Key Not Detected - Unlocking/Starting/Locking

[kitwilliams117]

This issue started randomly for me yesterday. Up to this point the car had no issues, no warning lights, everything functioning as it should. I went out to my car and grabbed the drivers front door handle and the car did not auto-unlock. I tried grabbing the handle a few more times and nothing happened. I then pulled out the key and hit the unlock button and nothing happened. I tried a few more times and nothing happened. I saw the red light on the key fob coming on when I pressed the unlock button, but I decided to try replacing the key fob battery anyway. This still did not work and the vehicle would not unlock. I pulled out the key blade from the key fob and used it to open the drivers front door. All of the lights inside the car came on normally and the dash did the normal animation/startup sequence when I got in and shut the door. When I pressed the clutch and the start button, a warning chime sounded multiple times and a message came on saying to press the key to the start button. When I did this the car started up normally without needing a jump start. However, a large number of warning lights were on, and the engine idle was erratic and jumping around. After running for roughly 30 seconds, all of those warnings went away and the engine started running normally with no issues. I drove the car for 5 minutes or so and it drove normally. When I shut the vehicle off and got out, the car did not auto-lock like it normally does. I got my spare key fob and tried using it, but the vehicle still would not unlock or lock, and it would not start unless I pressed the key to the start button. I started trying to diagnose this and plugged in an Autel scan tool, but found no active or stored fault codes were present. I tried starting the vehicle again and the same warning about pressing the key to the start button came on, and when it started all of the same warning lights came on, but this time they only stayed on for about 15 seconds, and no fault codes were set or stored. My thought was maybe the car battery was going bad or not charging, so I tested the battery with a battery tester (I work at a car dealership, but not a Honda dealer.) The battery was at 12.6 volts with the car off. I started it again by pressing the key to the start button and the alternator is definitely charging the battery, as it started reading 14.6-14.8 volts with the engine running. I tried disconnecting the negative battery cable and letting the car sit like that overnight. When I reconnected the battery cable in the morning, the vehicle still did not recognize the key, would not respond to the unlock or lock command from the key, required me to press the key to the start button again, and had a huge number of warning lights on for maybe 10-15 seconds after starting it up. These codes again went away, and the vehicle drives normally. I checked the car settings and all of the auto-unlock and lock features are still on. My car downloaded and installed the over-the-air update roughly a month ago and has not had any issues or problems since then, until this problem obviously. At this point I definitely need to take this to a Honda dealer, but I wanted to 1) document my problems and 2) see if anyone had experienced anything like this on their FL5. Mine is a 2024, I've owned it since new, and I have not had any issues with the car up to this point.

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[Chilly613]

Have you made any modifications recently and had to take apart your center console and unplug any harnesses?

There is a plug and harness that is part of the keyless entry system that detects the keyfob, I've left that unplugged accidentally before after changing out the shifter assembly and had that issue. Its under the shifter panel on the right side of the center console, hopefully its the same on the FL5.

 

[kitwilliams117]

Have you made any modifications recently and had to take apart your center console and unplug any harnesses?

There is a plug and harness that is part of the keyless entry system that detects the keyfob, I've left that unplugged accidentally before after changing out the shifter assembly and had that issue. Its under the shifter panel on the right side of the center console, hopefully its the same on the FL5.

No, I have not done anything recently in that area. Over a year ago I had the top piece of the center console off to change my shift knob and shift boot, but I have not had that piece off since then, and I had no issues with the key until yesterday.

Do you remember if that module set a fault code when you left it unplugged? I currently have no fault codes setting in any modules and when I ran a function test on the keyless entry system on my Autel scan tool, it said the keyless access system was functioning normally with each unit and key registered correctly.

 

[Chilly613]

No, I have not done anything recently in that area. Over a year ago I had the top piece of the center console off to change my shift knob and shift boot, but I have not had that piece off since then, and I had no issues with the key until yesterday.

Do you remember if that module set a fault code when you left it unplugged? I currently have no fault codes setting in any modules and when I ran a function test on the keyless entry system on my Autel scan tool, it said the keyless access system was functioning normally with each unit and key registered correctly.

No codes, just a warning to put the key fob up to the start button.

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