem and help is on the way. I am pretty familiar with the NM dealers since I used to work in Las Cruces. Sorry, I'm not a Lobo, but an Aggie (insert hissing sounds).

Thanks for reminding me how wonderful the Mexican food is in NM :cry: My mouth is watering now for some Hatch green chile chicken enchiladas. When I go home to visit (about twice a year) I usually gain about 10 lbs, just from eating Mexican food. My friends here all have a place they want me to try in Austin, San Antonio, blah, blah.......and they just don't understand the difference from authentic Mexican food. I now import the good green chile twice a year and cook for them, haha. I also miss the mountains and the wonderful adobe homes.

Enjoy your Element and the Land of Enchantment.