[JKautosports]

How to make a TL "switchblade" key work for your RSX.....

What you will need to buy:

• TL key/transmitter assembly: 35111-SEP-306 (or 35111-SEP-307). It will not matter if the transmitter is "Memory1 or Memory2". It isn't clear at this point if this is the correct part number, so ask your dealer, when ordering.
• **OPTIONAL** RDX faceplate (to delete the trunk button): 35118-STK-A01

Tools and Supplies:

• Micro Screwdrivers (used for eyeglass and jewelry repair)
• Bench Vice (or something to hold the key steady while cutting)
• Box cutter
• Exacto knife
• Hacksaw
• Lighter
• Pliers
• Sharpie
• Dremel w/ cutting disk + sanding tool attachments
• JBweld
• Superglue
• Clamp
• Sand paper (300, 600, 1000 grits)
• Primer + black paint
• Grease (something like axle grease will be fine)

How to do it:

1. You will first need to take one of your factory keys, and remove the black plastic cover from it. You are doing this for two reasons: you need the key, and you also need the immobilizer chip. The best way to do this is to clamp the key into a bench vice, and use a box cutter to carefully cut around the OUTSIDE of the key. This way, there is no chance of damaging the immobilizer chip. Once you have done this, set the key and immobilizer chip aside.
   
2. Now it's time to get to work on the TL key. There is only one screw on the outside, so use a small phillips screwdriver to remove it. Unclip the transmitter and remove it. Next, unclip the plastic cover that is above the key. Set these aside.
   
   
3. The next step will be to remove the three screws which hold the flipkey in place. These are VERY tight, because Honda put some sort of threadlock on them. I was able to remove the 2 black ones, but the third (silver) screw was too soft, and I stripped it. I removed it by drilling it out. The silver screw isn't necessary, and it will hold up fine with just the two black screws.
   
   Once you get those apart, you are left with this (sorry, I didn't take any pics before doing this mod, so that's why my key is already modded in the pic!)
   
   
   
4. Take the blank key, and set everything else aside. You want to clamp this into a bench vice, and use your hacksaw to cut straight through it. it doesn't matter if the cut isn't perfect, just don't make a mess!
   
   
   Once that is done, you will see the entire shape of the key.
   
   
   The blank key may be tight in the plastic, so what I recommend is holding the key with pliers, and using a lighter to slightly heat the key. This will make it much easier to remove the blank. Once the blank is out, use an Exacto knife to remove the TL immobilizer chip from the plastic. You will not need this.
   
5. Take the key blank from the previous step, and your own key, from the first step. Lay the blank over the RSX key, and use a clamp to hold them lined up. Trace the design onto the RSX key, and set the blank aside.
   
6. Use a dremel to carefully cut the key to shape, and sand it down. You should keep the plastic that you removed from the blank nearby, so you can test fit it. You don't want to cut too little or too much!)
   
7. Once you've cut the key to the right shape, it's time to mix up the JBWeld. Put some JBWeld between your key, and the bottom part of the plastic cover. Push the key in, and use a clamp or heavy object to hold it in place. Make sure you do not get JBweld into the center of the plastic piece, because your key will not be able to flip smoothly! Let this dry for AT LEAST 30 mins! After 30 mins, It is time to put the other side of the plastic on. Use JBWeld to "sandwich" the entire thing together. It's ok if it's messy, but don't destroy it! This must dry for 24 hours.
   
8. After 24 hours have passed, you can sand the key with 300 grit sand paper. Work your way down to 600, and eventually 1000 grit. Your key should start to look the way the blank did, except ugly! While sanding, you may want to stick the key into the housing, to make sure it will flip smoothly.
9. It's time to put the immobilizer chip in, so you can actually start the car! Acura put different kinds of chips in our keys. Some people have a little box, others have a white rubber case that is almost triangular, with a capsule in the middle of it. I had the capsule. To remove it, stick a small screwdriver into one side of the rubber case, and slide it out. You need to glue this capsule into the new key, so pour a few drops of superglue into the hole, stick the capsule (or chip) in, and add a drop or two on top. Wait for it to dry.
   
10. Once the superglue is dry, you can prime, and paint the key. Make sure to mask off the key, so you don't get paint on it.
    
11. Once that is dry, test fit the key into the housing. You may find that the key is a little too long (some RSX's have shorter keys). If your key is too long to fit, you will need to use a Dremel w/ cutoff wheel + Exacto knife to CAREFULLY make the opening bigger. Don't overdo it!
    
12. Put everything back together in the reverse order of removal! Apply a little bit of grease to the center of the key, so that it will rotate around the axis smoothly.