Having a functional key for your car is essential, and for 2010 Honda Insight owners, dealing with worn or lost keys can be a common issue. This guide outlines the process of creating a DIY key for a 2010 Honda Insight, based on personal experience. While it might seem daunting, with the right tools and approach, you can craft a functional key yourself.
The journey began with a worn-out original key. The first step was to get a new key blade cut. This is done using the key code, which, conveniently, can often be found on the glove box door lock.
Image alt text: Location of the 4-digit key code for 2010 Honda Insight, indicated by a red arrow, essential for obtaining a key cut.
The red arrow in the image above points to the 4-digit code. It’s important to note that this code is specific to your vehicle and should be handled with care. With this code, you can get a key blade cut. While many locksmiths offer key cutting services from codes, experience showed that Honda dealerships are the most reliable for accuracy. It was discovered that Honda uses specialized, albeit discontinued, machinery for cutting keys from these codes, ensuring a precise fit. Finding a Honda dealer still equipped with this machinery might require contacting several locations.
Image alt text: Exterior view of a 2010 Honda Insight, highlighting the glove box area where the key code is typically located.
Image alt text: Detail of a tire and wheel of a 2010 Honda Insight, showcasing typical vehicle components.
To make the newly cut key functional for starting the engine, a transponder chip is necessary. The chosen component was a T5 glass chip ID20. This chip needs to be programmed with the immobilizer information from your car.
Image alt text: Image of a T5 glass chip ID20 transponder, a crucial component for programming a 2010 Honda Insight key fob.
Using an SVCI 2020 module, the data from the original, functional 2010 Honda Insight Key Fob’s chip was read and then copied onto the new T5 glass ID20 chip. It’s critical to remember that the T5 glass ID20 chip is a one-time programmable chip. To verify the programming, the new chip was held against the unprogrammed key blade, and the engine was successfully started.
Image alt text: Setup of automotive key programming tools, possibly including an SVCI 2020 module, used for duplicating transponder data for a 2010 Honda Insight key.
Next, a slot was carefully cut into the new key blade, mirroring the dimensions of a spare Honda key obtained from a scrapyard. The programmed T5 chip was then inserted into this slot, and epoxy was used to secure it in place.
Image alt text: Hands shown inserting a transponder chip into a newly cut car key, a step in DIY key fob creation.
The result is a fully functional emergency key, freshly cut and ready for use.
Image alt text: The completed DIY key for a 2010 Honda Insight, showcasing a successful key creation project.
While this DIY approach was a rewarding experience, it’s worth considering readily available options. Purchasing a new key with a blank chip, as locksmiths often do, might be a more straightforward method. However, the DIY route offers a hands-on understanding of the process.
When sourcing blank keys online, particularly from overseas vendors, it’s important to be aware of material quality. Many aftermarket keys are made from metals other than brass, which Honda uses. While harder metals might show less wear on the key itself, they can accelerate wear on the vehicle’s locks. Honda’s choice of a softer brass for their keys is deliberate, designed to protect the more critical and expensive lock mechanisms from premature wear. Therefore, it’s strongly advised to use keys from reputable brands like Ilco or other recognized manufacturers to ensure both functionality and longevity for your 2010 Honda Insight.
