Picked up a 1994 NSX, Immobilizer makes it not driveable

[heyhey]

Hello everyone! I have a 1994 Acura NSX that I got 3 days ago i drove it yesterday for the first time to hang with some of my buddies, and could not unlock it with my key from the outside of the car, i have no remotes to automatically unlock the car, I only received 1 titanium key + 3 black keys, 4 in total. I tried to turn the key on the driver + passenger side + also tried the rear trunk , none of them wanted to turn, but my key can turn on the ignition and drive the car. i had the car opened up by a locksmith and the alarm went off, now i cant start the car at all now, i believe its a immobilizer or something thats making it not work. what can i do? would I have to get it reprogrammed? is there a way to bypass the security system? I would very much like to disable this system, since I will be adding my own in the future. my problem is also that none of my keys can unlock the door manually from outside, it slides in the key hole but I am unable to turn it to unlock, I've tried going left then right, using excessive force, & pushing or pulling on the door while trying to turn it . I I'm very saddened since this is my dream car and I can't even get it to start now.

any help or information is appreciative , thank you so much

 

[Honcho]

It's been a while since I looked at the SCU, but am I correct that:

1. The keys don't work in the doors or the trunk locks; and
2. The key turns the ignition switch fine?

If so, what has likely happened is someone replaced the ignition switch without replacing the door and trunk locks. Both door locks have a switch that arms the security unit. If this switch is not disarmed, it will cause the alarm to sound and the starter cut relay to engage, making the car undriveable. To disarm the system you need to either turn the driver or passenger door lock to unlock using the key or press the unlock button on the remote (though it seems you don't have one).

If you can get the system disarmed, you can drive the car as long as you never lock the doors. This is probably what the previous owner did. The real solution is to order new door locks and trunk lock that are keyed by Honda. MITA Motorsports should be able to do this for you. Look on your keys- one or more of them should have a 4-digit number on them. This is the code Honda needs to set the locks to match your key. AFAIK, this can only be done in Japan, so you need to contact MITA.

Did the seller not tell you any of this? I feel bad for you, man.

 

[heyhey]

It's been a while since I looked at the SCU, but am I correct that:

1. The keys don't work in the doors or the trunk locks; and
2. The key turns the ignition switch fine?

If so, what has likely happened is someone replaced the ignition switch without replacing the door and trunk locks. Both door locks have a switch that arms the security unit. If this switch is not disarmed, it will cause the alarm to sound and the starter cut relay to engage, making the car undriveable. To disarm the system you need to either turn the driver or passenger door lock to unlock using the key or press the unlock button on the remote (though it seems you don't have one).

If you can get the system disarmed, you can drive the car as long as you never lock the doors. This is probably what the previous owner did. The real solution is to order new door locks and trunk lock that are keyed by Honda. MITA Motorsports should be able to do this for you. Look on your keys- one or more of them should have a 4-digit number on them. This is the code Honda needs to set the locks to match your key. AFAIK, this can only be done in Japan, so you need to contact MITA.

Did the seller not tell you any of this? I feel bad for you, man.

Yes correct, keys goes in the doors/trunk but does not turn... but all 4 keys turn on the car fine.

ill look into MITA, i appreciate the info.

I tried looking around the forum on how to bypass the security system, but of course its a touchy subject & seems like people are more prone to PM'ing than publishing the info on a public forum. I am wondering if you knew any way on how to bypass it so I can atleast drive my vehicle? I would greatly appreciate that

 

[heyhey]

Just wanted to update this!
I got the KeyLess entry by Nelson @I_M_Legend , he dmed me about my issue and suggested that his product might help. I pulled the trigger on getting it and it did! super helpful

 

[I_M_Legend]

Just wanted to update this!
I got the KeyLess entry by Nelson @I_M_Legend , he dmed me about my issue and suggested that his product might help. I pulled the trigger on getting it and it did! super helpful

Glad it worked out for you!

 

[Old Guy]

Honcho is probably correct that somebody replaced the column lock mechanism on the car; but, decided to go cheap-arse and not have the column lock cylinder re keyed to match the door locks or have the door locks re keyed to match the steering lock. Your 1994 does not have an immobilizer system so that is not the cause of the problem.

Installing a keyless entry system will provide a work around to having non functioning door lock cylinders. However, it is a solution that may bite you in the arse at some future point. If the car battery ever dies on you (or the keyless unit craps out) and the doors are locked you will again be left with having to get a locksmith to open the car for you, which may be at a really inconvenient time. If you troll the NSX Prime forum you can find lots of posts describing people coming out to find that their car has a dead battery with no prior warning.

If you can find the key code for your ignition key you should be able to order new pre cut lock cylinders for your car. However, the key code is typically on a tag separate from the actual key and what are the chances that your cheap arse previous owner had the tag for replacement lock cylinder? If you purchase new door / trunk lock cylinders or remove the existing cylinders you should be able to take them to a competent locksmith and have them rekeyed to match the steering column lock. Or, you may be able to take the steering lock assembly out and have it re keyed to match the doors. This might be easier than taking both doors apart to access the lock cylinders. However, the Honda parts diagram does not show the ignition lock cylinder as a separate part so I don't know that the ignition lock cylinder is re keyable.

 

[Wild Turkey]

I'm concerned about posting this sort of information on a public forum. I can't be the only one thinking that it could be more likely that someone with the correct keys is currently searching for his NSX than that a previous NSX owner both didn't key things correctly and also forgot to include keys in a sale? One wonders where the vendor is in this story?

Should we be sending these folks to the local Acura dealer, who can surely sort this out?

 

[heyhey]

yes a very unfortunate set of circumstances, but the nsx i bought was a restoration project, it was abandoned for 15+ years in a barnyard, so everything is pretty much brand new on it, she runs perfectly & is still a clean title, the owner did not drive her much from his warehouse facility, he didnt know about the keyholes not fitting at all, & luckily he paid for everything that needed fixing. a local automotive lock smith made keys for the car as well, just for the doors and trunk, easily made & fitted without having me to take anything apart from the car, its just now i have keys for the doors + key to turn on the car lol, for the price i paid for this nsx, i am still happy with with my purchase! i appreciate everyone’s input as well, this is my first time dealing with something like this haha

 

[m3brendan]

Congrats on resolving the issue. I'm sure it was terrible to get the car and then suddenly not be able to use it!